The Curious Case of the Indian Painted Frog On India's Amphibian Fauna

Many people consider frogs as a nuisance. Little do we know, they are also potential indicators of environmental health. In this article, Amar Kumar Nayak discusses the Indian Painted Frog, which has tree-climbing qualities similar to monkeys and squirrels. The bright red to dull pink-coloured amphibian can be distinguished from other Indian frogs by its short head, fingertips, and colouration.

- Amar Kumar Nayak

Many tiny, beautiful colourful creatures exist in nature but we seldom take notice of them. It could be that our hectic lifestyles and growing urbanization allow us fewer chances of encountering and appreciating natural phenomena. Worldwide, there are 5500 known amphibians divided into three main categories – salamanders, newts, and mudpuppies; caecilians; and frogs and toads. As per the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, of all the animal groups, amphibians are the most threatened.

The World of Frogs

India has some of the world’s diverse amphibian fauna. The world’s 5% of species are found in the country. The Western Ghats are home to 200 species and 88% of them are endemic to the region. In the past decade, many new species of frogs have been found here.

Frogs outnumber salamanders and caecilians. They can live in any environment and are found in every continent except Antarctica. Round the year, frogs thrive in muddy ponds and stagnant marshes. With the onset of monsoons, frogs are seen in the open. It is then when they really find their voice. Croaking loud, they make their presence felt. Each species of frogs and toads have their own unique voice. Only found in India, the Bombay Bush Frog is a tiny frog whose voice resembles a typewriter’s tapping sound. In nature, frogs and toads boast of a kaleidoscope of colours. They never cease to amaze us when we see them in yellow, blue, purple, orange, and red and of bold stripes and spots. Normally, frogs are associated with shady greens and muddy browns. These are the colours which help them to camouflage and blend in. But not all frogs try to blend in.

To Burrow or Not to Burrow