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

Microhylidae The Microhylidae, commonly known as narrow-mouthed frogs, are a geographically widespread family of frogs. The 683 species are in 63 genera and 11 subfamilies, which is the largest number of genera of any frog family. Evolution A molecular phylo ...

, the narrow-mouthed frogs. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found 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 found elsew ...

to the Western Ghats south of the Palghat Gap in southern India. It is named for

Darrel Frost Darrel Richmond Frost (born 1951) is an American herpetologist and systematist. He was previously head curator of herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History, as well as president of both the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Repti ...

, an American herpetologist, in recognition of the online database

Amphibian Species of the World ''Amphibian Species of the World 6.1: An Online Reference'' (ASW) is a herpetology database. It lists the names of frogs, salamanders and other amphibians, which scientists first described each species and what year, and the animal's known range. ...

that he maintains. Accordingly, common name Darrel's chorus frog has been coined for this species.

Distribution

''Microhyla darreli'' is currently known from two localities in Thiruvananthapuram district in

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

: its type locality Karamana, and Chathankod, some 50 km northeast of the type locality. Microhyla darreli lateral view

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 most c ...

; no females were collected. The overall appearance is relatively slender. The snout is subovoid in dorsal view and rounded in lateral view. The tympanum is indistinct and the supratympanic fold is weakly developed. The limbs are short. The finger tips are slightly expanded but lack grooves; dermal fringes are weakly developed and webbing is absent. The toe tips are rounded and slightly enlarged into discs with prominent dorsoterminal grooves; dermal fringes are well developed. The dorsum, upper eyelids, and lateral surfaces of snout are greyish-brown with scattered light brown markings dorsum and snout. The lateral surfaces of head are light greyish-brown and bear minute light brown spots. There are prominent brown crossbands on the lips. The sides of the body are greyish-brown with a dark blackish-brown band, marking, or skin fold starting from tip of the nostril and running towards the groin. The limbs are light greyish-brown with brown transverse bands; webbing light brown. The anterior parts of thighs are light yellowish-brown with faint grey spots. The throat is light flesh color with minute dark speckles. The belly is white. The forearms and forelegs have light flesh red color, mottled with dark brown on the margins. Males have a single median

vocal sac The vocal sac is the flexible membrane of skin possessed by most male frogs and toads. The purpose of the vocal sac is usually as an amplification of their mating or advertisement call. The presence or development of the vocal sac is one way o ...

Habitat and conservation

''Microhyla darreli'' has been found inside a wayside plantation area close to a river (the type locality,

asl American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States of America and most of Anglophone Canada. ASL is a complete and organized visual language that is express ...

) and adjacent to a temporary pool inside a plantation. It was observed to be locally abundant during its short breeding season in June–July. As of early 2021, this species has not yet been included 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 the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biologi ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q105342836 darreli Frogs of India Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats Fauna of Kerala Amphibians described in 2018 Taxa named by Sathyabhama Das Biju Taxa named by Madhava Meegaskumbura