Ranixalidae

Ranixalidae is a small family of frogs (order Anura) that includes two genera, Indirana and Ranixalus. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with most species occurring in the forested regions of the Western Ghats and surrounding habitats. The family represents a relatively distinct lineage within the broader frog radiation, and its members have been the focus of taxonomic revisions in recent decades.

Taxonomy and distribution are characterized by a concentration of diversity in southern India, where these frogs inhabit moist, shaded environments. Members are often associated with leaf litter and other forest microhabitats, though some species are tied to streams and wetlands during breeding. The group is considered small in terms of species numbers compared with many other frog families, and its classification has reflected advances in molecular phylogenetics that clarified relationships among Indian frogs.

Ecology and biology are generally aligned with their forest environment. Species tend to be small to medium in size and exhibit cryptic coloration that camouflages them within their preferred microhabitats. Reproductive modes vary across the family; eggs may be laid in moist terrestrial sites, and some species show direct development, bypassing a free-living tadpole stage, while others produce aquatic tadpoles.

Conservation concerns for Ranixalidae focus on habitat loss and degradation, particularly due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, and development in the Western Ghats region. Like many amphibians, several species are assessed as vulnerable or endangered by the IUCN, underscoring the importance of habitat protection and ongoing taxonomic and ecological research to inform conservation priorities.