The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T59000A11864479
Rhacophorus lateralis, Small Tree Frog
Assessment by: S.D. Biju, Sushil Dutta, Karthikeyan Vasudevan, Chelmala
Srinivasulu, S.P. Vijayakumar
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: S.D. Biju, Sushil Dutta, Karthikeyan Vasudevan, Chelmala Srinivasulu, S.P. Vijayakumar.
2004. Rhacophorus lateralis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T59000A11864479.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59000A11864479.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Amphibia
Anura
Rhacophoridae
Taxon Name: Rhacophorus lateralis Boulenger, 1883
Common Name(s):
• English:
Small Tree Frog, Boulenger's Tree Frog, Small Gliding Frog, Winged Gliding Frog
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Endangered B1ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Published:
2004
Date Assessed:
April 30, 2004
Annotations:
Needs Updating
Justification:
Listed as Endangered, because its Extent of Occurrence of less than 5,000 km2, its distribution is
severely fragmented, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its forest habitat in
the Western Ghats of India.
Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is restricted to two small areas of the southern Western Ghats of India in Kerala (Wayanad
Wildlife Sanctuary and its surroundings) and Karnataka (Coorg and its surroundings) at an elevation of
approximately 800m asl. It might occur a little more widely than current records suggest.
Country Occurrence:
Native: India
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhacophorus lateralis – published in 2004.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59000A11864479.en
1
Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhacophorus lateralis – published in 2004.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59000A11864479.en
2
Population
It is locally common.
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
It inhabits tropical moist evergreen forest and deciduous forest, and has been recorded from secondary
(disturbed) forest and coffee plantations (though this is not suitable habitat). An arboreal species, it is
believed to occur in the lower canopy and understorey levels of the forest. Breeding takes place on
vegetation overhanging small pools, and the larvae develop in these pools.
Systems: Terrestrial, Freshwater
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
It is threatened by the conversion of forest areas to cultivated land (including timber and non-timber
plantations).
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
It has been recorded from the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, but remains unprotected in the
remainder of its range. Further surveys to determine the full range of this recently rediscovered tree
frog are urgently required.
Credits
Assessor(s):
S.D. Biju, Sushil Dutta, Karthikeyan Vasudevan, Chelmala Srinivasulu, S.P.
Vijayakumar
Reviewer(s):
Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson
and Neil Cox)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhacophorus lateralis – published in 2004.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59000A11864479.en
3
Bibliography
Biju, S.D. 2000. 2 frogs and 100 years. Biodiversity India: 10-11.
Biju, S.D. 2001. A synopsis to the frog fauna of the Western Ghats, India. Occasional Publication 1. ISCB:
1-24.
Boulenger, G.A. 1882. Catalogue of the Batrachia Gradientia s. Caudata and Batrachia Apoda in the
collection of the British Museum. British Museum of Natural History, London.
Das, I. 2000. Nomenclatural history and rediscovery of Rhacophorus lateralis Boulenger, 1883
(Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae). Current Herpetology: 35-40.
Dutta, S.K. 1997. Amphibians of India and Sri Lanka. Odyssey Publishing House, Bhubaneswar.
IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23
November 2004.
Citation
S.D. Biju, Sushil Dutta, Karthikeyan Vasudevan, Chelmala Srinivasulu, S.P. Vijayakumar. 2004.
Rhacophorus lateralis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T59000A11864479.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59000A11864479.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhacophorus lateralis – published in 2004.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59000A11864479.en
4
Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
1. Forest -> 1.6. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland
-
Suitable
-
5. Wetlands (inland) -> 5.8. Wetlands (inland) - Seasonal/Intermittent
Freshwater Marshes/Pools (under 8ha)
-
Suitable
-
14. Artificial/Terrestrial -> 14.3. Artificial/Terrestrial - Plantations
-
Marginal
-
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual &
perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.2. Small-holder
farming
Ongoing
-
-
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Future
-
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.1. Ecosystem conversion
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.1. Annual &
perennial non-timber crops -> 2.1.3. Agro-industry
farming
7. Natural system modifications -> 7.2. Dams & water
management/use -> 7.2.11. Dams (size unknown)
-
-
-
-
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range
Occur in at least one PA: Yes
Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhacophorus lateralis – published in 2004.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59000A11864479.en
5
Conservation Actions Needed
2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
1. Research -> 1.5. Threats
1. Research -> 1.6. Actions
3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends
Additional Data Fields
Population
Population severely fragmented: No
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Rhacophorus lateralis – published in 2004.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59000A11864479.en
6
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™