Yellow frogs sighted, create sensation in Barak Valley

Special CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Villagers of an obscure and non descript Nayagram village of Karimganj district were taken aback when one fine morning, they sighted some frogs of yellow colour in a marsh, taking it as a rare phenomenon in the world of amphibian creatures. It became a catchy news in social media with cryptic information, raising curiosity among common people. It also drew the attention of naturalists to make careful study of the frog and provide answer to the media persons. Is it a new species? Has it been sighted for the first time in the valley? Is it harmful or poisonous?

Well known ecologist Parthankar Choudhury, former head, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, said, "This type of frog is not harmful. This is also not a new or rare phenomenon. Nor it is new species. This has not been sighted for the first time either." In fact, the anuran in question is among the 20 species recorded in a research oriented study on biodiversity study of Barak Valley carried out by Mithra Dey, Jayanta Roy, Dulumoni Tamuly and Pammi Singh of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science of Assam University. There are more than 5000 species of toads spread over the continents and sub continents of the world.

Some villagers of varying ages after seeing the yellow frogs said, "We have spotted them in our areas full of marsh, left over flood waters of rivers, ponds, wetlands for the first time. We are really puzzled." The study of Mithra Dey and others does not specifically refer to yellow frog but to 6 families by name only. Has this type of frog become yellow due to climatic change? The frogs belong to the species of Indian Bullfrog-Hoplobatrachus Tigerinus. Prof Parthankar Choudhury said, "During mating season, the frogs change colour to attract male partners. It has nothing to do with climatic change."

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