
Photo: Sonali Garg & S. D. Biju · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Mysticellus franki
Range
Endemic to the Western Ghats; known only from Wayanad District, northern Kerala
Franky's narrow-mouthed frog (Mysticellus franki) is the only member of the genus Mysticellus, the mysterious narrow-mouthed frogs. It is endemic to the Western Ghats and known only from Wayanad District in northern Kerala. The evidence suggests its closest relatives are the Micryletta frogs of Southeast Asia (Wikipedia, general species account).
During courtship the male tends to raise the hind part of its body, showing a pair of black false eyes, or eyespots. The same action is performed when individuals are disturbed, suggesting the spots may also ward off predators. After four or five days all the adult frogs disappear from the breeding site, leaving just the eggs (Wikipedia, general species account).