Rapid Fire
Leptobrachium aryatium
- 17 Apr 2025
- 2 min read
A study in Assam has led to the discovery of a new frog species, Leptobrachium aryatium, named after Arya Vidyapeeth College in Guwahati.
- Leptobrachium aryatium: It has been identified in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest. The species is noted for distinctive features, including fiery orange-and-black eyes, a unique reticulated throat pattern, and a smooth, rhythmic call at dusk.
- The frog was first identified in 2004 as Leptobrachium smithi, but recent molecular and morphological studies confirmed it as a new species.
- The genus Leptobrachium, consisting of 38 species of stocky frogs with broad heads, short hind limbs, and distinctively coloured eyes, is found across Southern China, India, the Sunda Shelf, and the Philippines.
- Garbhanga Reserve Forest: Situated on the southwestern side of Guwahati, Assam, near the Assam-Meghalaya border. The Garbhanga Reserve plays a crucial role in regulating Guwahati’s climate and water systems, and it supports a variety of wildlife, including elephants, butterflies, rare birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
- It faces threats from urban expansion and habitat destruction.
| Read more: Agroforestry's Impact to Endemic Frogs |
