Sphaerotheca breviceps

Taxobox
name = "Sphaerotheca breviceps"


image_width = 200px
image_caption = "Indian burrowing frog"
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
subphylum = Vertebrata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Ranidae
genus = "Sphaerotheca"
species = "S. breviceps"
binomial = "Sphaerotheca breviceps"
binomial_authority = (Schneider, 1799)
synonyms = "Tomopterna breviceps"

The Indian Burrowing frog, "Sphaerotheca breviceps", is a species of frog found in South Asia.

Description

Vomerine teeth in two oblique groups extending a little beyond the hinder edge of the choanse. Habit stout. Head short; snout rounded; occiput swollen; interorbital space narrower than the upper eyelid; tympanum, distinct, about two thirds the diameter of the eye. Fingers moderate, obtuse, first extending much befond second, nearly as long as third; toes moderate, obtuso, half webbed; subarticular tubercles moderate; inner metatarsal tubercle very large, sharp-edged, shovel-shaped, longer than the inner toe; no outer tubercle; no tarsal fold. Hind limbs short, the tibio-tarsal articulation reaching the axilla or the tympanum. Skin smooth above, or granulate, with some scattered tubercles or short, interrupted longitudinal folds; a strong fold from the eye to the shoulder; belly and lower surfaces of thighs granulate. Light brown or olive above, with darker spots or marblings; often a light vertebral band, and sometimes another on the upper side of each flank; throat of males blackish, of females usually brown-spotted. Male with two much-developed internal subgular vocal sacs. [Boulenger, G. A. (1890) Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia]

From snout to vent 2.5 inches.

From the Punjab and Sind to Southern India and Ceylon. In the Himalayas up to about 7000 feet. The structure of the hind limbs enables this frog to burrow in the ground for about 1.5 feet.

Distribution

Found throughout India in the drier regions.

Habitat

The habitat ranges from dry-arid land to Moist deciduous forest. The Microhabitat in which this frog is found includes leaf litter or under rocks, in crevices or in open spaces in arid areas.

References

External links

* IUCN2008
assessors = Ohler, A., et al.
year = 2004
id = 58755
title = Sphaerotheca breviceps
downloaded = 11 Oct 2008
* [http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_query?query_src=aw_lists_genera_&where-genus=Sphaerotheca&where-species=breviceps Sphaerotheca breviceps] at AmphibiaWeb
* [http://www.globalamphibians.org/servlet/GAA?searchName=Sphaerotheca+breviceps Sphaerotheca breviceps] at Global Amphibians Assesment