CHARLES DARWIN’s FROG :SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
News: An international team of biologists has made a groundbreaking
discovery about the Charles Darwin’s frog (Minervarya charlesdarwini), an
endangered species native to the Andaman Islands. This research reveals
fascinating and previously unknown aspects of this frog's reproductive behavior.
What’s in the news?
Key Highlights
- Upside-Down Spawning: The Charles Darwin’s frog lays its eggs in a unique
upside-down position on the inner walls of tree cavities or root
buttresses filled with water. This is different from other frogs, which
lay eggs in a more traditional position.
- Egg Development: Once the eggs are laid, they eventually fall into the water
below, where they hatch into tadpoles.
- Male Calls: Male
Charles Darwin’s frogs use three types of calls to attract females:
advertisement calls, aggressive calls, and combat calls.
- Physical Confrontations: If vocal calls do not deter rival males, physical fights
involving kicking, boxing, and biting occur.
- Mating Disruptions: Unpaired males often try to interrupt the mating pairs, leading
to intense battles. The upside-down position of the mating pair might help
prevent rivals from disturbing them.
- Use of Trash: Due
to habitat loss, these frogs are increasingly found breeding in discarded
containers like plastic and metal trash. This shift from natural breeding
sites to human waste is a growing concern.
- Implications: Researchers
are worried about the long-term effects of this behavior on the frogs’
survival and are calling for efforts to protect their natural habitats.
- Charles Darwin’s frog is believed to be an arboreal (tree
living) species of tropical moist forest.
- Breeding takes place in tree holes and there is larval
development meaning tadpoles will emerge from the eggs.
- Location: Endemic to the Andaman Islands
- Charles Darwin’s frog is only known from Mount Harriet and
Saddle Peak in the Andaman Islands of India.
- The species is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ by the International
Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/losing-spice-kashmirs-prized-saffron-crops-hit-by-dry-spells/article68457850.ece