Purple Frog
EN

Purple Frog

Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple_frog

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Purple Frog faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as its Western Ghats forest home is cleared for agriculture, plantations, and human settlements. Mining activities and quarrying operations directly destroy the laterite soil formations essential for its underground lifestyle. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the monsoon patterns that trigger its brief above-ground breeding season, while pollution from agricultural runoff degrades the streams where tadpoles develop.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Purple Frog inhabits the laterite soil formations and deciduous forests of the Western Ghats mountain range in southwestern India. It spends most of its life underground in burrows within the laterite substrate, emerging only during monsoon rains to breed in temporary streams and pools.

Threatened in India

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
EN

Khaire's Black Shieldtail

Melanophidium khairei

Unknown
VU

Actinopyga miliaris

Declining
EN

Madura Earth Snake

Uropeltis madurensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Purple Frog classified as Endangered?
Purple Frog is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Purple Frog faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as its Western Ghats forest home is cleared for agriculture, plantations, and human settlements. Mining activities and quarrying operations directly destroy the laterite soil formations essential for its underground lifestyle. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the monsoon patterns that trigger its brief above-ground breeding season, while pollution from agricultural runoff degrades the streams where tadpoles develop.
Where does Purple Frog live?
Purple Frog occurs in India. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Purple Frog?
The main threats to Purple Frog are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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