At a Glance
This amphibian, also called the Cave Dancing Frog, lives in the fast lane. The species is only found in a few fast-flowing streams, so fast that they are like torrents, in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, India. Nilgris Torrent Frogs wave their legs to attract mates and defend their territories because the roaring water of the streams they live in would drown out any mating calls. This behavior has earned this species and others in its genus the nickname of “Dancing Frogs.”
Scientists were not sure how torrent frog tadpoles developed until 2016. Females dig small holes in sandy and gravel-filled areas on the edges of the forest streams, lay their eggs in them, then cover the cavities with sand or gravel.
As human communities in the Western Ghats grow and expand, they are encroaching on Nilgris Torrent Frog habitats and are drawing more water from the rivers, streams and creeks that the frog lives in and depends on. Those same water sources have also seen an uptick in pollution from trash entering them and from agricultural runoff. Climate change is also a threat for the species since it can raise the temperature of streams, creeks and rivers.
At a glance
Taxa
Amphibians
Geography
India
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Forest
Estimated Population
Unknown
Threats
Water diversion; unregulated tourism; tourism infrastructure; water pollution
Potential Recovery Actions
Habitat restoration
