New cascade-dwelling frog species discovered in Nagaland

Kohima: A team of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India has discovered a new species of frog in the Kiphire district of Nagaland. The amphibian was identified during field surveys in Singrep village in August 2024. It belongs to the genus Amolops, which consists of frogs that thrive in fast-moving hill streams across Asia.

Lead author Bhaskar Saikia named the species after his former mentor, the late Dr. Kamal Choudhury. Molecular analyses and morphological examinations confirmed that the specimen represents a unique evolutionary lineage within the Amolops indoburmanensis species complex. This finding contradicts previous beliefs that the group consisted of a single widespread species, suggesting instead that numerous cryptic lineages exist across northeast India and Myanmar.

Expedition leader Bikramjit Sinha noted that the discovery underscores how the region's rugged landscapes and isolated watersheds continue to harbor unknown amphibian diversity. ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee emphasized that this find highlights the significance of long-term field surveys in biodiversity hotspots. She added that continued scientific exploration is vital for the documentation and conservation of India's diverse fauna.