Rakwana Whipping Frog

Taruga fastigo

''Taruga fastigo'' is a species of frogs in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka and only known from its type locality, Morningside Estate near Rakwana. Prior to its description in 2001, it was confused with ''Polypedates eques'' (now known as Taruga eques) .
A Rakwana Whipping Frog on wet vegetation This is the most localized and recently-described of the three Taruga species. It's known only from one small forest. Geotagged,Sri Lanka,Summer,Taruga fastigo

Appearance

Adult males measure 35–40 mm and females 55–64 mm in snout–vent length. The snout is pointed. The canthus rostralis is angular, and the canthal ridges are sharp. The tympanum is visible and the supratympanic fold is distinct. The fingers and toes have well-developed discs; the fingers are free from webbing whereas the toes are webbed. Skin is mostly smooth but granular on the abdomen and underside of the femur. There are prominent white tubercles around the vent and lower surfaces of the thighs. Dorsal colouration is brown or olive green, and the dorsum bears an incomplete, dark-brown hourglass-shaped marking. There is a black line on the lower flank that connects the axilla and groin. The canthal ridge and supratympanic fold are red. The lips have black edges. The venter is white or pale yellow.

A late-stage tadpole measures 40 mm in total length, with body length of 17 mm .

''Taruga fastigo'' is only known from its type locality, Morningside Estate near Rakwana, Sri Lanka.

Naming

The specific name ''fastigo'' is Latin for "sharpened" and refers to the pointed snout of the species.

Status

The only know population inhabits montane tropical moist forest at about 1,060 m above sea level. ''Taruga fastigo'' is an arboreal species, and adults are typically are found on twigs and leaves in bushes up to 2 m above the ground. They typically occur close to shallow, stagnant pools where breeding takes place .

''Taruga fastigo'' is a rare species that is threatened by habitat loss and degradation. It is present in the Morningside Forest Reserve, although pressure from land use is also present in the reserve.

Habitat

The only know population inhabits montane tropical moist forest at about 1,060 m above sea level. ''Taruga fastigo'' is an arboreal species, and adults are typically are found on twigs and leaves in bushes up to 2 m above the ground. They typically occur close to shallow, stagnant pools where breeding takes place .

''Taruga fastigo'' is a rare species that is threatened by habitat loss and degradation. It is present in the Morningside Forest Reserve, although pressure from land use is also present in the reserve.

References:

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Status: Critically endangered
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAmphibia
OrderAnura
FamilyRhacophoridae
GenusTaruga
SpeciesT. fastigo
Photographed in
Sri Lanka