Raorchestes ochlandrae
Raorchestes ochlandrae is a species of shrub frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India. This species of the oriental shrub frog was first described from Kakkayam Reserve Forest of Calicut district, Kerala state, in the southern Western Ghats in 2007 but has since been recorded at many other sites along the Western Ghats. The specific name ochlandrae refers to microhabitat of the species, bamboo Ochlandra setigera.
Description
Males measure and females, based on only one measured specimen, in snout–vent length. The female was observed in amplexus and was larger than the male it was paired with.This species is distinguished from congeners by the combination of characters such as body small, elongate, squat and flat; head arched, wider than long; snout short rounded, equal or sub equal to diameter of eye; canthus rostralis rounded; tympanum indistinct but visible; eyes protruding, pupil with striking golden yellow dentition like marks; belly granular; vocal sac unpigmented; fleshy brown to cream yellow dorsum with two distinct golden yellow lateral bands bordered by dark brown from upper eyelid to the posterior part of flanks.
Distribution
The species is endemic to the Western Ghats mountains, reported from parts of the Nilgiris and Anaimalai Hills. It is reported from evergreen forests with bamboos around 600 to 1000 metres above mean sea level.Taxonomy
Genetic studies indicate that the Ochlandra reed frog is part of an evolutionary clade comprising five lineages including R. ochlandrae, R. chalazodes, R. manohari, R. uthamani, and a lineage described as ''Raorchestes flaviocularis.''Habitat and conservation
This species inhabits dense stands of the bamboo Ochlandra setigera, growing on forest edges and in more in open habitats. The frogs reside in the hollow tube of internodal region of bamboo about two to three metres above the ground.The species occurs in the Western Ghats mostly along forest streams and other sites where Ochlandra stands remain.