KARNATAKA
New ‘Kali Night Frog’ Species Discovered in the Western Ghats
- 03 Apr 2026
- 1 min read
Why in News?
Researchers have discovered a new frog species named the Kali Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kali) in the Kali Tiger Reserve of Karnataka in the Western Ghats.
Key Points
- Scientific Name: Nyctibatrachus kali, named after the Kali River.
- Cryptic Species: It is classified as a cryptic species, meaning it closely resembles another species—Kumbara Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kumbara)—but differs genetically and acoustically.
- The frog produces a distinct call resembling the sound of wood being chopped, which helped researchers identify it in the field.
- Habitat: Found in the humid, rain-drenched corridors of the Castle Rock region in the Kali Tiger Reserve in Western Ghats.
- Almost two out of five species are currently threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, and emerging diseases.
- Diversity: India currently hosts over 470 amphibian species, representing about 5% of the world’s amphibian diversity.
| Read More: Western Ghats, Kali Tiger Reserve |
