THE purple frog (nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis ), so named for its vivid skin colour, is a unique frog species that dwells in the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats in India. The first female specimen was discovered in the Idukki district of Kerala in October 2003.
The seven cm-long creature possesses a small head, swollen body and a pointed snout. It feeds on termites and other insects that it finds underground. Its call resembles the squawk of a chicken.
This remarkable amphibian spends most of its time underground, emerging only for two weeks during the monsoons to breed.