This write up provides clues for field identification of anuran amphibians recorded from DATR till date and we will not claim that list is complete. It is aimed at forest personal and amateurs interested in batrachology. Personal observations must be made and a record of the same can be maintained for further usage.  Before identification, one needs to know the following anatomical features of a frog or toad as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Anatomical features of anuran amphibian

Family: Bufonidae

Genus: Duttaphrynus
Species: scaber
Common name: Ferguson’s toad
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Western Ghats and Sri Lanka

Key characters: No dark ridges snout and mouth. Pear shaped poison gland. Dry skin, black warts (cornified) on back, finger tips and toe tips.

Size: Small to medium, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: terrestrial, human habitation, water bodies

Genus: Duttaphrynus
Species: melanostictus
Common name: Common Indian toad
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Not endemic

Key characters: Dark ridges around eyes, snout and mouth. Elongated poison gland. Dry skin, black warts (cornified) on back, finger tips and toe tips.

Size: medium to large, Activity: nocturnal,
Habitat: terrestrial, human habitation, water bodies

Genus: Pedostibes
Species: tuberculosus
Common name: Malabar tree toad
Ecological status: Endangered
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: No ridges around eyes, snout and mouth. Eyes golden, poison gland not clear, dry skin. Finger tips and toe tips with dilated discs.

Size: medium, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Arboreal, on trees near forest streams.

Family: Microhylidae

Genus: Microhyla
Species: ornata
Common name: Ornate narrow mouthed frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: Ornamentation on back, limbs cross barred. Small head, narrow mouth. No dilation on finger and toe tips.

Size: Small, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Semi-aquatic, breeds in monsoon, water bodies, human habitation

Genus: Microhyla
Species: rubra
Common name: Red narrow mouthed frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Non endemic

Key characters: No ornamentation on back, uniform red back, limbs cross barred. Small head, narrow mouth. Black dot at the junction of thigh and groin, giving eye like appearance.  No dilation on finger and toe tips.Digging apparatus larger than Microhylaornata.

Size: Small, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Semi-aquatic, breeds in monsoon, water bodies, human habitation

Family: Nyctibatrachidae

Genus: Nyctibatrachus
Species: petraeus
Common name: Castle rock wrinkled frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Endemic

Key characters: Iris rhombus, wrinkles on back, finger tips dilated, webbing in foot. Male individuals have femoral gland on inner sides of thigh and nuptial pad on thumb.

Size: Medium, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Aquatic, breeds in monsoon in forest streams

Family: Dicroglossidae

Genus: Euphlyctis
Species: aloysii
Common name: Aloys skitter frog
Ecological status: Data deficient
Endemism: Endemic

Key characters: Elongated snout, popped out eyes, two green extension behind eyes, a white stripe on the flank, thighs barred, finger tips not dilated

Size: Medium, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Aquatic, seen breeding in ponds and  pools.

Genus: Euphlyctis
Species: cyanophlyctis
Common name: Skitter frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Non endemic

Key characters: Elongated snout, popped out eyes, irregular pattern on back, thighs barred, finger tips not dilated. Webbing in foot.

Size: Medium, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Aquatic, seen in almost all water kinds of water bodies.

Genus: Fejervarya
Species: caperata
Common name: Wrinkled Fejervarya
Ecological status: Data deficient
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: Elongated snout, skin folds along body, thighs barred, finger tips not dilated.

Size: small, Activity: nocturnal,Habitat: semi-aquatic, seen near human habitation and agriculture fields.

Genus: Fejervarya
Species: rufescens
Common name: Reddish burrowing Frog.
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: Inverted ‘V’ skin fold on the back, reddish spot on the back, lower lip barred, forelimb and hind limbs barred, digging apparatus present. No dilation on finger tips

Size: small, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: semi-aquatic, seen near human habitation and agriculture fields

Genus: Hoplobatrachus
Species: tigerinus
Common name: Indian bull frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Non-endemic

Key characters: Elongated snout, skin folds along body, tiger like stripes and folds on the back, thighs barred, finger tips not dilated. 

Size: large, Activity: nocturnal,Habitat: semi-aquatic, seen near human habitation and agriculture fields.

Genus: Minervarya
Species: sahyadris
Common name: Minervarya frog
Ecological status: Endangered
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: Elongated snout, skin folds along body, thighs barred, finger tips not dilated. Small gland near jaw.

Size: small, Activity: nocturnal,Habitat: semi-aquatic, seen near human habitation and agriculture fields.

Genus: Sphaerotheca
Species: breviceps
Common name: Indian burrowing frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Non-endemic

Key characters: Blunt snout, strong skin from eye to shoulder, sacral hump visible, strong digging apparatus on hind limb. Thighs barred, finger tips not dilated.

Size: medium, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Fossorial (burrowing), seen near human habitation and agriculture fields.

Family: Ranixalidae

Genus: Indirana
Species: semipalmatus
Common name: South Indian frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: Elongated snout, skin folds along body, large tympanum, finger tips slightly dilated, and thighs barred. 

Size: small, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: semi-aquatic, found hiding below leaf litters in forest, along streams

Family: Ranidae

Genus: Clinotarsus
Species: curtipes
Common name: Bicoloured frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: Elongated body, dorsum and flanks with distinct rufous and chocolate coloured, a longitudinal fold from eye till anus, large tympanum, webbing on foot.

Size: Medium to large, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: semi-aquatic, found near water bodies

Genus: Hylarana
Species: malabarica
Common name: Fungoid frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Non-endemic

Key characters: Elongated body, dorsum and flanks with distinct colour, a longitudinal fold from eye till anus, small tympanum, webbing on foot. Chocolate reticulation on thigh

Size: Medium to large, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: semi-aquatic, found near water bodies

Genus: Hylarana
Species: temporalis
Common name: Bronze frog
Ecological status: Near threatened
Endemism: Western Ghats-Sri Lanka

Key characters: Elongated body, a longitudinal fold from eye till anus, large tympanum, webbing on foot, limbs barred.

Size: Medium to large, Activity: nocturnal,Habitat: semi-aquatic, Found near water bodies

Family: Rhacophoridae

Genus: Pseudophilautus
Species: wynaadensis
Common name: Dark eared bush frog
Ecological status: Endangered
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: Squat body, Strong fold from eye to shoulder, tympanum with brown colouration, a white patch on snout tip. Finger and toe tips dilated.

Size: small, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Arboreal, shrubs and trees at about 2m from ground. They skip tadpole stage in life.

Genus: Polypedates
Species: cruciger
Common name: Chunam frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Western Ghats-Sri Lanka

Key characters: Elongated body, finger and toe tips dilated, large eyes, strong fold from eye to shoulder. Webbing on foot, limbs barred. Finger and toe tips dilated

Size: Medium, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Arboreal, on trees and walls. During breeding period, found near water bodies.

Genus: Rhacophorus
Species: malabaricus
Common name: Malabar gliding frog
Ecological status: Least concerned
Endemism: Western Ghats

Key characters: Elongated body, green on the back, red webbing, No fold from eye to shoulder, Finger and toe tips dilated. Spur on heels.

Size: Medium, Activity: nocturnal, Habitat: Arboreal, on trees. During breeding season, found near water bodies.