Assam: New Frog Species Discovered In Garbhanga Reserve Forest

GUWAHATI: A group of herpetologists have discovered a new frog species in Garbhanga Reserve Forest, a major biodiversity hotspot close to Guwahati, Assam.

The new species, Leptobrachium aryatium, is named in honor of Arya Vidyapeeth College because of the researchers' affiliation with it. The frog is identified by its orange-and-black eyes, clear throat marks, and a unique melodious call that resonates at dusk.

The findings were published in the April 14 edition of Zootaxa, a respected journal based in New Zealand that focuses on animal taxonomy. The research team comprised of Jayaditya Purkayastha, Dipankar Dutta, Jayanta Gogoi and Saibal Sengupta, all of whom have connections to Arya Vidyapeeth College, either as alumni or faculty members.

Initially, this frog was misidentified as Leptobrachium smithi, a species native to Southeast Asia and Bangladesh, during its first study in 2004. Purkayastha explained that early studies were limited, and thus the initial classification was made.

But the findings of related species like Leptobrachium rakhinense in Myanmar and Leptobrachium sylheticum in Bangladesh forced a re-examination of the Assam population. With sophisticated genetic, morphological, and acoustic studies, the team verified the frog as a separate species, emphasizing the need for continued research in learning about biodiversity.

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