Context:
Researchers said the lack of adequate breeding sites due to habitat loss and competition for limited resources may be driving the Charles Darwin’s frog to breed in unnatural sites.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Charles Darwin’s Frog
- Habitat: This species is endemic to the Andaman Islands.
- Family: Belongs to the family Dicroglossidae, a large group of Asian frogs with over 220 species.
- Reproductive Behavior:
- Both male and female frogs adopt an inverted position on the walls of tree cavities during mating and egg-laying, keeping their bodies above the water.
- Males produce three types of ‘complex’ calls to attract females.
- When faced with competition from other males, they may engage in aggressive behaviors such as kicking, boxing, and biting, sometimes resulting in significant injuries.
- Conservation Status: Classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN.
- Current Concerns:
- The species is increasingly using artificial objects, such as plastic sapling bags and human trash, as breeding sites. This shift is likely due to the loss and fragmentation of forest habitats, forcing the frogs to adapt to a rapidly changing environment on these small islands.
-Source: The Hindu
