The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Pune, has discovered a new species of cricket frog found in freshwater sources throughout all states spanned by the Western Ghats. The study of the species, Minervarya ghatiborealis, has been published in the internationally reputed journal Zootaxa.
The discovery was made by a collaborative team from Amdar Shashikant Shinde Mahavidyalay, Medha; Dahiwadi College, Dahiwadi; Thackeray Wildlife Foundation; and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). Researchers Omkar Yadav, Amrut Bhosale, Priyanka Patil, Akshay Khandekar and KP Dinesh employed an Integrative Taxonomic Approach to confirm the new species using morphology, morphometry, acoustics, natural history and phylogenetics.
The large, robust body and unique physical traits of the species distinguish it from its parents. To differentiate it from its closely related species, scientists combined morphological, hearing-based, genetic and geographic information.
"It's always exciting to find a new species," lead researcher Omkar Yadav remarked. He continued, "It not only deepens our knowledge of biodiversity but also highlights how urgently these special habitats need to be protected."
The sub-elliptical snout, primitive webbing and strongly grooved glandular skin of Minervarya ghatiborealis are among the distinctive characteristics that the research team described. The research team described several unique features of Minervarya ghatiborealis, including its sub-elliptical snout, rudimentary webbing and highly ridged glandular skin. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the species shares a close evolutionary relationship with other members of the Minervarya genus, indicating an ancient lineage that has remained unnoticed by researchers until now.
According to a phylogenetic study, the species has a close evolutionary link with other Minervarya genus members, suggesting an old ancestry that has not yet been recognised by scientists.
"The newly discovered species, being a large-sized cricket frog, belongs to one of the ancient lineages of its linked members," said Dr KP Dinesh of ZSI, WRC, Pune, one of the publication's co-authors. Astonishingly, it hasn't been found since amphibian studies began in India in 1799. The finding emphasises how urgently the Western Ghats, which are known around the world as a hotspot for biodiversity, need to be explored and conserved.
The discovery underscores the critical need for continued exploration and conservation efforts in the Western Ghats, which is recognised globally as a biodiversity hotspot. The Mahabaleshwar plateau, now identified as a key area for endemic species, calls for enhanced protection measures to preserve its unique ecosystem.
