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2021-02-26T02:41:40Z

ShortDescBot adding short description "Species of amphibian"

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{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Micrixalus Elegans.jpg
| taxon = Micrixalus elegans
| status = DD
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author1=Biju, S.D.| title = ''Micrixalus elegans'' | volume= 2004 | page = e.T58377A11762591 | year = 2004 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T58377A11762591.en }}</ref>
| authority = ([[C. R. Narayan Rao|Rao]], 1937)
| synonyms = ''Philautus elegans'' <small>Rao, 1937</small>
}}

'''''Micrixalus elegans''''' is a species of [[frog]] in the family [[Micrixalidae]]. It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Western Ghats]], [[India]], and occurs between the [[Palakkad Gap]] and [[Goa Gap]] in the states of [[Kerala]] and [[Karnataka]].<ref name=frost/><ref name="BijuEtAl2014"/> ''Micrixalus elegans'' is one of the ''Micrixalus'' species showing "foot-flagging" behaviour, hence the common name '''elegant dancing frog''' has been proposed.<ref name="BijuEtAl2014"/> Other common names include '''elegant torrent frog''' and '''elegant bush frog'''.<ref name=frost/>

==Description==
Males measure {{convert|13|-|15.5|mm|abbr=on}} and females {{convert|17.7|-|21|mm|abbr=on}} in snout–vent length. The [[Dorsum (anatomy)|dorsum]] is uniformly reddish brown, with scattered yellowish grey spots. The sides of the head are distinctly dark blackish brown. The dorsal surfaces of the limbs are reddish brown with dark brown bands.<ref name="BijuEtAl2014"/>

Males of this species show "foot-flagging" behaviour, stretching the entire hing leg away from the body, that they occasionally conduct, along with calling. Males may also engage in male-male combats, kicking each other.<ref name="BijuEtAl2014"/>

==Habitat and conservation==
Its natural [[habitat]]s are tropical moist lowland [[forest]]s and [[river]]s.<ref name=IUCN/> It prefers damp leaf litter by fast-flowing forest streams.<ref name="BijuEtAl2014"/>

This species was for a long time only known from the [[holotype]], which is probably lost.<ref name=IUCN/> However, it was rediscovered in 2010 and found to be relatively common; the small adult size of this species might have led researchers to mistake them as juveniles of another species.<ref name="Lost! Amphibians of India"/> Classified as "[[data deficient]]" before its rediscovery,<ref name=IUCN/> the species is now know from several localities, some of them in or near protected areas.<ref name="BijuEtAl2014"/>

{|
| [[File:Typical habitat for Micrixalus elegans.jpg|thumb|Typical habitat for ''Micrixalus elegans''.]]
| [[File:Micrixalus elegans amongst leaf litter and fallen logs near a fresh-water stream.jpg|thumb|''Micrixalus elegans'' amongst leaf litter and fallen logs near a fresh-water stream.]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="BijuEtAl2014">{{cite journal|last1=Biju|first1=S. D. |author2=Sonali Garg |author3=K. V. Gururaja |author4=Yogesh Shouche |author5=Sandeep A. Walujkar |year=2014 |title=DNA barcoding reveals unprecedented diversity in Dancing Frogs of India (Micrixalidae, ''Micrixalus''): a taxonomic revision with description of 14 new species|journal=Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences) |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=37–123 |doi=10.4038/cjsbs.v43i1.6850|doi-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name=frost>{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Micrixalidae/Micrixalus/Micrixalus-elegans |title=''Micrixalus elegans'' (Rao, 1937) |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2016 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |accessdate=21 April 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="Lost! Amphibians of India">{{cite web |url=http://www.lostspeciesindia.org/LAI2/new5_rediscovered.php |title=Elegant Torrent Frog: ''Micrixalus elegans'' |year= |work=Lost! Amphibians of India |accessdate=21 April 2016}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Micrixalus elegans}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q535015}}

[[Category:Micrixalus|elegans]]
[[Category:Amphibians described in 1937]]
[[Category:Frogs of India]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Taxa named by C. R. Narayan Rao]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]

Micrixalus elegans - Revision history

imported>ShortDescBot: ShortDescBot adding short description "Species of amphibian"