Indirana paramakri, commonly known as the rocky terrain leaping frog or Suganthagiri leaping frog, is a species of frog in the family Ranixalidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats of India and is known only from the state of Kerala.
Taxonomy and Description
The species was described in 2016 by Garg and Biju based on molecular and morphological analyses. It belongs to the Indirana semipalmata species group. The adult female holotype measured 30.9 mm in snout-vent length. The skin of the dorsum is red-brown in color, with a dark black-brown stripe running from each nostril past the bottom of each eye, over the tympanum, and to the armpit. The eardrum is black-brown. The front and hind legs are red-brown with brown markings, while parts of the legs and flanks are gray-brown. The ventrum is gray with some black-brown spots.
Etymology
The species name paramakri is derived from the Malayalam language, the official language of Kerala. Para means "rock" and makri means "frog," referring to the frog's tendency to inhabit rocky places.
Distribution and Habitat
Indirana paramakri is known only from two localities in Wayanad district, Kerala: Suganthagiri and Settukunnu, north of the Palghat Gap. It has been observed at elevations between 823 and 1,100 meters above sea level. The frog inhabits wet rocks near streams and areas among leaf litter, and has also been found in disturbed areas as well as suspected in nearby primary forest.
Reproduction
This species lays its eggs on wet rocks. The tadpoles are semi-aquatic and use their strong tails and hind limbs to move. Their limbs develop at a much younger age compared to the tadpoles of other frog species.
Conservation Status
The IUCN classifies Indirana paramakri as Endangered (IUCN 3.1). Its small geographic range is subject to ongoing habitat degradation. Threats include pesticides, climate change (specifically the drying out of its habitat), and landslide prevention efforts where materials used to reinforce roads can fill in rock crevices used for egg-laying. The fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which causes chytridiomycosis, has been observed on other frogs in the genus Indirana, though its specific impact on this species is not yet known. The frog's range includes at least one protected area: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
