MYRISTICA SWAMP TREEFROG

Subject: Environment

Context: Myristica swamp tree frog, a rare arboreal species endemic to the Western Ghats has been recorded for the first time north of the Shencottah gap in the Vazhachal Reserve Forest in Kerala’s Thrissur district.

Concept:

• It’s scientific name is Mercurana myristicapalustris.
• These frogs are rare and elusive for the reason that they are arboreal and active only for a few weeks during their breeding season.
• During this season, there is a large aggregation of males that descend from the high canopy of the trees. The males vocalize in groups from the low perches in the swamps.
• They exhibit unique breeding behavior. The breeding season, unlike for other frogs, starts in the pre-monsoon season (May) and ends before the monsoon becomes fully active in June.
• Arboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees.