Raorchestes tinniens, also known as the spotted bush frog, black bush frog, and Rao's bubble-nest frog (the latter two referring to species now considered junior synonyms of R. tinniens), is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills, a part of the Western Ghats, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, southern India. It has a rather complicated taxonomic history, and there is still an open issue whether Ixalus montanus Günther, 1876 from Kudremukh (Karnataka), now in synonymy with Raorchestes tinniens, is indeed a valid species. Description Male Raorchestes tinniens measure about in snout-vent length of and females . Dorsum is grey–brown and iris is dark-blackish brown. Flanks and groin are dark-brownish black, and belly is coarsely granular. "Ixalus montanus" from Kudremukh are larger, mean size for males and females being and , respectively. They are also yellowish brown (instead dark brown) in their flanks and groin. Distribution and habitat Raorchestes tinniens is known from the Nilgiri Hills and surroundings. It is a terrestrial species found on the ground or low in the vegetation. It is associated with montane tropical moist evergreen forests, but can also be found in grasslands and modified areas close to forests. It is a common species within its distribution area, but it is threatened by habitat loss and believed to be declining. Reproduction Males call even during the daytime. Raorchestes tinniens has direct development (i.e., there is no free-living larval stage). Eggs are laid in a hole in a ground. Froglets hatch after about 19 days. References External links tinniens Frogs of India Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats Amphibians described in 1853 Taxa named by Thomas C. Jerdon Taxonomy articles created by Polbot