Magical' galaxy frogs disappear after reports of photographers destroying their habitats

"Melanobatrachus indicus, each the size of a fingertip, is the only species in its family, and lives under logs in the lush rainforest in Kerala, India. Their miraculous spots do not indicate poison, as people sometimes assume, but are thought to be used as a mode of communication, according to Rajkumar K P, a Zoological Society of London fellow and researcher."

"The big beautiful fallen log that was there was completely broken and misplaced, Rajkumar said. The vegetation was also trampled, and the frogs, whose homes had been destroyed, were nowhere to be found. At first he suspected brown mongooses of causing the damage, but they are not strong enough to overturn a log. Then he asked his tracker if he had seen anyone. He mentioned there were a couple of photographers visiting that location. Several small groups."

"These nature photographers had been turning over logs in their search for the endangered species, according to the trackers. When they found them, they would capture and prop up the frogs for photos. But they didn't wear gloves, even though these delicate creatures breathe through their skin and are incredibly sensitive. One tracker told Rajkumar that two small galaxy frogs had died after being handled for too long by photographers."

Melanobatrachus indicus is a tiny, fingertip-sized frog that is the only species in its family and lives under fallen logs in Kerala's rainforest. The frogs have distinctive spots believed to function in communication rather than indicating poison. Seven individuals were recorded in early 2020, but subsequent visits found the animals missing and their microhabitats severely disturbed. Large logs were overturned and vegetation trampled. Trackers report that visiting nature photographers turned over logs to find the frogs, handled them without gloves, relocated them for pictures, and caused at least two deaths, leaving the population presumed dead.

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