New ‘Kali Night Frog’ Species Discovered in the Western Ghats | 03 Apr 2026

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.