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{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Raorchestes kakachi - Kakachi shrub frog male and female.jpg
| image_caption = [[Holotype]] male (a) and [[Paratype]] female (b)
| status =NT
| status_system =IUCN3.1
|status_ref=<ref name=IUCN />
| taxon = Raorchestes kakachi
| authority = Seshadri, Gururaja, and Aravind, 2012
}}

'''''Raorchestes kakachi''''' ('''Kakachi shrub frog''') is a species of [[frog]]s in the family [[Rhacophoridae]]. It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to the southern [[Western Ghats]] of [[India]].<ref name=frost>{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Rhacophoridae/Rhacophorinae/Raorchestes/Raorchestes-kakachi |title=''Raorchestes kakachi'' Seshadri, Gururaja, and Aravind, 2012 |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2014 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |access-date=27 May 2014}}</ref> The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] ''kakachi'' refers to the type locality from where the species was described.<ref name ="seshadri et al. 2012">{{cite journal|last1=Seshadri|first1=K. S.|last2=Gururaja|first2= K. V.|last3=Aravind| first3= N. A. |year=2012| title=A new species of ''Raorchestes'' (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) from mid-elevation evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats, India|journal= Zootaxa| volume=3410|pages=19–34|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3410.1.2|url=http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/44950/|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=IUCN>{{cite IUCN
|title= Kakachi Shrub Frog: ''Raorchestes kakachi''
|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/56040643/56040788
|article-number=e.T56040643A56040788
|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T56040643A56040788.en
|id=56040643
|year=2023
|author1=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group
|access-date=March 27, 2024}}</ref>

==Description==
It is a small sized [[frog]] with males ranging from 24.7 to 25.8 mm (based on three specimens) and females from 24.3 to 34.1 mm (based on three specimens). It is distinguished from all other congeners from the following suite of characters. Oval snout under dorsal view; indistinct tympanum; head wider than long and moderate webbing in hind feet. Dorsal coloration varies from brown to ivory; brownish mottling on flanks, ventral coloration ivory with brown blotches reducing towards vent and inner and outer surface of thigh, inner surface of shank and inner surface of tarsus with a distinct dark brown horizontal band which extends up to first three toes on upper surface.<ref name ="seshadri et al. 2012"/><ref name=Amph>{{BioRef|amphibiaweb
|title= ''Raorchestes kakachi'' Seshadri, Gururaja, and Aravind, 2012
|author1=
|editor1=
|date=
|language=
|url=https://amphibiaweb.org/species/7886
|access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref>

===Sexual dimorphism===
Males lack [[nuptial pads]]. They possess a median subgular vocal sac with a pair of openings at the base of the lower jaw. The iris is dark brown. Females are larger than the male and possess a large ovary with creamy white eggs. Females have on their head a tetragonal cap like patch varying in color from pale pink to grey, iris colour reddish to golden brown (see the image: a = male;b = female).<ref name ="seshadri et al. 2012"/>

==Distribution and ecology==
This species was described from bushes near [[Kakachi]] in the [[Agastyamalai]] region in the southern [[Western Ghats]]. It has not been reported from elsewhere.<ref name=frost/><ref name ="seshadri et al. 2012"/> It has been found in evergreen forests at elevations of 1100 to 1300 meters above sea level, exclusively in the protected [[Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve]] and Shendurney, Peppara and Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuaries. It has been observed on the forest floor and on riparian vegetation.<ref name=IUCN /> Individuals of this species are known to live in forest canopies. Vocalization usually begins early in the evening.<ref name ="seshadri et al. 2012"/>

Like other frogs in ''Raorchestes'', this frog breeds through [[direct development]] with no free-swimming tadpole stage.<ref name=IUCN />

==Threats==

Scientists classify this frog as near-threatened because its population is entirely dependent on the diligent management of its protected habitats. Were the status of those areas to change, scientists believe it would be subject to considerable habitat degradation and fragmentation. Scientists also cite [[climate change]] as a threat to this frog. Because it lives at considerable elevation, it would not be able to migrate north should its habitat become too warm or dry.<ref name=IUCN />

Scientists have seen the fungus ''[[Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis]]'' on other frogs in ''Raorchestes'', so they believe could infect ''R. kakachi'' too. ''Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis'' causes the fungal disease [[chytridiomycosis]].<ref name=IUCN />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?where-genus=Raorchestes&where-species=kakachi AmphibiaWeb]
* {{Wikispecies-inline|Raorchestes kakachi}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2384411}}

[[Category:Raorchestes|kakachi]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Endemic amphibians of India]]
[[Category:Frogs of India]]
[[Category:Amphibians described in 2012]]

Raorchestes kakachi - Revision history

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