INDIAN PAINTED FROG (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: A rare Indian Painted Frog was recently discovered at Telangana's Kawal Tiger Reserve, marking a notable sighting outside its typical habitats.

Indian Painted Frog

• About: It belongs to the Microhylidae family and is a species of narrow-mouthed frog.
• Scientific Name: Uperodon taprobanicus
• Distribution: It is found in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, southern and eastern India, and Nepal up to an altitude of about 1300 metres.

oMost common in Sri Lanka; in India, found in states such as West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, especially in the southern areas of the Western and Eastern Ghats.

• Features:

oIt can grow up to 75 millimetres (7.5 cm) in length from snout to vent, with females slightly larger than males.

oKnown for its smooth, rounded body and distinctive coloration, often including shades of brown with patches of orange or yellow.

• Conservation Status: IUCN Red List - Least Concern.

Kawal Tiger Reserve

• Location: Situated in northeastern Telangana, bordered by the Godavari River and Maharashtra.
• Geography: Forms part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands.
• Rivers: Catchment area for Godavari and Kadam rivers, flowing south of the sanctuary.
• Connectivity: Linked to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) in the north and Indravati Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh) in the northeast.
• Habitat: Diverse habitats including dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams, and water bodies.
• Vegetation: Dominated by Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest; notable species include Teak and Bamboo.
• Flora: Rich diversity with over 673 recorded plant species, including Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, and Boswellia serrata.
• Fauna: Tiger, leopard, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, nilgai, chousinga, chinkara, and black buck.