Amphibian

Purple Frog

Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis

Also known as Indian Purple Frog, Mahabali Frog, Pignose Frog

Purple frogs spend nearly their entire lives buried up to four meters underground, using a specialized wedge-shaped skull and stout spade-like feet to dig through soil. They emerge for only a few days during pre-monsoon rains to breed along fast-flowing mountain streams, where males call from shallow burrows with a rhythmic cluck. Adults feed almost exclusively on subterranean termites using a specialized protrusible tongue.

EndemicBurrowingAmphibian

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—observations

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Near ThreatenedConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyTermites, Ants, Soil invertebrates

Predators

Snakes
Monitor lizards
Large birds

ThreatsHabitat loss, dam construction, stream siltation, and road mortality during emergence

HabitatsSubterranean soil in tropical moist evergreen forests and stream margins

Life span10–15 years

Classification

FamilyNasikabatrachidae
SpeciesNasikabatrachus sahyadrensis

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice: Look for a bloated purple body with a pale pointed snout and small eyes along rain-swollen streams.
Support conservation: Maintain distance, minimize artificial lighting, and avoid stepping on stream banks where burrows are located.

Responsible observation

Monsoon Calls: Listen for muffled, chicken-like clucks coming from muddy burrows during heavy pre-monsoon rains.
Stream Safety: Watch your step along muddy torrent stream banks where breeding pairs emerge briefly.
Lighting Etiquette: Use low-intensity red light to observe active individuals without disrupting mating behavior.

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