Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: Scientists discovered India’s first snail-eating frog in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh. This small creature consumes land snails whole. A five-year study by researchers from the University of Delhi and Harvard University confirmed the habit. They used three-dimensional micro-CT imaging to locate shells inside the frog's gut.
The species, Jingophrys tanogogo, gets its name from the Apatani word for snails. It is one of five new frogs found by the team. The group belongs to the genus Jingophrys, known as Diminutive Horned Frogs. This discovery marks the first record of snail-eating behavior for the Asian horned frog family.
Other new species include the Tanii Horned Frog, named for the Tanii tribe and their Ziro Valley home. The Siang Horned Frog honors the Siang region. Researchers also identified Jingophrys hrdy and Jingophrys wularsoni to recognize Harvard University conservation supporters. The team used DNA analysis, physical exams, and mating calls to confirm the species.
These finds increase the number of known Diminutive Horned Frogs in India seven-fold. The Eastern Himalayas appear to be a major hub for amphibian evolution. S D Biju, a Senior Professor at the University of Delhi, noted that the region holds significant endemic diversity. "Some of the newly identified species are extremely secretive and inhabit remote forests, appearing only during a short breeding season," he said.
The study, published in Royal Society Open Science, links the rapid diversification of these frogs to the rise of the Himalayas and the South Asian monsoon. The authors include Sonali Garg, S D Biju, Tage Tajo, Radhakrishna Upadhyaya K, and James Hanken. The researchers believe more species remain hidden in these remote forests.
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