Taxonomic Status of the Endemic Andaman Bullfrog Kaloula baleata ghoshi Cherchi, 1954 (Anura: Microhylidae) with Notes on Distribution and Natural History

Authors

  • SUMAITHANGI RAJAGOPALAN CHANDRAMOULI Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, INDIA
  • KATTUPUTHUR VENKATARAMAN DEVI PRASAD Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, INDIA

Keywords:

Kaloula, Andaman Islands, species complex, subspecies, elevation, allopatry, Java

Abstract

Taxonomic status of the Andamanese subspecies of Kaloula baleata i.e., Kaloula baleata ghoshi is re-evaluated based on a comparative analysis of morphological data from members of this species complex from different parts of Southeast Asia. The Andamanese population is shown to be a morphologically distinct, allopatric species deserving specific recognition similar to the recently recognized and named members of this species complex from other parts of Southeast Asia. Thus, the population in the Andaman Islands hitherto considered being a subspecies of Kaloula baleata is elevated to species status in the combination Kaloula ghoshi. Descriptive notes on morphology, distribution and natural history of this poorly known taxon are presented herein for the first time based on extensive field-surveys conducted in the Andaman Islands.

References

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Published

2018-04-01

How to Cite

[1]
CHANDRAMOULI, S.R. and PRASAD, K.V.D. 2018. Taxonomic Status of the Endemic Andaman Bullfrog Kaloula baleata ghoshi Cherchi, 1954 (Anura: Microhylidae) with Notes on Distribution and Natural History. Tropical Natural History. 18, 1 (Apr. 2018), 40–53.

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Vol. 18 No. 1 (2018): April

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Articles

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Chulalongkorn University. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher