About Raorchestes anili (Biju & Bossuyt, 2006)
Raorchestes anili, commonly known as Anil's bush frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. This species is endemic to the Western Ghats in Kerala, India, where it has been observed at elevations between 840 and 1,150 meters (2,760 and 3,770 feet) above sea level. Its known habitats include forests, coffee farms, roadside vegetation, gardens, and areas near human habitation. Adult male Anil's bush frogs measure 23.2–25.2 mm (0.91–0.99 in) in snout-vent length, the distance from the nose to the rear end of the body. Only one female specimen has been recorded, which measured 29.3 mm (1.15 in) in snout-vent length. The species has a light brown dorsal skin marked with darker brown patterning. It has a dark brown stripe on each side of the body that runs from the front leg to the hind leg on that side; these two stripes meet at the middle of the back to form a V shape. There is a light brown mark between the frog's eyes. Most of the snout is gray, and the back is covered in many brown-black spots. The iris of the eye is yellow-red, edged with a gray rim. This species was named after Anil Zachariah, who provided assistance to researcher Dr. Biju during work on this frog. Raorchestes anili undergoes direct development, hatching directly into frogs without a free-swimming tadpole stage. Scientists currently assess this frog as not endangered, as it has a large range and is able to tolerate human-altered habitats.
