Seven new miniature frogs discovered
INDIA - After five years of extensive explorations in the Western Ghats in India, researchers have discovered seven new frog species, known as Night Frogs. The adorable creatures are among the smallest in the world, and four of the new species are tiny enough to fit on a fingernail. Despite only just being discovered, the researchers warn that five of the new species are under direct threat of extinction, and urge environmentalists to set up conservation programmes immediately. Researchers from the University of Delhi discovered the frogs in the Western Ghats, which is known to be a hotspot for biodiversity in India. Unlike other frogs in the genus that live in streams, the new miniature frogs were found under damp leaves and vegetation. The researchers were surprised by the relative abundance of these previously unknown species at their collection localities. Sonali Garg, who worked on the study, said: ‘The miniature species are locally abundant and fairly common but they have probably been overlooked because of their extremely small size, secretive habitats and insectlike calls.’ In the lab, the frogs were confirmed as new species using DNA studies and detailed analysis of sounds the animals produce. Until now, 28 species of Night frogs were known, but the new finding takes the total to 35 species. The discovery of the new species can provide useful insights into the evolution of frogs in the Western Ghats. The past decade has seen a huge increase in the number of new amphibian species described from this region. Of the 1,581 new species of amphibians found globally in 2006-2015, the highest number were from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, followed by the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, with 103 species described alone from the Western Ghats region. But the researchers warn that the future of many of the new species may be bleak. Professor SD Biju, who led the study, said: ‘Over 32 per cent, that is one-third of the Western Ghats frogs are already threatened with extinction. ‘Out of the seven new species, five are facing considerable anthropogenic threats and require immediate conservation prioritisation.’
(dailymail.co.uk)