A Catalogue of Amphibia in the Collection of the Western Ghat Regional Centre Zoological Survey of India Calicut Kerala

The Western Ghats Regional Centre (WGRC) at Calicut, Kerala, India, is one among the sixteen Regional Centres of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and is engaged in survey and docurnentation of the fauna of Western Ghats, one of the Biodiversity “Hot-Spots” in the country. The Centre has maintained Zoological Collections since 1980.

A zoological collection is a set of faunal specimens of scientific or educational significance supplied with scientific documentation (Alimov et al., 1996). Zoological collections are estimated in terms of accounting units rather than in terms of the number of specimens (Alimov et al., 1996). Museum collections are of great importance, since it harbours old and rare collections including the endangered and critically endangered ones. Using collections, one can study the geographical distribution and variation of species and obtain information on living conditions.

The primary data of amphibians stored in WGRC since the inception of the Centre till January 2012 is presented here. The collections are developed as a result of efforts of faunal explorations by the departmental scientists and specimens deposited by researchers of other research departments, Universities and naturalists.

WGRC is holding 1872 identified specimens of amphibians (toads/frogs and caecilians) pertaining to 113 species; 26 genera and 11 families, including the type specimens. The collections are well labelled and maintained in 4% formalin (preservative changed once in a year) and type specimens in particular are stored in 70% alcohol (preservative changed twice a year).