Malabar Tree Toad

About Malabar Tree Toad

• The Malabar Tree Toad is a rare and endangered amphibian found in the Western Ghats of India.
• It is locally known as Malenadina Mara Gantikappe.
• Ecological Importance: It acts as an indicator species of the health of evergreen forests.
• Recognition:The Karnataka government officially declared the Malabar Tree Toad as the state amphibian in October 2026.
  • With this declaration, it became the first officially declared state amphibian in India.
• Habitat: It mainly lives in the trees of dense  canopy of tropical rainforests.
• Distribution: It is found in Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• Characteristics
  • Physical Appearance: It is a small, dark-coloured toad, usually brown or black, with distinctive white or yellowish spots on its back.
  • Skin Texture: Its skin is rough and covered with small tubercles, giving it a warty appearance.
  • Body Size: It typically measures 3–4 cm in length, making it a relatively small toad.
  • Climbing Ability: It has slender limbs and special pads on its fingers and toes that help it cling to wet surfaces and climb trees.
  • Unique Feature: It is the only toad species in the world known to climb trees.
  • Breeding Cycle: Unlike other amphibians, its breeding cycle occurs between March and June, before the onset of the monsoon.
  • Behaviour: It is active at night and feeds on insects and other small creatures.
    • • During the day, it hides under leaves or in tree crevices.
• Threats:
  • Deforestation
  • Habitat loss
  • Pollution
• Conservation Status
  • Red List: Endangered
  • Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972