Purple frog...

I hope this is the right board. I see by the article - its dated 2003 but I was wondering if there was any more information on this frog?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3200214.stm

there are several options to get information in the web, for example:
http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi/amphib_q...us=Nasikabatrachus&where-species=sahyadrensis

I guess nobody outside India is keeping this frog or breeding.
Indias wildlife trade regulations are strict, no legal export of amphibians for decades,
and the frog seems to be adapted to a life under the surface (what is spectacular in my eyes) so I guess he is hard to find in the field.
Do you know somebody keeping it? I think it is a challange like keeping terrestrial Caecilians.

Hello,

There is a bit more known now, but not much. The lower jaw is flexible - when feeding the tongue is extruded through a groove the forms in the jaw...likely an adaptation for feeding underground.

The frog was known to cocoa, rubber and coffee plantation workers (prior to its recent description), who sometimes uncovered it at depths of 3 feet below the surface while digging. It burrows rapidly when unearthed..if placed on the surface it moves away by pulling itself along in a very "un-froglike" manner; possibly cannot hop or jump. A specimen kept in captivity remained uderground for 5 months without appearing on the surface, even at night (I assume a camera was set operating); assumed to feed underground and to be a termite specialist....sounds like a great one to go find and study!

Well it sounds like a boring pet but a fascinating study!! Thanks for the extra info. LOL I'd hate to be lucky enough to find one in the pet trade only to have worry for months on end if the sucker is still alive in the substrate!!!

Sharon