Sri Lankan painted frog

Appearance

This plump species of frog attains a snout-to-vent length of about 75 millimetres , with females being slightly larger than males. The colour of the dorsal surface is greyish-black with a symmetrical pattern of reddish-brown patches on either side including a band of colour stretching from the back of the eye to the base of the arm. The underparts are pale yellowish-grey, mottled with black or brown. During the breeding season, males develop a dark throat patch.

Distribution

The Sri Lankan painted frog is native to Sri Lanka but also to India, Bangladesh and Nepal. ''Kaloula taprobanica'' and ''Kaloula assamensis'' are located to the west and north of the Brahmaputra River, while ''Kaloula pulchra'' is located to the east and south of it, since the Brahmaputra River serves as a barrier to dispersal.

The Sri Lankan painted frog is a fossorial species, spending the day buried in the leaf litter, in loose soil or under fallen logs, but can also climb into the branches of trees. The habitats it prefers include dry forests, coconut and rubber plantations, wetlands, rice fields and disturbed areas close to dwellings.

Status

This frog has a wide range and the population seems to be reasonably stable. The IUCN rates it as being of "Least Concern" as it considers that the rate of decline, if any, is insufficient to justify listing it in a more threatened category. This frog is common over much of its range and the threats it faces have been identified as degradation of its habitat and pollution by agrochemicals of the water bodies in which it breeds.

Behavior

This frog feeds on a variety of insects. It breeds at the start of the rainy season and males call from suitable water bodies. The eggs float on the surface of the water in a single layer. The tadpoles are black.

Habitat

The Sri Lankan painted frog is native to Sri Lanka but also to India, Bangladesh and Nepal. ''Kaloula taprobanica'' and ''Kaloula assamensis'' are located to the west and north of the Brahmaputra River, while ''Kaloula pulchra'' is located to the east and south of it, since the Brahmaputra River serves as a barrier to dispersal.

The Sri Lankan painted frog is a fossorial species, spending the day buried in the leaf litter, in loose soil or under fallen logs, but can also climb into the branches of trees. The habitats it prefers include dry forests, coconut and rubber plantations, wetlands, rice fields and disturbed areas close to dwellings.