Lakshay9887: Created Biography

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Created Biography

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{{Short description|Species of frog}}
{{Speciesbox
| status = DD
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN />
| taxon = Raorchestes kakkayamensis
| authority = Garg et al., 2021
}}

'''''Raorchestes kakkayamensis''''', the '''Kakkayam shrub frog''', is a species of frog in the family [[Rhacophoridae]]. It is endemic to [[India]]. Scientists know this frog exclusively from its [[type locality (biology)|type locality]]: Kakkayam in the [[Western Ghat]] mountains.<ref name="AMNH">{{BioRef|ASW6|title=''Raorchestes kakkayamensis'' Garg, Suyesh, Das, Bee, and Biju, 2021|url=https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Anura/Rhacophoridae/Rhacophorinae/Raorchestes/Raorchestes-kakkayamensis|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref><ref name=Amph>{{BioRef|amphibiaweb
|title= ''Raorchestes kakkayamensis'' Garg, Suyesh, Das, Bee, and Biju, 2021
|author1=
|editor1=
|date=
|language=
|url=https://amphibiaweb.org/species/9331
|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref> This frog has been observed about {{convert|750|m|ft|-1}} above sea level.<ref name=IUCN>{{cite IUCN
|title= Kakkayam Shrub Frog: ''Raorchestes kakkayamensis''
|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/197945831/197945856
|article-number=e.T197945831A197945856
|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T197945831A197945856.en
|id=197945831
|year=2023
|author1=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group
|access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>

This frog has been observed in [[primary forest]] and nearby [[secondary forest]], from ground level among the leaf litter to plants as high {{convert|3|m|ft|0}} tall.<ref name=IUCN />

Like other frogs in ''Raorchestes'', this frog breeds through [[direct development]].<ref name=IUCN />

== Taxonomy ==
''Raorchestes kakkayamensis'' was [[Species description|described]] in 2021 by the [[herpetologist]] Sonali Garg and her colleagues based on an adult male specimen collected in Kakkayam, [[Kozhikode district]] in the Indian state of [[Kerala]]. The specific epithet is named after Kakkayam, where the type series was collected.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Garg |first=Sonali |last2=Suyesh |first2=Robin |last3=Das |first3=Sandeep |last4=Bee |first4=Mark A. |last5=Biju |first5=S. D. |date=2021-03-03 |title=An integrative approach to infer systematic relationships and define species groups in the shrub frog genus ''Raorchestes'' , with description of five new species from the Western Ghats, India |url=https://peerj.com/articles/10791 |journal=PeerJ |language=en |volume=9 |article-number=e10791 |doi=10.7717/peerj.10791 |issn=2167-8359 |doi-access=free|pmc=7936570 }}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes|url=https://peerj.com/articles/10791/|authors=Garg, Suyesh, Das, Bee, Biju}}</ref>

''Raorchestes kakkayamensis'' is a member of the ''[[Raorchestes bombayensis]]'' group within its genus and is most closely related to ''[[Raorchestes leucolatus|R. leucolatus]]''.<ref name=":0" />

== Description ==
''Raorchestes kakkayamensis'' is a small species, with a male [[snout–vent length]] of 17–19 mm and a female SVL of 24 mm. The dorsum is brown to reddish-brown, with a pair of dark discontinuous concave bands extending from behind the eye to the level of the groin, and a thin mid-dorsal line. There is a dark brown coloured horizontal band between the upper eyelids. The snout is lighter in colour than the dorsum, while the sides of the head are darker. The sides of the body are light brown with small off-white spots. The underside of the throat is blackish-brown with scattered white speckles. The chest and belly are light brown with dense dark brown speckling and irregular white spots. The groin and anterior surface of thighs are dark brown with distinct white blotches. The posterior side of the thighs is brown with scattered white spots. The limbs are dark brown, with white to ash blue spots, minute light brown speckling, and dark brown cross-bands. The finger and toe discs are yellowish-brown. The iris is brown with dense golden yellow speckling and faint dark brown horizontal and vertical bands.<ref name=":0" />

The dorsal colouration and markings are slightly variable, ranging from light to dark brown or reddish-brown in colour, but there is a uniform triangular light brown colouration from the snout tip to the anterior margins of the eyes.<ref name=":0" />

== Distribution and habitat ==
''Raorchestes kakkayamensis'' is endemic to the Western Ghats and currently known only from its type locality of Kakkayam in Kozhikode district, north of Palghat gap in Kerala. The species was observed inside a primary forest patch and adjoining secondary forest areas at an elevation of 750 m. Individuals were located on the ground leaf litter or found perching on vegetation 1–3 m high.<ref name=":0" />

== Vocalisations ==
Males produce a single type of call. The calls generally have a single pulse and are not delivered in groups. A typical call has duration of 25.3 ms, the amplitude envelope being characterised by a rise time of 9.2 ms and fall time of 15.9 ms, with a dominant frequency of 3.8 kHz.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q119157137}}

[[Category:Frogs of Asia]]
[[Category:Endemic amphibians of India]]
[[Category:Amphibians described in 2021]]
[[Category:Raorchestes|kakkayamensis]]

Raorchestes kakkayamensis - Revision history

Lakshay9887: Created Biography