Showing posts with label Frogs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frogs. Show all posts

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Kirtisighe's Frog/කීර්තිසිංහගේ මැඩියා[Kirthtisinhage Madiya] (Minervarya kirtisinghei [Fejervarya kirtisinghei])

A common endemic frog inhabiting streams in forests and adjoining plantations (Rubber estates), home gardens, marshy areas and such aquatic habitats of the wet zone below 1600m elevation. Sometime found far away from the water. 

Friday, February 21, 2014

Muller's shrub frog (Pseudophilautus sarasinorum)

An endemic shrub frog confined to the sub-montane forests from 600 to 1300m in Central and Knuckles hills. It can be observed on moss covered rocks and trees near forest streams as well as such anthropogenic habitats.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Sharp-snouted shrub frog (Pseudophilautus cuspis)

An endemic shrub frog is confined to the wet lowland close canopy rain forests with little understorey from 150m to 660m a.s.l. Sharp-snouted shrub frog is active both day and night and during the day time it can be found among leaf litter on the ground. Vocalizing males can be found on branches and leaves above the forest floor during the night.
Recorded areas - Millawa near Morawaka, Mederipitiya and Wathugala near Deniyaya
Above individual was photographed near famous giant Navada tree of Sinharaja world heritage site from Kudawa entrance. 

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Kelaart's Dwarf Toad/කෙලාර්ට්ගේ කුරු ගෙම්බා[Kelaartge Kuru Gemba] (Adenomus kelaartii)

Kelaart's Dwarf Toad is an endemic frog inhabiting wet zone forests and adjoining well wooded areas from lowlands to sub-montane region. It is a terrestrial species though occasionally climbs on trees and walls of the rural houses. Kelaart's Dwarf Frog active mainly during the night and in the day time it hides under rocks, decaying logs and  among leaf litter along stream banks. Sometimes more than one individuals can be seen hiding together in a same rock crevice.


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Common hourglass tree frog (Polypedates cruciger)


An arboreal frog of about 60mm snout to vent length of male and 90 of female. Endemic to Sri Lanka and distributed in both wet and dry zone up to about 1525m a.s.l though not much common in dry zone. It is much common around anthropogenic habitats and usually it is encountered inside bathrooms, overhead water tanks, banana groves and other such vegetation.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Common paddy field frog/Vel madiya (Minervarya agricola [Fejervarya limnocharis])


Common paddy field frog can be distinguished from similar two other Fejervarya species by the absence of the longitudinal ridges on the dorsal area of the body and having more or less round tubercles instead. It is one of the commonest frog of the island found in paddy fields, streams, ponds and such other water bodies. However sometimes it encounters even far away from the water. It is distributed in both wet and dry zones of the country below about 1400m a.s.l

Monday, March 7, 2011

Skipper Frog/Utpatana Madiya (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis)

Widely distributed frog, inhabiting all types of water bodies (prefer still water) from Sea level (Ex: Bundala) to higher elevations (Ex: Nuwaraeliaya).  It can be distinguished from its close relative Euphlyctis hexadactylus by its smaller size (50-60 mm from snout to vent) and smooth throat (hexadactylus has warts on its throat).  It is well adapted to aquatic life and frequently can be seen floating in water while keeping its bulging eyes and the nostril above the water surface. It can skip over the water surface when alarmed and hence its Vernacular names(Skipper/Utpatana).  

Thursday, September 30, 2010

House Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)

Probably the most common toad of Sri Lanka, usually found in anthropogenic habitats throughout the island, both in wet and dry zone excluding Jaffna peninsula, from sea level up to hills about 1800m a.s.l. Not prefer to live in natural forest floors though sometime found close to forest edges and degraded forest areas (Above right hand side picture was taken at Fishing hut eco lodge situated in the buffer zone of Peak Wilderness sanctuary. I have also observed it in a tributary to Maha oya of Pussella in knuckles range, close to an anicut of an irrigation channel). Active during night and terrestrial, though not uncommon close to water bodies. 

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Spotted tree frog (Polypedates maculatus)

Spotted tree frog is widely distributed in both low country dry and wet zones including arid zone up to 460m above sea level. It is commonly encountered in anthropogenic habitats and during day time it use to hides in cool places such as inside bath rooms and banana groves.  This frog can change its color up to certain extent and dorsal color may vary from light brown and yellow to reddish brown. Dark brown patches on dorsal surface can be seen sometimes and hence the name maculatus, since maculatus in Latin is the one who bear spots or patches on its body.  Loreal region is dark brown and dark cross bars can be seen on dorsal side of limbs. 

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Six-toe green frog (Euphlyctis hexadactylus)


Purely aquatic frog widely distributed in lowlands water bodies such as ponds, marshes,rivers and tanks with aquatic vegetations. Highest attitude where this frog is recorded is Warnagala area near Kuruwita of peak wilderness sanctuary (760m). Sometime it can be seen inside domestic wells too. Dorsal surface bright green or mud brown often with pale yellow or creamy white lateral line. Female is large and grows up to 120mm in length while small males grow only about 58-87mm.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Common wood Frog/Bronzed frog (Indosylvirana temporalis)

Common wood Frog is a semi-arboreal common frog in shaded rocky streams of wet zone rain forests. It may be also inhabits paddy fields and such anthropogenic habitats. Anslem de Silva recorded it on the road to Horton plains at 1830m above sea level and it is considered as the highest location where this frog is recorded so far. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. It lives mainly on wet rocks in streams rather than in the water itself and diurnal activities also observed in rain forest areas though mostly active during night and hide among rock boulders during day time.