Indian Five-fingered Frog

Front view

Common name: Indian five-fingered frog; green pond frog; Indian green frog.

Scientific name: Euphlyctis hexadactylus

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Class: Amphibia
                                             Order: Anura
                                             Family: Dicroglossidae
                                             Genus: Euphlyctis
                                             Species: E. hexadactylus

Type of species: Indigenous

Distribution: The green pond frog is a common species of aquatic frog found in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Habitat: This species is aquatic and is found in both freshwater and brackish-water environments.

Conservation status: Least concern

Pictures: 

The frog is half a foot long

Top-view

Antilochus conqueberti

Two mating bugs.

 

A bachelor(-ette).

Common Indian Tree Frog

At Dera, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu.

Common name: Common Indian tree frog; Chunam tree frog; Himalayan tree frog.

Scientific name: Polypedates maculatus

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Chordata
                                             Sub-phylum: Vertebrata
                                             Class: Amphibia
                                             Sub-class: Lissamphibia
                                             Order: Anura
                                             Suborder: Neobatrachia
                                             Family: Rhacophoridae
                                             Subfamily: Rhacophorinae
                                             Genus: Polypedates
                                             Species: P. maculatus

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: This common and adaptable frog prefers moist and sheltered areas.

Conservation status: Least concern


Distribution: This frog species is widespread throughout South Asia : Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It may also be found in China and Myanmar due to their proximity.

Pictures: 

 

Freshwater crab

Grasshopper

Hersilia savignyi

Common name: Two-tailed spider

Scientific name:  Hersilia savignyi

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                             Phylum: Arthropoda
                                             Class: Arachnida
                                             Order: Araneae
                                             Family: Araneomorphae
                                             Genus: Hersiliidae
                                             Species: H.savignyi

Type of species: Indigenous

Habitat: Mostly found living on the trunks of large trees. In this case, the spider lives on one of the cement pillars that hold the roof up.

Conservation status: Least Concern
 
Distribution: The spider is widely distributed, found in Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, West Bengal, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.

Note: Thanks to Anubhav Agarwal of India Biodiversity Portal for For identifying it in part.

Hammerhead Worm

Common name: Hammerhead worm; broadhead planarian

Scientific name: Bipalium kewense

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                         Phylum: Plathyhelminthes
                                         Class: Rhabditophora
                                         Order: Tricladida
                                         Suborder: Continenticola
                                         Family: Geoplanidae
                                         Subfamily: Bipaliinae
                                         Genus: Bipalium
                                         Species: B. kewense

Type of species: Indigenous

Distribution: The planarians have a cosmopolitian distribution.

Habitat: This species of bipalium is found in moist terrestrial habitats that are relatively cool.

Conservation status: Least concern

Danger warning: Recently, the presence of tetrodotoxin, a very potent neurotoxin, was recorded in B. adventitium and B. kewense. It is the first record of tetrodotoxin in terrestrial invertebrates.

Distribution map:

House Crow

Common name: House crow; Indian crow; greynecked crow; Ceylon crow; Colombo crow.

Scientific name: Corvus splendens

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                         Phylum: Chordata
                                         Class: Aves
                                         Order: Passeriformes
                                         Family: Corvidae
                                         Genus: Corvus
                                         Species: C. splendens

Type of species: Indigenous
 
Habitat: Ceylon crows thrive in a wide range of environments. They are found in large numbers in various habitats such as cities, forests, deserts, etc.

Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/211561
 
Note: Not to be confused with the Indian jungle crows.

Distribution : The Indian crow is a common bird of Asian origin. It has however, been distributed across the globe by humans' carelessness.

River Kingfisher (A. taprobana)

Common name: River kingfisher; common kingfisher; Eurasian kingfisher

Scientific name: Alcedo atthis

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                         Phylum: Chordata
                                         Class: Aves
                                         Order: Coraciiformes
                                         Family: Alcedinidae
                                         Genus: Alcedo
                                         Species: A. atthis

Type of species: Indigenous

Distribution: The common kingfisher is widely distributed over Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mainly south of 60°N.

Habitat: The Eurasian kingfisher inhabits clear, slow-flowing streams and rivers, and lakes with well-vegetated banks. It prefers scrubs and bushes with overhanging bushes near shallow open water bodies. During the cold season, it becomes more coastal and feeds mainly near estuaries, harbors and rocky sea shores. In India, these birds are present by slow-flowing rivers and streams, mangrove creeks, and swamps.

Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/153401

Distribution map:

Note 1: There are two sub-species of river kingfishers that are found in India(pictured below). One species ( a. taprobana (left)) is native and the other ( a. bengalensis (right)) is migratory.
Source: wikipedia            Note 2: Difference between male and female (native). Source: johnbettsphotography

Huntsman Spider

Heteropoda venatoria on a bathroom wall.

Common name: Huntsman spider; giant crab spider; cane spider

Scientific name: Heteropoda venatoria 

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                         Phylum: Arthropoda
                                         Class: Arachnida
                                         Order: Araneae
                                         Family: Sparassidae
                                         Genus: Heteropoda
                                         Species: H. venatoria

Type of species: Indigenous

Distribution: It is native to the tropical regions of the world, and has been introduced to many subtropical regions.

Habitat: These spiders are common household guests, also found in other buildings such as barns and sheds. They are sensitive to cold and live outside only in warmer climates.

Conservation status: Least concern

Danger warning: These spiders can give a painful bite, though the amount of venom delivered is not dangerous.

Note: Differences between male and female spiders.

Source: hawaiinaturejournal

Indian Jungle Crow

A jungle crow perched on a water dish.

Common name: Indian jungle crow

Scientific name: Corvus culminatus

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                         Phylum: Chordata
                                         Class: Aves
                                         Order: Passeriformes
                                         Family: Corvidae
                                         Genus: Corvus
                                         Species: Culminatus

Type of species: Indigenous

Distribution: This species of Indian fowl is widespread across the mainland south of the foothills of the Himalayas, east of the desert regions of north-western India and having an eastern limit around Bengal. The species is also found in Sri Lanka.

Habitat: Found throughout the region mentioned above.

Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: http://www.xeno-canto.org/211568
 
NOTE: This species is not to be confused with the house crow that have a grey neck.

Distribution map:

Source: wikipedia

 

Crimson Marsh Glider (Male)

A male crimson marsh glider settled on a reed.

Common name: Crimson Marsh Glider

Scientific name: Trithemis aurora

Scientific classification: Kingdom: Animalia
                                         Phylum: Arthropoda
                                         Class: Insecta
                                         Order: Odonata
                                         Family: Libellulidae
                                         Genus: Trithemis
                                         Species: Auroro

Type of species: Indigenous

Distribution: Found in the biogeographic region that includes South Asia south of the Himalaya Mountains and Southeast Asia from southern China to Borneo.

Habitat: It can be sighted near small water bodies (streams, ponds, wells, etc.) and marsh areas.

Conservation status: Least concern

NOTE: The male and female crimson marsh gliders are distinctly different in appearance.

Female marsh glider:

Source: wikipedia

Indian Peafowl

Peacock visible in the foreground and a peahen in the background.

Common name: Indian peafowl (Males are called peacocks, females are called peahens, offspring are called peachicks)

Scientific name: Pavo Cristatus

Scientific classification:  Kingdom: Animalia

                                          Phylum: Chordata

                                          Class: Aves

                                          Order: Galliformes

                                          Family: Phasianidae

                                          Genus: Pavo

                                          Species: Cristatus

Type of species: Indigenous

Distribution: The Indian Peafowl is occurs in eastern Pakistan through India, south from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka. This bird species is native to India.

Habitat: The Indian Peafowl is a terrestrial bird species found in habitats ranging from open forests to cultivated farmlands.

Conservation status: Least concern

Sound recording: There are a number of calls peafowl use,the most common one is linked : http://www.xeno-canto.org/321544
 

Distribution map:

Source: kids.nationalgeographic.com