Jerdon’s narrow-mouthed frog endemic to Western Ghats has been rediscovered. : After 89 years, Jerdon’s narrow-mouthed frog (Uperodon montanus) has been spotted in the upper reaches of the Western Ghats.
The species was last studied in 1934 after which, it was rarely spotted by researchers. This species of frog has a longish snout, shiny brown skin with darker brown, red and golden spots on its body.
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These are found in rock pools or tree holes filled with rainwater. This frog is considered a montane species and is mainly found at higher altitudes of 800-1700 metres.
They are distributed from near Wayanad south across the Palghat and the Shencottah gaps to the Agasthyamalai hills. Jerdon’s narrow-mouthed frog is classified as “Near Threatened” in the IUCN list. Tadpoles are free-swimming and exotrophic i.e. they feed on other species.
