Indosylvirana aurantiaca

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Golden frog (Indosylvirana aurantiaca)

The golden frog, scientifically known as Indosylvirana aurantiaca, is a small to medium-sized frog in the Ranidae family. It is found only in the Western Ghats of India, mainly in Kerala (south of the Palakkad Gap, including Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts). It is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

Taxonomy and history in brief
This species has been moved through several genera as scientists revised frog classification. In 2014, researchers confirmed that I. aurantiaca is endemic to the Western Ghats and not native to Sri Lanka, where similar-looking frogs were later identified as a distinct species, Indosylvirana serendipi.

What it looks like
Males are about 3.2–5.6 cm long; females up to around 6.3 cm. The back ranges from orange to golden brown with dark side stripes and a bright yellow or gold fold from behind the eye to the hind legs. The underside is lighter. The fingers have pads, and the toes are webbed.

Where it lives
Golden frogs occupy a wide range of habitats, including ponds, rivers, streams, forests, bamboo thickets, coastal areas, and rice paddies. They are semiarboreal and semiaquatic, often found on rocks or leaves near water. They live at elevations of about 200–1,400 meters.

Life cycle and behavior
They are mostly nocturnal but can be active during light rains. Breeding mainly occurs from June to July. From hatching to metamorphosis takes about 60 days. Tadpoles are yellow with pink tails and resemble small yellow adults.

Conservation
The main threat is habitat loss and fragmentation due to agriculture and development. The species is protected by Indian law, but its remaining habitat is still at risk.