Pseudophilautus caeruleus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AMPHIBIA	ANURA	RHACOPHORIDAE

Scientific Name:	Pseudophilautus caeruleus
Species Authority:	(Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda, 2005)
Synonym/s:	Philautus caeruleus Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda, 2005

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2004
Assessor/s:	Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi, Rohan Pethiyagoda
Reviewer/s:	Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson and Neil Cox)
Contributor/s:
Justification: Listed as Endangered because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 5,000 km2, and its Area of Occupancy is less than 500 km2, all individuals are in fewer than five locations, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat in the Central Hill Country of Sri Lanka.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to the Peak Wilderness and the Central Hill Country of south-western Sri Lanka, and has been recorded from 810-1,370m asl. It is currently known from only two sites, but is likely to occur more widely than current records suggest (Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda 2005).
Countries:	Native: Sri Lanka
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is a rare species.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is terrestrial, and has been observed in closed-canopy habitats, both in disturbed and undisturbed forests. Adults are strictly nocturnal; males have been observed perching on branches of low shrubs 20-50cm above ground (Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda 2005). It breeds by direct development, and is not dependent on water. The female excavates a deep hole in the forest floor where the eggs are then deposited.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is terrestrial, and has been observed in closed-canopy habitats, both in disturbed and undisturbed forests. Adults are strictly nocturnal; males have been observed perching on branches of low shrubs 20-50cm above ground (Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda 2005). It breeds by direct development, and is not dependent on water. The female excavates a deep hole in the forest floor where the eggs are then deposited.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There is some encroachment of the forest habitat of this species, mainly for tea cultivation and firewood collection, and it is potentially at risk from agro-chemicals. The area is also subject to disturbance by visiting pilgrims.

Major Threat(s):

There is some encroachment of the forest habitat of this species, mainly for tea cultivation and firewood collection, and it is potentially at risk from agro-chemicals. The area is also subject to disturbance by visiting pilgrims.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	It is found in the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary.

Conservation Actions:

It is found in the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary.

Bibliography [top]

	Bahir, M.M., Meegaskumbura, M., Manamendra-Arachchi, K., Schneider, C.J. and Pethiyagoda, R. 2005. Reproduction and terrestrial direct development in Sri Lankan shrub frogs. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology: 339-350. IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004. Manamendra-Arachchi, K. and Pethiyagoda, R. 2005. The Sri Lankan shrub-frogs of the genus Philautus Laurent, 1943 (Ranidae, Rhacophorinae), with description of 27 new species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement: 163-303.

Bahir, M.M., Meegaskumbura, M., Manamendra-Arachchi, K., Schneider, C.J. and Pethiyagoda, R. 2005. Reproduction and terrestrial direct development in Sri Lankan shrub frogs. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology: 339-350.

IUCN. 2004. 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 23 November 2004.

Manamendra-Arachchi, K. and Pethiyagoda, R. 2005. The Sri Lankan shrub-frogs of the genus Philautus Laurent, 1943 (Ranidae, Rhacophorinae), with description of 27 new species. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology Supplement: 163-303.

Citation:	Kelum Manamendra-Arachchi, Rohan Pethiyagoda 2004. Pseudophilautus caeruleus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 June 2013.
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