Ankithreddy: Creating First Details Initial Version

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Creating First Details Initial Version

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{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Uperodon variegatus-Ramanella variegata.jpg
| image_caption =
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite IUCN
|title=Eluru Dot Frog: ''Uperodon variegatus''
|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163971293/156579116
|article-number=e.T163971293A156579116
|doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T163971293A156579116.en
|id=163971293
|year=2023
|author1=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group
|accessdate=July 9, 2025}}</ref>
| taxon = Uperodon variegatus
| authority = ([[Ferdinand Stoliczka|Stoliczka]], 1872)
| synonyms = {{species list
| Hylaedactylus carnaticus | Jerdon, 1853 – ''[[nomen nudum]]''
| Callula variegata | Stoliczka, 1872<ref>Stoliczka, F. 1872. Proc. Asiatic Soc. Bengal (6):111</ref>
| Callula olivacea | Günther, 1876 "1875"
| Kaloula variegata | (Stoliczka, 1872)
| Ramanella symbioitica | Rao and Ramanna, 1925 }}
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=Frost/>
}}

'''''Uperodon variegatus''''', also known as the '''Eluru dot frog''', '''termite nest frog''', '''variable ramanella''', '''variagated ramanella''', '''white-bellied pug snout frog''', or '''variagated globular frog''', is a species of narrow-mouthed frog (family [[Microhylidae]]) that is [[endemic]] to [[India]]. Earlier records from [[Sri Lanka]] refer to what is now known as ''[[Uperodon rohani]]''.<ref name=Frost/> They are seen mostly in the [[monsoon]] season when they may enter homes. They are small in size and the variegated markings and the genus characteristic of having pads on the fingertips but not on their toes make them easy to identify.

==Description==
This species is small and often can be found indoors in homes. The discs on the fingers are triangular. Toes have rudimentary webbing with two metatarsal tubercles. The tibio-tarsal joint reaches shoulder when the hind leg is held along the body. They breed during the rainy season (April–October) and call during this time. Males call at night while afloat in water. They have a single subgular [[vocal sac]].<ref>Ravishankar Dundappa Kanamadi; Channayya Rajashekar Hiremath; Hans Schneider (1993) The advertisement call of the south Indian frog ''Ramanella variegata'' (Microhylidae). Journal of Herpetology 27(2):218-219.</ref><ref>Dutta, S. K., Sushree, J. and Mohanthi-Hejmadi, P., Breeding and development of ''Ramanella variegata'' (Anura; microhylidae). J. Zool. Soc. India, 1990–1991, 42–43, 55–76.</ref> The call has been transcribed as ''ghauy'' ''ghauy''. The [[tadpole]]s are brown or gray with black spots. Sometimes they have a blue spot on each side of the body. The tadpoles are bottom feeders and [[metamorphosis|metamorphose]] within a month.<ref>Daniel, J. C. (1963) Field Guide to the Amphibians of Western India. Part 2. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 60(3):25-37</ref>

==Habitat==
They breed in water in dark cavities and are often found in [[termite mound]]s or under stones.<ref name=IUCN /> Recorded mainly from peninsular India including the dry zone being found even in Madras and West Bengal.<ref>Deuti, Kaushik (1998) Occurrence of ''Ramanella variegata'' (Anura- Microhylidae) in west Bengal with notes on its Distribution in India. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc: 95(1):126-127</ref><ref>Murthy, T.S.N. (1968) Notes on a rare and interesting microhylid frog (''Ramanella variegata'' Stol.) from Madras. J. Univ. Bombay 36(3 & 5): 1-3</ref> They have been found to be quite tolerant to water salinity.<ref>Chakko, George (1968) Salinity tolerance in some South Indian Anurans. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences, Section B. 67:233-236 [http://www.ias.ac.in/jarch/procb/67/233-236.pdf PDF]</ref>

They have been found to occur with large black scorpions ''[[Heterometrus]]'' sp. and when disturbed they crawl over the scorpions but flattened and froze when the scorpions walked over them. They can burrow in soft soil.<ref>Daniel, J C (1963) Field Guide to the Amphibians of Western India. Part 2. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 60(3):25-37</ref><ref>Rao, C. R. N. & Ramanna, B. S. (1925) On a new genus of the family Engystomatidae (Batrachia). Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1925: 587-97.</ref>

==Threats==
This frog is classified as least concern. It has a large range that includes many protected parks, a large population, and a reasonable tolerance to human-induced changes to its environment. Habitat loss and pollution in the form of fertilizers and pesticides pose some risk, and [[climate change]] may pose a risk in the future by altering sea levels and removing habitat.<ref name=IUCN />

<gallery mode=packed heights=150px>
File:RamanellaVariegata4.jpg
File:Ramanella variegata.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=Frost>{{cite web |url=http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/Amphibia/Anura/Microhylidae/Microhylinae/Uperodon/Uperodon-variegatus |title=''Uperodon variegatus'' (Stoliczka, 1872) |author=Frost, Darrel R. |year=2019 |work=Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0 |publisher=American Museum of Natural History |access-date=1 July 2019}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Uperodon variegatus}}
{{Wikispecies}}
* [http://ctdbase.org/detail.go?type=taxon&acc=419646 Termite nest frog]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q28042415|from2=Q2709684}}

[[Category:Uperodon|variegatus]]
[[Category:Frogs of India]]
[[Category:Endemic amphibians of India]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Ferdinand Stoliczka]]
[[Category:Amphibians described in 1872]]

Uperodon variegatus - Revision history

Ankithreddy: Creating First Details Initial Version