Amphibians are cold-blooded animals which require very specific living conditions. They are represented with 41 species belonging to 5 families here. Of them, 27 species are endemic to Western Ghats including Malabar gliding frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus), Malabar tree toad (Pedostibes tuberculosus), Malabar torrent toad (Ghatophryne ornata), Glandular bush frog (Raorchestes glandulosus), Variable bush frog (Raorchestes akroparallagi), Large Ponmudi bush frog (Raorchestes ponmudi) and many are listed under IUCN threatened categories.
A total of 63 species of reptiles coming under 13 families are found in Aralam. Of these, 11 species are endemic to the Western Ghats including flying lizard, Draco dussumieri, considered to be an Indomalayan faunal element. King cobra, the largest venomous snake, is well distributed in the reserve. The Travancore tortoise, Indotestudo forsteni and Cochin forest cane turtle, Vijayachelys silvatica, have also been reported from the sanctuary.
Useful links on the taxa : Amphibians of India Reptiles of India
Sandeep Das
Rajkumar K P