Hoplobatrachus crassus
| Hoplobatrachus crassus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Dicroglossidae |
| Genus: | Hoplobatrachus |
| Species: | H. crassus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hoplobatrachus crassus (Jerdon, 1854)
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Hoplobatrachus crassus, also called Jerdon's bullfrog, Jerdon's bull frog, and South Indian bullfrog, is a species of frog found widely distributed on the plains of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Its range may extend to the adjacent Bhutan and Myanmar.[2][3]
Description
[edit]This species has a shovel shaped metatarsal tubercle and has longer hind legs than the somewhat similar H. tigrinus with which it overlaps in part of its range. When the leg is stretched along the body the tibio-tarsal (ankle) joint lies at a position between the ear and eye. Females are slightly larger than males (about 8–10 cm or more while males are about 5–8 cm).[4][5] The skin of the dorsum is olive green to yellow in color with brown or black spots. Some individuals have a yellow stripe down the spine.[3]
Habitat and ecology
[edit]Hoplobatrachus crassus is a terrestrial frog that lives in seasonally flooded dry grasslands, open plains and arid areas, also in cultivated areas and near human settlements. Adult frogs are often found in burrows. They may aestivate during dry periods. Breeding takes place in water.[1] Males have two vocal sacs on the side and the call sounds somewhat like a bleating goat. The calls last for a few minutes and consist of 2 to 4 series of 13–18 bleating pulses. They breed with the onset of the rains.[6]
The species is able to tolerate salinity to some extent. They tolerate 25% natural sea-water (25 parts of sea-water diluted with 75 parts of distilled water) but do not live for more than a week when the salinity goes up to the strength of 35% natural sea-water (sea water itself being about 32 parts per thousand).[7] Their tadpoles are thought to feed on algae.[8] A ciliate in the genus Cepedea has been recorded living in tadpoles of this species.[9]
Young
[edit]The tadpoles of this species are highly aggressive. Under experimental conditions, they have been observed killing and eating tadpoles of other species.[3]
Relationship to humans
[edit]Human beings in India and Bangladesh have been known to catch this frog for consumption, though this practice has declined in India since the 1990s.[1]
Threats
[edit]The IUCN classifies this frog as least concern of extinction. What threat it faces comes from habitat loss and road fatalities. Scientists suspect that overconsumption by humans may also be an issue, but this has yet to be confirmed.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group. (2022). "Hoplobatrachus crassus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T58298A158303812. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T58298A158303812.en. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Hoplobatrachus crassus (Jerdon, 1853)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ a b c Peter Janzen; Michelle S. Koo; Dayupathi Eranda Nipunika Mandawala (May 1, 2005). Tate Tunstall; Michelle S. Koo (eds.). "Hoplobatrachus crassus (Jerdon, 1853)". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ^ Bhaduri, Jnanendra Lal (1944). "A note on Rana crassa Jerdon, with extension of its range". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 44 (3): 481–483.
- ^ Dutta, S. K.; Mahapatra, P.; Mohanty-Hejmadi, P. (1991). "Size analysis and sex ratio of Jerdon's bull Frog Rana crassa Jerdon (Anura: Ranidae)". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 88 (2): 234–241.
- ^ Kanamadi R.D.; Hiremath C.R.; Schneider H. (1992). "Vocalization and breeding period in the south indian tropical frog Rana crassa Jerdon". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 228 (12): 26–31.
- ^ Chakko, George (1968). "Salinity tolerances in some south Indian anurans" (PDF). Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences. Section B. 67 (5): 233–236. doi:10.1007/BF03053907. S2CID 80873923.
- ^ Das, Indraneil (1994). "The internal oral morphology of some anuran larvae from south India: a scanning electron microscopic study" (PDF). Amphibia-Reptilia. 15 (3): 249–256. doi:10.1163/156853894X00029.
- ^ Metcalf, Maynard M. (1940). "Further studies on the opalinid ciliate infusorians and their hosts". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 87 (3077): 465–634. doi:10.5479/si.00963801.87-3077.465.