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Source– This post on Indian Painted Frog has been created based on the article Rare Indian Painted Frog spotted at Telangana tiger reserve published in “The times of India” on 26 June 2024.
Why in the News
A rare Indian Painted Frog was recently sighted at Telangana’s Kawal Tiger Reserve. This marks a significant find outside its usual habitats.
About Indian Painted Frog
| Apects | Description |
| Scientific name | Uperodon taprobanicus |
| Family | Microhylidae |
| Distribution | 1. It is found in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, southern and eastern India, and Nepal up to an altitude of about 1300 metres. 2. In India, found in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. Most common in the southern areas of the Western and Eastern Ghats. |
| Features | 1. Adult length up to 75 millimetres (7.5 cm) from snout to vent, with females being slightly larger. 2. Notable for its striking appearance: smooth, rounded body with distinctive colouration, often including shades of brown with patches of brighter colours like orange or yellow. |
| Conservation Status | IUCN Red List: Least Concern |
About Kawal Tiger Reserve
| Aspects | Description |
| Location | 1. It is located at Northeastern part of Telangana (Old Adilabad district). 2. It is Bordered by the Godavari River on one side and the Maharashtra border on the other 3. It is Part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands. |
| River flowing through it | Catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, flowing towards the south of the sanctuary. |
| Neighboring protected areas | It has connectivity to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) in the north and Indravati Tiger Reserve (Chhattisgarh) towards the north-eastern side. |
| Vegetation | Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest |
| Flora | 1. Extensive teak and bamboo presence. 2. 673 plant species recorded, including Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, Boswellia serrata, etc. |
| Fauna | Major wild animals: nilgai, chousinga, chinkara, black buck, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, tiger, leopard, and jungle cat. |
UPSC Syllabus: Environment
