This family consists of the tree frogs that are slim and slender in habitus and arboreal in habits. Most tree frogs have a slender build, with long limbs and webbed digits, a concave loreal for facilitating binocular vision & horizontally elliptical pupil. Four genera Philautus, Polypedates, Rhacophorus and Ghatixalus are distributed in southern India. An * indicates endemism.

Philautus GISTEL, 1848
This very interesting genus has over 40 species, all of which are found in the hill forests of Western Ghats. These frogs are very small and colourful, creatures that are commonly called ‘Bush Frogs’. They are confined to wet zones of the hills. One of the most striking features is that these bush frogs undergo direct development without metamorphosis. Several new species of bush frogs are being described since recent past.

Polypedates TSCHUDI, 1838
These are the common tree frogs or typical tree frogs, which include the most widespread member of the family. There are 4 species occurring in southern India.
Polypedates maculatus (GRAY, 1843)
Polypedates psudocruciger* DAS & RAVICHANDRAN, 1998
Polypedates occidentalis* DAS & DUTTA, 2006
Polypedates cf. leucomystax (distribution in southern India is not unanimously accepted)

Rhacophorus KHUL & HASSELT, 1822
These frogs are commonly called 'Gliding frogs' because they use their large parachute-like webbing to glide down from trees by fully extending the limbs and digits. Five species are found in southern India, all of which are endemic to Western Ghats.
Rhacophorus malabaricus* JERDON, 1870
Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus* VASUDEVAN & DUTTA, 2000
Rhacophorus lateralis* BOULENGER, 1883
Rhacophorus calcadensis* AHL, 1927

Ghatixalus* BIJU, ROELANTS & BOSSUYT, 2008
This is a recently erected genus, which contains two high-elevation habitat specialist species, each from the two montane zones of Nilgiris and High Ranges of Western Ghats (very mush similar to the agamid genus Salea !). This genus is endemic to Western Ghats.
Ghatixalus variabilis (JERDON, 1853)
G. astrops BIJU, ROELANTS & BOSSUYT, 2008