Bengaluru: Karnataka has become the first State in the country to officially declare Malabar Tree Toad (Pedostibes tuberculosus), locally known as Malenadina Mara Gantikappe, as the State’s official amphibian. 

The declaration was signed by the Karnataka Forest, Ecology and Environment Department on Oct. 27, after being declared as the State Amphibian in May during the celebration of International Biodiversity Day. 

This species is native to the Western Ghats and is an indicator species for the health of the evergreen forests. 

The Malabar Tree Toad is a rare tree dwelling amphibian that is native to the wet evergreen forests in the Western Ghats. It has been found in Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Due to its tree dwelling nature it is an ecologically important species. 

The Malabar Tree Toad is listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. It has a Least Concern (LC) conservation status according to the IUCN Red List (2020).  

This announcement puts the spotlight on the Western Ghats, one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots. This area is infamous for having high numbers of endemic plant and animal species.