''Microhyla chakrapanii'' is a species of frog in the family

Microhylidae The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family (biology), family of frogs. The 683 species are in 57 genera and 11 subfamilies. Evolution A molecular phylogenetic study by van der Meijden, et al. ...

, the narrow-mouthed frogs. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to the

Andaman Islands The Andaman Islands () are an archipelago, made up of 200 islands, in the northeastern Indian Ocean about southwest off the coasts of Myanmar's Ayeyarwady Region. Together with the Nicobar Islands to their south, the Andamans serve as a mari ...

. It is also known as the Mayabunder rice frog, Chakrapani's narrow-mouthed frog, and bilateral banded frog. Although morphology suggests association with the ''

Microhyla achatina ''Microhyla achatina'', commonly known as the Javan chorus frog, Java rice frog, or Javanese narrow-mouthed frog, is a species of Microhylidae, narrow-mouthed frog endemic to Java, Indonesia. Description ''Microhyla achatina'' is a small spec ...

'' group, molecular data places it in the ''

Microhyla fissipes ''Microhyla fissipes'' (commonly known as the ornate chorus frog) is a microhylid frog from East Asia, East and Southeast Asia, from southern and central China and Taiwan to the Malay Peninsula. It was previously considered to be the same species ...

'' group, with '' Microhyla mymensinghensis'' as its closest relative.

Description

Adult males measure in

snout–vent length Snout–vent length (SVL) is a morphometric measurement taken in herpetology from the tip of the snout to the most posterior opening of the cloacal slit (vent)."direct line distance from tip of snout to posterior margin of vent" It is the mos ...

. The body is moderately stout. The snout is rounded. The tympanum is not visible. The finger tips have no discs whereas the toes do bear distinct discs; the toes have basal webbing. Skin is smooth dorsally, where the throat, chest, and part of belly are rough. The dorsum is brownish grey. There are two dark patches on both sides of the mid-dorsal line at the shoulder level, and another pair of broad, bracket-shaped patches behind them. Lateral bands run on both sides extending from the tip of the snout almost to the groin.

Distribution

''Microhyla chakrapanii'' is known from the North Andaman, Middle Andaman, South Andaman,

Rutland Rutland is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Leicestershire to the north and west, Lincolnshire to the north-east, and Northamptonshire to the south-west. Oakham is the largest town and county town. Rutland has a ...

Little Andaman Little Andaman Island ( Onge: ''Gaubolambe'') is the fourth largest of the Andaman Islands of India with an area of 707 km2, lying at the southern end of the archipelago. It belongs to the South Andaman administrative district, part of the ...

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated continental island in southeastern New York (state), New York state, extending into the Atlantic Ocean. It constitutes a significant share of the New York metropolitan area in both population and land are ...

, and Neill Island.

Habitat and conservation

''Microhyla chakrapanii'' is

fossorial A fossorial animal () is one that is adapted to digging and which lives primarily (but not solely) underground. Examples of fossorial vertebrates are Mole (animal), moles, badgers, naked mole-rats, meerkats, armadillos, wombats, and mole salamand ...

. Most specimens have been found under grasses on the edges of temporary pools and puddles, often in secondary forests during the breeding season, typically in November. It has also been reported from paddy fields and primary evergreen forests. This species is listed as "

data deficient A data deficient (DD) species is one which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as offering insufficient information for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made. This does not necessaril ...

" in the

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data Book, founded in 1964, is an inventory of the global conservation status and extinction risk of biological spe ...

, in an assessment made in 2004, at the time when it was only known from Mayabunder in North Andaman.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3312197 chakrapanii Frogs of India Endemic fauna of the Andaman Islands Amphibians described in 1977