Bioacoustics, breeding ecology and range of the Kerala warty frog Minervarya cf. keralensis from north of the Palghat gap, central Western Ghats

Abstract

Minervarya cf. keralensis has been detected for the first time north of the Palghat gap in the central Western Ghats, a range extension of about 85 km. This species calls and breeds in the post-monsoon period (Jan–March) and exhibits axillary amplexus. Male call characteristics, natural history observations, and distributional complexities are described. Currently, the Minervarya nilagirica group that includes M. keralensis, show a complex distribution pattern in peninsular India that is worthy of further phylogeographic study.