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A new species of ‘brightly coloured frog’ has been discovered by a team of scientists from the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Delhi.
The scientists found the frog at an altitude of 2,698m above sea level on the Anaimudi peak, a remote mountain in the southern part of India.
The frog was initially identified back in 2001, but it has taken almost a decade to prove - via careful study of its anatomy and genome - that this brilliantly coloured specimen was in fact a new species.
The frog has been named ‘Raorchestes resplendens’ and is a unique new member of the tree frog group. In fact, it is the only tree frog to have what the researchers call ‘macro glands’ – the purpose of which is still uncertain.
Dr. S D Biju was part of the scientific team who made the discovery explained had this to say on the discovery.
‘…These frogs may be representing a classic example of "point endemism" in amphibians. This means that the species lives in a very limited range of environmental conditions, making it very vulnerable to extinction ...’
He also added,
‘…This new species of frog has got extremely short limbs and multiple glands and swellings almost like a toad…’
The team of scientists say that fewer than one thousand of these frogs are currently surviving in a unique ecosystem that is less than three square kilometres in size. Its habitat will require special attention in order to conserve the species for the future.
Currently, about one third the world's known amphibian species are under threat from extinction. Habitat destruction due to human activity has identified as a primary cause of their numbers being so drastically reduced, but there are also under severe risk from the devastating effects of the chytrid fungus - a virulent disease carried by the North American bullfrog.
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3 comments:
Hi,
Beautiful frogs, but so rare.
Simon,
This was on the Yahoo news page today:
Species found in lost world
No lie—Conservation International researchers on the scout for unusual creatures were lunching at their Indonesian campsite when a frog perched on a bag of rice inside their tent. A quick-handed herpetologist snagged the visitor for a look-see and some photo ops. The so-called "Pinocchio frog," whose irresistible schnozz inflates and deflates, is just one of many discoveries announced this week. Scientists also found a wee wallaby, "gargoyle-faced" gecko, blossom bat, as well as less alliterative animals, birds, and insects. Besides plenty of eye-popping online galleries, they will get a spread in the June issue of National Geographic, which co-sponsored the 2008 trip with the Smithsonian.
Frogs looking very nice.
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