Found only in the Western Ghats of India, this frog is famous for its strange appearance and secretive lifestyle. Unlike most frogs, the purple frog has a round, bloated body that is dark purple or brown in color, giving it a distinctive look that is quite different from the more common green or brown frogs people are used to seeing. Its small, pointed snout resembles a pig’s nose, which is where it gets its scientific name, Nasikabatrachus, meaning “nose frog.”

One of the most interesting things about the purple frog is how it spends most of its life. While many frogs are often seen hopping around ponds or streams, the purple frog lives almost entirely underground. It is a burrowing species, meaning it digs into the soil and lives beneath the surface. The purple frog has strong, muscular limbs that are perfectly adapted for digging through the earth. It creates tunnels where it stays hidden, coming out only during the rainy season. Because it lives underground, it feeds mainly on termites and ants, using its pointed snout to capture them in the tight spaces of its burrows.

The purple frog’s underground lifestyle is one reason why it was not discovered by scientists until 2003, even though it has been around for millions of years. Its ability to stay hidden in the soil of the Western Ghats made it one of the most elusive animals in the region. This discovery was a big surprise because the frog is so different from other species, both in its appearance and behavior. The purple frog is sometimes called a “living fossil” because it belongs to an ancient group of frogs that dates back nearly 120 million years to a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

India

2020

Kerala, Tamil Nadu