About Pseudophilautus popularis (Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda, 2005)
Pseudophilautus popularis, commonly known as the common shrub frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. This species is endemic to Sri Lanka. Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest. Specimens have been observed at elevations ranging from 0 to 1067 meters above sea level. Adult males measure between 17.7 and 21.3 mm in snout-vent length. Gravid adult females measure between 23.0 and 25.6 mm in snout-vent length. The top of the head and dorsal skin are brown. The flanks are dark brown or black, marked with scattered white or light blue spots. The inguinal region is gray-brown. The area surrounding the tympanum has blue dots. The legs are brown with darker brown bars. The ventrum is gray-brown, the undersides of the hind legs are yellow, and the webbed skin is also yellow. This species is classified as Vulnerable. Threats to it include habitat loss driven by urbanization, as well as exposure to pollution, fertilizers, and pesticides. One confirmed location where this frog has been found, the Bellanwila-Attidiya sanctuary, is a protected area.
