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{{Short description|Species of frog}} | {{Short description|Species of frog}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} | |||
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2022}} | |||
{{Speciesbox | {{Speciesbox | ||
| image = Minervarya pentali (cropped).jpg | | image = Minervarya pentali (cropped).jpg | ||
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
The species is named ''pentali'' after [[Deepak Pental]], plant geneticist and former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, in recognition of his assistance in setting up the [[Systematics|Systematics Lab]] at the university.<ref name="Hindu">{{Cite news | The species is named ''pentali'' after [[Deepak Pental]], plant geneticist and former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, in recognition of his assistance in setting up the [[Systematics|Systematics Lab]] at the university.<ref name="Hindu">{{Cite news|date=2021-08-03|title=DU researchers discover new frog species in Western Ghats|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/du-researchers-discover-new-frog-species-in-western-ghats/article35696317.ece|access-date=2021-08-04|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=2021-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803142700/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/du-researchers-discover-new-frog-species-in-western-ghats/article35696317.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> The generic name ''Minervarya'' is a portmanteau of the Latin word "''minimus''", which means "smallest", and ''[[Fejervarya]]'', which is ''Minervarya''‘s sister genus. The name also alludes to the Ancient Roman goddess [[Minerva]] - the frogs' behaviour of suddenly jumping up seemingly from mud on the ground is reminiscent of the goddess, who burst suddenly out of her father [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter's]] head, fully clad in armour.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Dubois|first1=A|last2=Ohler|first2=A|last3=Biju|first3=S. D.|date=2001|title=A new genus and species of Ranidae (Amphibia, Anura) from south-western India.|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273859259|journal=Alytes|volume=19|pages=53–79}}</ref> | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
''M. pentali'' is smaller than other ''Minervarya'' species, with males measuring 20 | ''M. pentali'' is smaller than other ''Minervarya'' species, with males measuring 20 mm and females measuring 25 mm from [[snout]] to [[Cloaca|vent]]. The skin is folded and granulated. The upper parts of the body are greyish-brown and have the texture of [[shagreen]], while the underparts are smooth and generally paler. The throat is flesh-coloured, and the calling patch is black. A yellow-grey line runs down the middle of the back. The males produce a pulsating call at regular intervals. The tongue is notched at the tip.<ref name="Garg and Biju">{{Cite journal|last1=Garg|first1=Sonali|last2=Biju|first2=S. D.|date=2021|title=DNA Barcoding and Systematic Review of Minervaryan Frogs (Dicroglossidae: Minervarya) of Peninsular India: Resolution of a Taxonomic Conundrum with Description of a New Species|url=http://www.ahr-journal.com/en/oa/darticle.aspx?type=view&id=AHR-2021-0023|journal=Asian Herpetological Research|volume=12|issue=4|pages=1–34|doi=10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.210023}}</ref> | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
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==Distribution and habitat== | ==Distribution and habitat== | ||
''M. pentali'' is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, where it is | ''M. pentali'' is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, where it is widespread and found from sea level up to an elevation of 220 m. Its range extends from [[Kerala]]'s [[Kozhikode district]] in the north to [[Tamil Nadu]]'s [[Kanyakumari district]] in the south.<ref name="Garg and Biju" /> The frogs are found in vegetated wayside areas, plantations, irrigated fields and near natural water sources; they are not recorded from forested areas.<ref name="Hindu" /><ref name="Garg and Biju" /> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Fauna of India]] | [[Category:Fauna of India]] | ||
[[Category:Fauna of the Western Ghats]] | [[Category:Fauna of the Western Ghats]] | ||
[[Category:Frogs of Asia]] | [[Category:Frogs of Asia]] | ||
[[Category:Frogs of India]] | [[Category:Frogs of India]] | ||
[[Category:Minervarya]] | [[Category:Minervarya]] | ||
[[Category:Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats]] | [[Category:Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats]] | ||
[[Category:Endemic amphibians of India]] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:44, 18 December 2025
| Minervarya pentali | |
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| Dorsal view of M. pentali | |
Scientific classification 
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| : | [[Template:Taxonomy/Minervarya]] |
| Species: | Template:Taxonomy/MinervaryaM. pentali
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| Binomial name | |
| Template:Taxonomy/MinervaryaMinervarya pentali Garg and Biju, 2021
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| Approximate distribution
Range
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Minervarya pentali, or Pental's Minervaryan frog, is a species of frog in the fork-tongued frog family, Dicroglossidae. It is endemic to the Western Ghats in India.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The species is named pentali after Deepak Pental, plant geneticist and former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, in recognition of his assistance in setting up the Systematics Lab at the university.[1] The generic name Minervarya is a portmanteau of the Latin word "minimus", which means "smallest", and Fejervarya, which is Minervarya‘s sister genus. The name also alludes to the Ancient Roman goddess Minerva - the frogs' behaviour of suddenly jumping up seemingly from mud on the ground is reminiscent of the goddess, who burst suddenly out of her father Jupiter's head, fully clad in armour.[2]
Description[edit | edit source]
M. pentali is smaller than other Minervarya species, with males measuring 20 mm and females measuring 25 mm from snout to vent. The skin is folded and granulated. The upper parts of the body are greyish-brown and have the texture of shagreen, while the underparts are smooth and generally paler. The throat is flesh-coloured, and the calling patch is black. A yellow-grey line runs down the middle of the back. The males produce a pulsating call at regular intervals. The tongue is notched at the tip.[3]
Behaviour[edit | edit source]
Call[edit | edit source]
Male M. pentali produce a pulsating call, which they repeat at regular intervals. Each call, which has 19 pulses on average, lasts for roughly one-fifths of a second. Calls are made from 6 PM to 10 PM.[3]
Breeding[edit | edit source]
The breeding season is from July to September. During this season, males congregate in large numbers in grasses and around water bodies.[3]
Distribution and habitat[edit | edit source]
M. pentali is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, where it is widespread and found from sea level up to an elevation of 220 m. Its range extends from Kerala's Kozhikode district in the north to Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district in the south.[3] The frogs are found in vegetated wayside areas, plantations, irrigated fields and near natural water sources; they are not recorded from forested areas.[1][3]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "DU researchers discover new frog species in Western Ghats". The Hindu. 3 August 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ↑ Dubois, A; Ohler, A; Biju, S. D. (2001). "A new genus and species of Ranidae (Amphibia, Anura) from south-western India". Alytes. 19: 53–79.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Garg, Sonali; Biju, S. D. (2021). "DNA Barcoding and Systematic Review of Minervaryan Frogs (Dicroglossidae: Minervarya) of Peninsular India: Resolution of a Taxonomic Conundrum with Description of a New Species". Asian Herpetological Research. 12 (4): 1–34. doi:10.16373/j.cnki.ahr.210023.