AmphibiaWeb - Micrixalidae
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Micrixalidae

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24 species in 1 genus

Commonly Called Tropical Frogs, Indian Dancing Frogs

Micrixalus kottigeharensis
Micrixalus kottigeharensis
Photo by K.P. Dinesh
(Click for family gallery)

These frogs are found exclusively in the Western Ghats of India, similar to the Nyctibatrachidae, and likewise our natural history knowledge is incomplete. What is known, mostly from Micrixalus saxicola, is fascinating; males contest for nesting sites by foot-flagging displays where they extend one hindleg at a time, spreading their webbing on foot. It has been documented in several species (Micrixalus elegans, M. fuscus, M. herrei, M. kottigeharensis, M. nelliyampathi, M. niluvasei, M. saxicola, M. specca, M. uttaraghati). Females lay their eggs underground or bury them where they hatch. In Micrixalus herrei at least, tadpoles live a fossorial lifestyle, using their eel-like bodies to maneuver through the substrate.

Written by AmphibiaWeb

Notable Family Characteristics

  • Inhabits streams, stream banks in tropical rainforest
  • Males engage in foot-flagging displays to establish nesting sites
  • Eggs laid underground with fossorial tadpoles
  • Morphological characters include: Finger and toes with dermal fringes, and discs dilated with dorsoterminal grooves; pupil oval; webbing absent on hand; pineal ocellus present, vomerine teeth and ridge absent.
  • Distribution limited to Western Ghats of India
Micrixalidae Richness map

Cartography Credit: Zoe Yoo, UC Berkeley
Range maps sources: AmphibiaWeb, UC Berkeley, and IUCN RedList

Relevant Reference

Biju, S. et al., (2014). DNA barcoding reveals unprecedented diversity in Dancing Frogs of India (Micrixalidae, Micrixalus): a taxonomic revision with description of 14 new species. Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences). 43(1), pp.37–123. http://doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v43i1.6850

Pough, F. H., R. M. Andrews, M. L. Crump, A. H. Savitzky, K. D. Wells, and M. C. Brandley. 2015. Herpetology. Fourth Edition. Massachusetts: Sinauer.

Vitt, L. J., and J. P. Caldwell. 2013. Herpetology. An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Fourth Edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Genus Micrixalus (24 species)
Micrixalus adonis no account photos no sound/video
Micrixalus candidus no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus elegans no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus frigidus no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus fuscus account photos no sound/video
Micrixalus gadgili no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus herrei account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus kodayari no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus kottigeharensis no account photos no sound/video
Micrixalus kurichiyari no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus mallani no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus nelliyampathi no account photos no sound/video
Micrixalus nigraventris no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus niluvasei no account photos no sound/video
Micrixalus nudis no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus phyllophilus no account photos no sound/video
Micrixalus sairandhri no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus sali no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus saxicola account photos sound/video
Micrixalus silvaticus no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus specca no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus spelunca no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus thampii no account no photos no sound/video
Micrixalus uttaraghaati no account no photos no sound/video

Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: https://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed:

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