Important Facts For Prelims
Dancing Frogs
- 12 Oct 2023
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Recently, the Wildlife Trust of India has assessed the 2nd edition of the Global Amphibian Assessment coordinated by the Amphibian Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, which shows that the Dancing Frogs that are endemic to the Western Ghats are the most threatened amphibian genus of India.
- Of the 24 species of the frogs belonging to the Micrixalus genus that were assessed, two were found to be critically endangered and 15 were endangered. This makes them the most threatened of all Indo-Malayan genera.
- It is also the fifth most threatened genus in the world with 92% of its species in the threatened category.
What are Dancing Frogs?
- About:
- Dancing frogs, specifically from the Micrixalus genus, are a group of frogs.
- Behavior and Mating Display:
- Dancing frogs exhibit a unique mating behavior characterized by foot flagging, where males extend their hind legs and wave their webbed toes.
- This visual display helps in attracting female mates and signaling to rival males.
- Habitat Preference:
- They prefer habitats with a thick canopy cover, typically around 70-80 %, and are often found near slow-moving perennial streams within the Western Ghats.
- Threats:
- The population of dancing frogs is threatened by various anthropogenic factors, including invasive species like the Mosquito Fish, land use change, temperature and humidity variations, extreme weather events, infectious diseases, water pollution, light pollution, and infrastructure projects such as dams.
- Protecting the natural habitats and maintaining optimal living conditions are crucial for the survival of these species. However, globally, amphibian populations are declining, with a significant percentage categorized as threatened with extinction.
- Conservation Efforts:
- Conservation initiatives, such as the Wildlife Trust of India’s Amphibian Recovery Project, are actively working to address challenges that pose a risk of extinction to amphibian specis.
- These efforts include threat mitigation, conservation action planning, capacity development, training, advocacy, and information sharing.
