Three New-to-Science Frogs Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

January 3, 2024

Scientists have reported three new frog species belonging to new genera from Arunachal Pradesh’s Namdapha-Kamlang protected area network along the Myanmar border. The finds highlight the significance of exploring unique habitats.

Key Discovery Details

The new frog species discovered are:

Gracixalus patkaiensis – A translucent green tree frog with jelly-like appearance and insect-like call

Alcalus fontinalis – A tiny brown frog inhabiting fast-flowing hill streams with unique trickling vocalization

Nidirana noadihing – A marsh-dwelling “music frog” named after the Noa-Dihing river

They occupy diverse ecological niches – from rainforest understory to flowing brooks – within Namdapha-Kamlang’s elevational gradient ecosystem spanning 100-5000 meters.

Why Habitat-Inspired Names Matter

The frogs draw their names from local hill ranges, water bodies and secretive ecological pockets they occupy.

Conservationists state such habitat-linked denominations can inspire location-specific biodiversity ownership and community participation to protect new species.

For example, Kerala’s iconic Purple Frog carries the local Mahabali legend in its name, elevating its cultural status.

Underscoring a Biodiversity Hotspot

Between India and Myanmar lies Namdapha National Park and Kamlang Tiger Reserve. Namdapha Tiger Reserve is the northernmost tropical rainforest experimentally harboring unique crossover biodiversity between the Eastern Himalayas and Southeast Asia. This area has low tropical forests up to 5000 meter high Himalaya-like mountains.

The recent findings take India’s documented amphibians to around 470 species. Scientists estimate over 100 more await discovery across vulnerable habitats like the Western Ghats as well. Researchers found both Southeast Asian and Himalayan animals at different heights. But they need to study more to know exactly where each species lives. The area faces threats from human activities. So new species discoveries also bring worries about conservation.

The Way Forward

Further exploration can unveil more discoveries from Namdapha-Kamlang’s unsurveyed peaks. The teams envision field guides and biodiversity stories highlighting ecological uniqueness for area conservation.

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