Myristica swamp at Kattilappara Photo: Robin Abraham
Mid-elevation forest adjacent to plantation at Rockwood. Photo: Robin Abraham
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Sampling in the swamps of Kattilappara Photo: Jafer Palot 2. Rockwood Estate Degraded evergreen patches, secondary forests, intact primary forests and hill streams, all around the Rockwood estate form an ideal haunt for many species of frogs. A fairly good number of Pseudophilautus kani and Raorchestes nerostagona were heard calling during the night survey. Mating pairs of Micrixalus fuscus were also noted on the boulders of torrential streams. The most abundant species were P. kani, Fejervarya keralensis and Micrixalus fuscus. Overall, 16 species were recorded in the estate and forests here. Sl. No
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Species Duttaphrynus melanostictus Duttaphrynus parietalis Pedostibes tuberculatus Hylarana temporalis Hylarana aurantiaca Fejervarya keralensis Indirana beddomii Micrixalus fuscus Nyctibatrachus aliciae Nyctibatrachus beddomii Nyctibatrachus sp. Pseudophilautus kani Raorchestes nerostagona Raorchestes chotta Rhacophorus malabaricus Polypedates maculatus
Status Common Common Rare Common Common Abundant Common Abundant Common Rare Rare Common Common Common Common Common
Remarks
Breeding
Recording frogs at degraded evergreen forest patch near Rockwood estate. Photo: Jafer Palot 3. Pandimotta The reed brakes and stunted trees found here, provides good habitat for several bush frogs, many of which are endemic and threatened. Populations of Nyctibatrachus beddomii and Duttaphrynus beddomii, were also sighted in the higher elevations. The area forms one of the most important centres of diversity and endemism for several frog species. Sl. No
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Species Ramanella sp. Duttaphrynus beddomii Pedostibes tuberculatus Indirana diplosticta Indirana sp. Micrixalus sp. Nyctibatrachus beddomii Nyctibatrachus major Nyctibatrachus aliciae Nyctibatrachus pillai Raorchestes beddomii Raorchestes chalazodes Raorchestes ponmudi Raorchestes graminirupes Raorchestes manohari Raorchestes chalazodes Raorchestes crustai Raorchestes johnceei Raorchestes sp. Raorchestes anili Raorchestes bobingeri Rhacophorus calcadensis
Status Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare Common Rare Common Common Common Common Common Rare Rare Common Rare Rare Rare Common Rare Common
Remarks
Breeding
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