Rana cyanophlyctis

Rana cyanophlyctis is a common dicroglossid frog found in South Asia. It is known under numerous common names, including Indian skipper frog or skittering frog. They are often seen at the edge of bodies of water with their eyes above the water. They noisily move away from the shore when disturbed, giving them their common name. They are rarely seen outside water.

DESCRIPTION

• Vomerine teeth in two small oblique series extending slightly beyond the posterior edge of the choanae.

• The head is of moderate size with a scarcely pointed snout, and the canthus rostralis is indistinct.

• The interorbital space is much narrower than the upper eyelid, and the tympanum is distinct, measuring about two-thirds the size of the eye.

• The fingers are slender and pointed, with the first finger not extending beyond the second.

• The toes are webbed to the tips, which are pointed, and the fourth toe is not significantly longer than the third or fifth. The outer toe is strongly fringed, and the subarticular tubercles are small, while the inner metatarsal tubercle is small and conical, resembling a rudimentary toe.

•  The tibiotarsal articulation typically reaches slightly beyond the eye. The skin is covered with small tubercles and units above and exhibits more or less distinct rows of pores.

• The dorsal coloration is brown or olive with dark spotting or marbling. There are two blackish streaks on the posterior side of the thighs, which are seldom absent. The ventral side is often speckled with blackish. Males possess two external vocal vesicles that open via two slits beneath the angles of the mouth.

• They have the ability to leap out of the water while in a floating position. A cross-section of their phalanx bones reveals annual growth rings that can be used to determine their age.

REPRODUCTION

• The breeding season for Rana cyanophlyctis typically occurs during the monsoon season when there is an abundance of rain and temporary pools of water are formed.

• Male frogs congregate around water bodies such as ponds, ditches, and shallow pools.

• Males produce a distinctive and high-pitched advertisement call to attract females. These calls are often described as sounding like a series of "chirps" or "clicks."

• Once a female approaches, the male grabs her in a mating embrace known as "amplexus." In this position, the male fertilizes the eggs externally as the female releases them into the water.

• Female Rana cyanophlyctis typically lay their eggs in clusters, attaching them to submerged vegetation or debris in shallow water.

• The eggs are surrounded by a jelly-like substance that provides protection.

• Eggs hatch into tadpoles within a few days, depending on water temperature and other environmental factors.

• Tadpoles are fully aquatic and undergo a period of growth and development in the water.

• They primarily feed on plant matter, algae, and detritus.

• As tadpoles grow and develop, they undergo metamorphosis.

• During this process, they gradually develop limbs, lose their gills, and transform into juvenile frogs.

• Metamorphosis can take several weeks to a couple of months, again depending on environmental conditions.

HABITAT

This frog is primarily an aquatic species commonly inhabiting marshes, ponds, and various other types of wetlands.