Home › Amphibia › Nasikabatrachidae › Purple Frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis)
SPECIES PROFILE
Purple Frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis)
Nasikabatrachus
IUCN STATUS
Endangered
CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered
CLASS
Amphibia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Western Ghats: Kerala, Tamil Nadu
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Underground in moist forests, near streams
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Amphibia
ORDER
Anura
FAMILY
Nasikabatrachidae
GENUS
Nasikabatrachus
📋 Description
SIZE
6-9 cm long, 150-200 grams
COLORATION
Purple to dark grey, bloated body
ADAPTATIONS
Small eyes, short limbs for burrowing, pointed snout
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Underground in moist forests, near streams
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Western Ghats: Kerala, Tamil Nadu
REPRODUCTION
Lays 2,000-4,000 eggs in streams, tadpoles 100 days
DIET DETAILS
Termites, ants, small invertebrates
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss, climate change
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Mole-Like Frogs: Their 7 cm bloated bodies burrow 3 meters underground in Anamalai's streams with 3000 left. Monsoons draw them to breed with 2000 eggs.
2
Ghats Relic: Evolving 130 million years ago their pig-like snouts sniff 50 insects nightly in Munnar's forests. Deforestation threatens their 500 sq km rainforest range.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Anamalai Hills in Kerala rainforest streams host purple frog sightings
Munnar in Kerala high-altitude forests offer purple frog sightings
Mathikettan Shola National Park in Kerala wet forests have purple frog sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
June-September. Monsoon triggers breeding with frogs emerging from burrows.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Join night walks with herpetologists to spot frogs near streams.
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