SHILLONG: An astounding discovery has been made regarding the breeding habits of the Kurixalus naso, a small frog species inhabiting the high-altitude region of Mawsynam, Meghalaya.
A paper published in Current Science discovers that the frog burrows its eggs into the ground, relying on the seasonal monsoon rains to initiate hatching.
The research, carried out by researchers PW Shangpliang of St Edmund's College Shillong, RNK Hooroo of NEHU who is a retired professor, and SK Dutta of the Nature Environment and Wildlife Society, portrays the breeding cycle of the frog according to the unique wet and dry seasons of Meghalaya.
During the dry months, male Kurixalus naso hibernate in rock crevices. They emerge with the onset of pre-monsoon showers in February, opting to dig burrows in the forest floor rather than seeking water bodies. After a mating ritual lasting approximately five to six hours, females deposit their eggs into these earthen chambers before leaving.
In a remarkable instance of parental care, the males later push the eggs onto the soil surface and mix them with soil. The eggs remain dormant for 8-15 days until heavy rainfall floods the burrows, causing hatching. Remarkably, the tadpoles hatch in a well-developed stage, having discarded their gills before they reach water.
This strange method of reproduction raises questions about how the frog develops prior to hatching and demonstrates how well adapted it is to its environment. Yet scientists caution that since the frog relies on periodic rainfall for breeding, it may be vulnerable to climate change. This makes the Kurixalus naso a possible indicator species for monitoring changes in the environment in the region.
Also Watch: