The Edge · EN Endangered
Purple Frog
Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis
Its lineage split from all other frogs around 120 million years ago — it shared the planet with dinosaurs — yet science only formally described it in 2003.
EN · Endangered
Overview
The purple frog is a bloated, glossy-violet amphibian with a pointed pig-like snout that spends almost its entire life underground, surfacing for only a couple of weeks each year to breed.
amphibianindiafossorialhas merch
Field data
| IUCN status | EN · Endangered |
|---|---|
| Population | Unknown; range-restricted to the Western Ghats |
| Trend | decreasing |
| Last assessed | 2004 |
| Class / Order | Amphibia · Anura |
| Family | Nasikabatrachidae |
| Size | ~7 cm (adult female) |
| Lifespan | Unknown in the wild |
| Range | Western Ghats, India |
Why it matters
Evolutionary distinction
- Represents an ancient lineage that diverged from its closest relatives (in the Seychelles) roughly 120 million years ago, when the continents were still joined.
- Spends nearly the entire year burrowed underground, emerging for only about two weeks to breed during the monsoon.
- Has a distinctive pointed snout and tiny head adapted for a subterranean, termite-eating life.
- Tadpoles cling to rocks in fast-flowing streams using sucker-like mouths.
Record
Timeline
- ~120 MyaLineage diverges from its nearest relatives as Gondwana breaks apart.
- 2003Formally described by science — a rare new frog family in modern times.
From the collection
Take one home
plush
Purple Frog plush
Museum-grade plush from the Purple Frog plate.
Add to cart →
sticker
Purple Frog sticker
Museum-grade sticker from the Purple Frog plate.
Add to cart →
Fulfilled on demand. Connect your Fourthwall / print-on-demand store to make these live.
Common questions
FAQ
- Why is the purple frog special?
- It belongs to an ancient lineage that split from other frogs roughly 120 million years ago, making it a living relic of the age of dinosaurs, yet it was only formally described by science in 2003.
- Where does the purple frog live?
- It lives underground in the Western Ghats of India, surfacing for only about two weeks each year to breed during the monsoon.