Animalia | Chordata | Vertebrata | Amphibia | Anura | Ranidae | Hylarana | Hylarana nicobariensis |
Taxonomic notes: This species was inadvertently named Fejervarya nicobariensis in the 2004 and 2006 IUCN Red Lists of Threatened Species. This species is named from the Nicobar Islands, and it is very likely that the animals on these islands will prove to be different from the populations in Southeast Asia (I. Das pers. comm.). In addition, the animals designated as Hylarana nicobariensis in the Thai-Malay Peninsula are a very different taxon from the 'nicobariensis' in Java and Bali, Indonesia.
This species is widespread in Southeast Asia, known from locations in Peninsular Thailand (Phangnga, Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat) and Peninsular Malaysia (Taylor 1962, Berry 1975 and Frith 1977) (which may be isolated), Indonesia (Siberut, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Tawi-tawi and Jolo), Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) and the Philippines (Palawan (from which there have been no recent records), Balabac and Sibutu). It also occurs in India (from the Nicobar Islands: Car Nicobar, Teressa, Katchall, Nancowry, Kamorta, Pulo Milo, Little Nicobar and Great Nicobar (S.P. Vijayakumar pers comm.); and Arunachal Pradesh (Sarkar and Ray, 2006)). It occurs up to 1,200 m asl.
It is usually found in secondary-growth vegetation and human-modified habitats such as grassy or shrubby vegetation in swampy situations, disturbed environments, towns, cities and logging roads, but it also inhabit lowland and lower montane rainforests and swamp forest. Males call from ditches, flooded fields, and ponds. The species breeds in rainwater ponds, flooded fields, lowland swamps, tree holes, and roadside ditches.
It is fairly common throughout its range, except in Arunachal Pradesh, where it is considered to be rare.
In the Nicobar Islands it is threatened by the loss of its forest habitat as a result of agricultural encroachment, expanding wood plantations, growing human settlements, and the construction of roads. However, there are no significant threats to the species overall.
The range of this species includes a number of protected areas, including the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve. A taxonomic evaluation of this species is required. It is protected by national legislation in India.
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats and presumed large population.
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