Infographic

Kottigehar Dancing Frog: Facts, Threats, and the Dance of Survival

Everything you need to know about this rare and endemic frog from the Western Ghats
Text by: Femi Ezhuthupallickal Benny
Design by: Diviya Mehra
Updated   Jun 27, 2025

Text by: Femi Ezhuthupallickal Benny Design by: Diviya Mehra

Updated   Jun 27, 2025
1 min read
Everything you need to know about this rare and endemic frog from the Western Ghats

Where is the Kottigehar dancing frog found?

It is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, living in fast-flowing streams and Myristica swamps at 300–500 m elevation.

Why is it called the “dancing” frog?

Males perform an elaborate “foot-flagging” display—tapping, stretching, and showing off white vocal sacs—to attract females and fend off rivals.

How do Kottigehar dancing frogs reproduce?

After mating, the female digs a nest underwater with her hind legs, lays eggs in the streambed, then covers them with sand and gravel.

What makes this species so vulnerable?

Despite being Critically Endangered and on the EDGE list, it's not legally protected in India. It faces habitat loss, water pollution, and even skeletal deformities.

About the Authors

Femi Ezhuthupallickal Benny

Femi Ezhuthupallickal Benny

Femi is a PhD student at University College London (UCL), working on the ecology and behavior of Asian giant hornets. Passionate about insects, especially wasps, she loves fieldwork in underexplored places, studying how insects interact with their environment and discovering new species while at it!

Diviya Mehra

Diviya Mehra

is a graphic designer. She was the former art director of National Geographic Traveller. Her love for animals, travel and design has shaped her career through the years.