These amphibians have some cool moves that we’re sure Kermit will copy
in the next Muppets movie, but not everything is good news for them.
In the jungle mountains of southern India tiny male frogs choreograph
amazing acrobatic routines to attract mates – the spectacle is
fascinating, but their last show could be just around the corner.
Indian biologists have spent more than a decade exploring the mountains of Western Ghats, coming across magnificent species. These dancing frogs are, perhaps, the most interesting of them all, but unfortunately the scientists have realised that the land is changing, becoming increasingly dry and hence threatening the lives of most frog species.
“It’s like a Hollywood movie, both joyful and sad. On the one hand, we have brought these beautiful frogs into public knowledge. But about 80 percent are outside protected areas, and in some places, it was as if nature itself was crying,” said the project’s lead scientist, Sathyabhama Das Biju, to the Guardian.
The 14 newly discovered species of dancing frog have brought the number of known Indian dancing frogs to 24, and they are all exclusive denizens of the Western Ghats, which is quickly drying up, making life for these frogs and other species almost impossible.
Male dancing frogs – just like peacock spiders – are the only ones that dance. It’s a breeding behaviour known as foot-flagging (kick, extend, release). The leg extensions are also used to kick other suitors – once has to do, what once has to do to get the lady, especially when the sex ratio for amphibians as reported by the Guardian is 100 males to one female.
The family of Indian dancing frogs (Micrixalidae) only breeds when the stream levels come down, so any changes in rainfall or water availability alters the pattern.
"Compared with other frogs, these are so sensitive to this habitat that any change might be devastating for them," Biju said. "Back in 2006, we saw maybe 400 to 500 hopping around during the egg-laying season. But each year there were less, and in the end even if you worked very hard it was difficult to catch even 100."
The Ghats is home to 325 threatened species of birds, plants, amphibians, fish and reptiles. These 14 dancing frogs could join them soon.
The 14 new species were described in a paper published in the Ceylon Journal of Science. Watch them dance here:
Source : Science Alert .
Indian biologists have spent more than a decade exploring the mountains of Western Ghats, coming across magnificent species. These dancing frogs are, perhaps, the most interesting of them all, but unfortunately the scientists have realised that the land is changing, becoming increasingly dry and hence threatening the lives of most frog species.
“It’s like a Hollywood movie, both joyful and sad. On the one hand, we have brought these beautiful frogs into public knowledge. But about 80 percent are outside protected areas, and in some places, it was as if nature itself was crying,” said the project’s lead scientist, Sathyabhama Das Biju, to the Guardian.
The 14 newly discovered species of dancing frog have brought the number of known Indian dancing frogs to 24, and they are all exclusive denizens of the Western Ghats, which is quickly drying up, making life for these frogs and other species almost impossible.
Male dancing frogs – just like peacock spiders – are the only ones that dance. It’s a breeding behaviour known as foot-flagging (kick, extend, release). The leg extensions are also used to kick other suitors – once has to do, what once has to do to get the lady, especially when the sex ratio for amphibians as reported by the Guardian is 100 males to one female.
The family of Indian dancing frogs (Micrixalidae) only breeds when the stream levels come down, so any changes in rainfall or water availability alters the pattern.
"Compared with other frogs, these are so sensitive to this habitat that any change might be devastating for them," Biju said. "Back in 2006, we saw maybe 400 to 500 hopping around during the egg-laying season. But each year there were less, and in the end even if you worked very hard it was difficult to catch even 100."
The Ghats is home to 325 threatened species of birds, plants, amphibians, fish and reptiles. These 14 dancing frogs could join them soon.
The 14 new species were described in a paper published in the Ceylon Journal of Science. Watch them dance here:
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