Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, renowned for its iconic one-horned rhinoceros and rich biodiversity, is also a haven for a diverse array of amphibians of Kaziranga that thrive in its lush wetlands, floodplains, and tropical forests. These often-overlooked creatures play a vital ecological role, acting as both predator and prey, and serving as indicators of environmental health. From the vibrant chorus of frogs after monsoon rains to the quiet rustle of a toad beneath the leaf litter, Kaziranga’s amphibians add a hidden but essential layer to the park’s natural tapestry. This blog explores some of the common amphibians that call Kaziranga home.
Habitat for Amphibians
Kaziranga Tiger Reserve offers a mosaic of habitats ideal for amphibians, ranging from seasonal floodplains, marshes, and oxbow lakes to moist deciduous forests and grasslands. The annual monsoon floods rejuvenate the wetlands, creating temporary pools and waterlogged areas that serve as perfect breeding grounds for frogs and toads. Amphibians thrive in the park’s dense vegetation, leaf litter, and undergrowth, where humidity levels remain high. These habitats not only provide shelter and moisture essential for their survival but also support a rich supply of insects and other invertebrates that make up their diet.
Some Common Amphibians of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve
Amphibians are a diverse group of cold-blooded vertebrates that include frogs, toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Known for their dual life—beginning in water as larvae and transitioning to land as adults—they play a crucial role in ecosystems as both predators and prey. Amphibians typically have moist, permeable skin that allows for cutaneous respiration, making them highly sensitive to environmental changes. Most species lay eggs in water, and their development involves a metamorphic transformation from tadpole to adult. With their unique ability to absorb water and gases through their skin, amphibians are excellent indicators of ecological health and biodiversity.
Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)
The Asian toad is one of the most widespread amphibians in South and Southeast Asia and a common sight in Kaziranga, particularly around the edges of forest clearings, roadside puddles, and agricultural fields near the park. Recognizable by its dry, warty skin and distinctive parotoid glands behind the eyes, this species is active at dusk and at night. Despite its humble appearance, the Asian toad plays a crucial role in controlling insect populations.
Assam’s hill Frog (Clinotarsus alticola)
A secretive species found in the foothill streams and forested hill tracts around Kaziranga, the point-nosed frog is noted for its pointed snout and camouflage pattern. These frogs are often overlooked due to their cryptic coloration and silent behavior outside the breeding season. They are important for the health of montane and sub-montane stream ecosystems, feeding on aquatic invertebrates.
Bhamo Frog (Humerana humeralis)
A medium-sized frog named after the region of Bhamo in Myanmar, it inhabits wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Kaziranga and nearby areas. The Bhamo frog prefers cool, shaded environments near clear-running streams. With its streamlined body and webbed toes, it’s an excellent jumper and swimmer. This frog, like many others, is threatened by habitat loss and pollution.
Cope’s Assam Frog (Hylarana leptoglossa)
This frog is a native of northeastern India and found in moist deciduous forests and hill streams in Kaziranga. It is small, with a narrow snout and long limbs suited for agile movements. Cope’s Assam frog is insectivorous and helps maintain the balance in invertebrate populations. Being a forest specialist, its presence is an indicator of relatively undisturbed habitats.
Banded Bullfrog (Kaloula pulchra)
The Banded Bullfrog is a stout, highly adaptable amphibian found in varied habitats like flooded grasslands, roadside puddles, and urban drains. It hides during the day in burrows, leaf litter, or wall crevices. Easily recognized by its thick, black-edged side bands and dark upper body, it inflates and secretes sticky mucus when threatened. Despite its squat build and short legs, it is a good climber and can scale trees. Its call, a loud, cow-like bellow, is typically heard after heavy rain when it gathers in flooded pools to breed.
Indian Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus)
A prominent resident of ponds, marshes, and paddy fields in Kaziranga, the Indian bullfrog is a large and vividly colored amphibian. During the breeding season, males display a bright yellow body with blue vocal sacs. Their booming calls echo through the wetlands during the monsoon. As voracious predators, they consume a variety of prey including insects, other frogs, and even small birds and mammals.
Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla ornata)
The ornate narrow-mouthed frog, native to South Asia, inhabits diverse ecosystems from grasslands and shrublands to moist and dry forests. Small and yellowish with a distinctive arrow-shaped dorsal mark, it has a smooth back with slight granulation, a small head, no teeth, and no visible tympani. Males grow up to 24 mm and females to 28 mm. With spathulate fingertips and minimal webbing, it lives semi-buried in leaf litter, mainly nocturnal but also active during the rainy season. It breeds in seasonal ponds and temporary pools formed during monsoon rains.
Skittering Frog (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis)
Often seen “skittering” across the water surface when disturbed, this frog is one of the most aquatic amphibians in India. Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis, commonly known as the Indian skipper or skittering frog, is a widespread dicroglossid frog of South Asia. Typically found at the edges of water bodies with just their eyes visible, they dart noisily into the water when disturbed, rarely venturing far from it. Native to low to moderate elevations across southeastern Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, India, and parts of Myanmar, their presence in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam is uncertain or possibly introduced. Some regional records have been reassigned to related species. According to the IUCN, their confirmed range is limited to India and Bangladesh.
Six-lined Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax)
Polypedates leucomystax, commonly known as the common or four-lined tree frog, is a small shrub frog found across Southeast Asia. It displays a range of colors—gray, green, yellow, or brown—often with four back stripes and a white snout tip. Males reach 3.7–5.0 cm and females 5.7–7.5 cm in length. This adaptable species breeds in shallow pools, where males call with a duck-like sound to attract females. Females lay 100–400 eggs in foam nests above water. The tadpoles drop into the water after hatching and mature into frogs within seven weeks. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Twin-spotted Tree Frog (Rhacophorus bipunctatus)
The Twin-spotted Flying Frog is a small species of Rhacophorus found in primary forests above 1000 metres and occasionally near human dwellings. Its color varies from light brown with black speckles to greenish with pale stripes, while juveniles are orange-brown with dark spots. Distinctive yellow gold to reddish limbs and fully webbed fingers and toes aid in gliding between trees. Like other flying frogs, it uses its webbing to move aerially through the forest canopy. Its range extends from eastern India through Myanmar and Thailand to Indochina and Peninsular Malaysia.
Bubble-nest Frog (Raorchestes spp.)
The bubble-nest frogs, especially species of the genus Raorchestes, are notable for their unusual breeding behavior. Males create foam nests on leaves and vegetation above water, where eggs develop in safety. These frogs are generally small, with excellent camouflage, and are important indicators of habitat quality in Kaziranga’s moist forests.
Conclusion:
Amphibians may be small and often overlooked, but they are vital to the ecological balance of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. Their presence in such variety—ranging from tree frogs gliding through forest canopies to toads camouflaged in the grasslands—reflects the rich biodiversity and health of the park’s unique wetland and forest ecosystems. As indicators of environmental change, amphibians remind us of the delicate balance in nature and the importance of conservation efforts. By understanding and appreciating these fascinating creatures, we gain a deeper insight into Kaziranga’s vibrant and interconnected web of life.