Anuran diversity in different habitat of Sringeri and Koppa Taluk

Abstract

The amphibian fauna of India is very diverse and play a major role in ecosystem functioning, especially as consumers of pest insects and their therapeutical value. The present updated checklist of India enlists 432 species of amphibians. The study was carried out from the month of June 2017 to October 2019 by belt transect method. The length 5×500m was laid in each of the study areas and the observed anurans inside the transect were documented and photographed. A total of 42 species belonging to 16 genera 7 families (Bufonidae, Dicroglossidae, Micrixalidae, Nictibatrechidae, Ranidae, Ranixalidae and Rhacophoridae) were documented during the present investigation. Dicroglossidae being the family represented by maximum number of species (14 species) and Bufonidae familiy having only one representative species. Out of 42 species, three species Nyctibatrachus dattatreyaensis, Pseudophylautus amboli and Micrixalus kottigeharensis belongs to critically endangered category and two species Fejervarya sahyadris and Ramnella mormorata belongs to endangered status according to IUCN, 2020. Among these 20 (47.6%) species are endemic to westernghats. Further studies are on the above line are required to investigate the complete status of anurans in and around Sringeri and Koppa areas.