Amolops kamal: New Cascade Frog Found in Nagaland
Why in the news
Six scientists of the Zoological Survey of India formally described a frog that had not been known to science before. It lives in the hill streams of Nagaland.
Key facts
- Species: Amolops kamal; common name Nagaland Cascade Frog.
- Team: six scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
- Site: hill-stream habitats near Singrep village, Kiphire district, a Nagaland district on the Myanmar border.
- Field survey: August 2024.
- Journal: Records of the Zoological Survey of India.
- Method: integrative taxonomy, meaning body (morphological) features combined with DNA-based molecular phylogenetic analysis.
Why the name matters
The species honours Kamal Choudhury, who taught the lead author at B. Barooah College, Guwahati. The naming acknowledges his influence on the researcher’s career.
Scientific meaning
- Amolops indoburmanensis was long treated as one widespread species.
- The find suggests it may actually be a complex of several genetically distinct species.
- Such a group, where species look almost identical but differ genetically, is a cryptic species complex.
Exam angle
- Habitat type: cascade-dwelling frog of hill streams.
- Related terms: integrative taxonomy, cryptic species, ZSI.
- Location questions: Kiphire district, Nagaland, borders Myanmar.