Arunachal Pradesh Yields New Species of Horned Frog

A team of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has recorded a new species of forest-dwelling horned frog in Arunachal Pradesh. The new-to-science Xenophrys apatani, recorded from the Talle Wildlife Sanctuary in the Lower Subansiri district, has been named after the dominant Apatani community in recognition of their ingenuity in the conservation of wild flora and fauna.

Report of the Maoson horned frog

Led by Bhaskar Saikia and Bikramjit Sinha of ZSI Shillong, the team included K.P. Dinesh and A. Shabnam of ZSI Pune and Ilona Jacinta Kharkongor of ZSI Itanagar. Their findings overturned an earlier erroneous report of the Maoson horned frog (Xenophrys maosonensis) in India reported by researchers of ZSI Shillong in 2019. “The revised conclusion regarding the identity of the species was done after further analysis revealed substantial genetic disparities between the Indian specimen and X.

About this new species

The new frog species is named after the Apatani tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, which predominantly resides in the Lower Subansiri Valley of Arunachal Pradesh and where Tale Wildlife Sanctuary is located, in recognition of their ingenuity in the conservation of wild flora and fauna,” Saikia said. The researchers also provided insights into the biogeographic distribution of Xenophrys species in India, which are distributed along the Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots. The findings are expected to guide future conservation efforts and enhance understanding of amphibian evolution in the region.