[see video here]

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: India

View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.

Endemic to India. Distributed widely in the Western Ghats, at elevations from 500-2,000 m asl. It is found in various type of tropical forest, including evergreen moist forest, semi-evergreen moist forest, and dry deciduous forest. This species inhabits leaf litter on the forest floor (Stuart et al. 2008).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Breeds in ponds and large lakes, both natural and artificial (Stuart et al. 2008).

Trends and Threats
This is an adaptable species which can tolerate not only different forest type but also some habitat degradation. Although it can be locally abundant, population numbers are thought to be decreasing due mainly to habitat loss. Its forest habitats are being converted for agricultural use, including tea, coffee, and eucalyptus plantations, and cut down for timber and wood use. In addition, this species is subject to roadkills during breeding season, when frogs migrate to breeding habitats. It does occur within many protected areas, and it is also under national protection (Stuart et al. 2008).

Relation to Humans
Tadpoles are collected for human consumption (Stuart et al. 2008).

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities
Intensified agriculture or grazing
Disturbance or death from vehicular traffic

Comments
First described by Jerdon (1853).

References

Jerdon, T. C. (1853). ''Catalogue of the reptiles inhabiting the peninsula of India.'' Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 22, 522-534.

Stuart, S., Hoffmann, M., Chanson, J., Cox, N., Berridge, R., Ramani, P., Young, B. (eds) (2008). Threatened Amphibians of the World. Lynx Edicions, IUCN, and Conservation International, Barcelona, Spain; Gland, Switzerland; and Arlington, Virginia, USA.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2011 Clinotarsus curtipes <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/5014> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Sep 18, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 18 Sep 2024.

AmphibiaWeb's policy on data use.