Ammachi’s Cascade Frog (Amolops ammachi). The title honours the late Kerala social employee and philanthropist Padmini Varkey, affectionately often called ‘Ammachi’ (or mom).
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Scientists have found three new species of cascade frogs from the biodiverse-rich forests of Northeast India and documented 5 different species within the nation for the primary time.
The findings, revealed within the peer-reviewed Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, are the end result of over 15 years of in depth subject analysis throughout the northeastern States.
The analysis, led by Prof. S. D. Biju of the Division of Environmental Research, Delhi College, documented greater than 300 geographic populations of cascade frogs inhabiting fast-flowing forest streams. Utilizing DNA analyses alongside with detailed morphological comparisons of grownup frogs and tadpoles, the scientists confirmed that populations from Tripura, Nagaland and West Bengal symbolize three species beforehand unknown to science.
Lovely Cascade Frog (Amolops bella)
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The newly recognized species are Ammachi’s Cascade Frog (Amolops ammachi), found within the Jampui Hills of Tripura; Sendenyu Cascade Frog (Amolops sendenyu), present in Nagaland and named after Sendenyu Village; and Lovely Cascade Frog (Amolops bella), found in West Bengal and named for its putting inexperienced physique marked with yellowish-green or reddish-brown mosaic patterns.
A. ammachi honours the late Kerala social employee and philanthropist Padmini Varkey, affectionately often called ‘Ammachi’ (or mom), in recognition of her compassion and lifelong service to individuals in want.
Sendenyu Cascade Frog (Amolops sendenyu)
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The research additionally studies 5 cascade frog species which have by no means earlier than been recorded from India to develop the recognized range and distribution of the genus Amolops within the nation.
These are Marbled Cascade Frog (Amolops afghanus), Nepal Cascade Frog (Amolops nepalicus), Wangyal’s Cascade Frog (Amolops wangyali), Medog Cascade Frog (A. medogensis), Pianma Cascade Frog (Amolops bellulus).
“This research is a piece of over 15 years to comprehensively research India’s cascade frogs. It’s a taxonomically difficult group however now we have now clarified a number of complicated features of its biology, which is able to assist in correct identification and conservation of species. Our research reaffirms that many Indian faunal teams stay poorly studied and include undiscovered biodiversity, particularly within the lesser explored northeastern States which might be a part of two internationally recognised biodiversity hotspots,” stated Prof. Biju, the lead writer.
DNA-based courting
To reconstruct the evolutionary historical past of cascade frogs, the researchers employed DNA-based courting analyses. Their outcomes point out that the frogs underwent intensive diversification round 32 million years in the past in the course of the Eocene-Oligocene transition, a interval marked by widespread organic turnover.
The research suggests a number of waves of colonisation from east to west throughout Asia and identifies the early uplift of the Himalayas as a key issue shaping the present-day distribution and variety of those amphibians.
Printed – August 12, 2026 03:17 pm IST
