Taruga eques (common names: Günther's whipping frog, montane hour-glass tree-frog) is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the central hills of Sri Lanka.[1][2][3]
Adult males measure 33–43 mm (1.3–1.7 in) and females 59–71 mm (2.3–2.8 in) in snout–vent length. It resembles (and has been confused with) Taruga fastigo but has relatively shorter legs, narrower but longer head, an by the absence of the black line that connects the axilla and groin in Taruga fastigo, or that line being reduced to a band of blackish dots.[3]Taruga eques can be differentiated from the species included to the same genus with the presence of Calcar on the heel.[4]
Habitat and conservationedit
Taruga eques inhabits montane tropical moist forests at elevations of 1,200–2,135 m (3,937–7,005 ft) above sea level. It is both arboreal and terrestrial, being found in the canopy and on tree trunks as well as in grasses at the edge of ponds. The tadpoles occur in both permanent and seasonal ponds. It does not occur in modified habitats. While a common species, it is threatened by habitat loss caused by the conversion of forest to agricultural use, forestry, fires, and infrastructure development. It is present in the Horton Plains National Park, Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve, and the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary.[1]
Polymorphismedit
Polymorphism is defined as “arising of two or more distinct forms simultaneously in the same habitat of a species in such proportions that the rarest of them cannot be maintained by recurrent mutation’’.[5]
Galleryedit
adult stage with "dorsal spots" pigment pattern found in world heritage Horton Plains National Park
at Haggala
at Haggala
adult stage with dark brown dorsal colouration found in world heritage Horton Plains National Park
adult stage with yellow dorsal colouration found in world heritage Horton Plains National Park
Referencesedit
^ abcIUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Taruga eques". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T58946A156586528. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T58946A156586528.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
^ abFrost, Darrel R. (2017). "Taruga eques (Günther, 1858)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
^ abManamendra-Arachchi, Kelum; Pethiyagoda, Rohan (2001). "Polypedates fastigo, a new tree frog (Ranidae: Rhacophorinae) from Sri Lanka" (PDF). Journal of South Asian Natural History. 5: 191–199.
^De Silva, Anslem (2009). Amphibians of Sri Lanka: A Photographic Guide to Common Frogs, Toads and Caecilians (1st ed.). Kandy: Privately published. p. 125. ISBN978-955-52061-0-5.
taruga, eques, common, names, günther, whipping, frog, montane, hour, glass, tree, frog, species, frog, family, rhacophoridae, endemic, central, hills, lanka, conservation, status, endangered, iucn, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, anima. Taruga eques common names Gunther s whipping frog montane hour glass tree frog is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae It is endemic to the central hills of Sri Lanka 1 2 3 Taruga eques Conservation status Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Rhacophoridae Genus Taruga Species T eques Binomial name Taruga eques Gunther 1858 Synonyms 2 Polypedates eques Gunther 1858 Rhacophorus eques Gunther 1858 Rhacophorus cruciger eques Gunther 1858 Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat and conservation 3 Polymorphism 4 Gallery 5 ReferencesDescription editAdult males measure 33 43 mm 1 3 1 7 in and females 59 71 mm 2 3 2 8 in in snout vent length It resembles and has been confused with Taruga fastigo but has relatively shorter legs narrower but longer head an by the absence of the black line that connects the axilla and groin in Taruga fastigo or that line being reduced to a band of blackish dots 3 Taruga eques can be differentiated from the species included to the same genus with the presence of Calcar on the heel 4 Habitat and conservation editTaruga eques inhabits montane tropical moist forests at elevations of 1 200 2 135 m 3 937 7 005 ft above sea level It is both arboreal and terrestrial being found in the canopy and on tree trunks as well as in grasses at the edge of ponds The tadpoles occur in both permanent and seasonal ponds It does not occur in modified habitats While a common species it is threatened by habitat loss caused by the conversion of forest to agricultural use forestry fires and infrastructure development It is present in the Horton Plains National Park Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve and the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary 1 Polymorphism editPolymorphism is defined as arising of two or more distinct forms simultaneously in the same habitat of a species in such proportions that the rarest of them cannot be maintained by recurrent mutation 5 Gallery edit nbsp adult stage with dorsal spots pigment pattern found in world heritage Horton Plains National Park nbsp at Haggala nbsp at Haggala nbsp adult stage with dark brown dorsal colouration found in world heritage Horton Plains National Park nbsp adult stage with yellow dorsal colouration found in world heritage Horton Plains National ParkReferences edit a b c IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2020 Taruga eques IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T58946A156586528 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 3 RLTS T58946A156586528 en Retrieved 17 November 2021 a b Frost Darrel R 2017 Taruga eques Gunther 1858 Amphibian Species of the World an Online Reference Version 6 0 American Museum of Natural History Retrieved 4 June 2017 a b Manamendra Arachchi Kelum Pethiyagoda Rohan 2001 Polypedates fastigo a new tree frog Ranidae Rhacophorinae from Sri Lanka PDF Journal of South Asian Natural History 5 191 199 De Silva Anslem 2009 Amphibians of Sri Lanka A Photographic Guide to Common Frogs Toads and Caecilians 1st ed Kandy Privately published p 125 ISBN 978 955 52061 0 5 Ford EB 1945 Polymorphism Biological Reviews 20 2 73 88 doi 10 1111 j 1469 185X 1945 tb00315 x S2CID 221532346 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Taruga eques amp oldid 1055707258, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
