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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Least Concern |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
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| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
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At the time of the previous assessment, the species was found throughout most wetland areas of India; Bangladesh (including Sundarbans and Cox's Bazar; Md. K. Hasan and M.M.H. Khan pers. comm. October 2020); much of Pakistan; one locality in eastern Afghanistan close to the border with Pakistan; southern parts of Nepal; and from upper and northern central Myanmar (Smith 1940, Zug et al. 1998). It is now also known from southern and eastern Bhutan (Wangyal 2013). It is predominantly a lowland species, which is found at elevations between 0–800 m asl over much of its range, although it might occur up to 2,000 m asl in Nepal (Dubois 1976).
It has been introduced to the Maldives and Madagascar, where it is expanding its range at low altitudes in the northwest and on the island of Nosy Be.
Using molecular techniques it has reported genetic distances of as high as 6% among samples within Bangladesh, suggesting cryptic species diversity. The recognition of two species from the region will likely require future recognition of a neotype (Hasan et al. 2012). There are some records of this species in Sri Lanka, however, it is unclear as to whether these records belong to Hoplobatrachus tigerinus or H. crassus (Sri Lanka Red List Assessment Workshop February 2020).
This species is included in Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 1991) and in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Legal export of this species from the range states of India and Bangladesh has been banned since the mid-1990's. It has been recorded from numerous protected areas throughout its range, including Jomotshangkha Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan and Murree-Kahuta-Kotli Sattian National Park in Pakistan (Akram et al. 2021).
Conservation Needed
In India, education of farmers on the value of this species' predation on crabs, which preserves paddy fields habitat (A. Padhye pers. comm. August 2020). Education to decrease harvesting of this species also required in India. In Bangladesh, elimination of illegal hunting and sale is recommended (M. Khan pers. comm. 2020).
Research Needed
Improved identification of specimens exported from Southeast Asia (including those indicated as being of captive-bred origin) is required to determine whether or not they are Hoplobatrachus tigerinus or H. rugulosus. Within India and Bangladesh there is a need to monitor subpopulations of this species over the next five years, to determine current population trends. Protection of this species since the mid-1990s has resulted in a rise in numbers, although populations are still considered to be low. Further research into the taxonomy, population size, distribution and harvest levels of the species are needed, including monitoring of harvest and trade levels.