New Frog Species: Minervarya Pentali | 03 Aug 2021

Why in News

Recently, a new frog species was discovered in the Western Ghats and named after former DU Vice-Chancellor and plant geneticist Deepak Pental.

Key Points

  • The new frog species named Minervarya Pentali belongs to the family of Dicroglossidae.
    • The family Dicroglossidae comprises 202 species of semiaquatic frogs distributed by the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia and Papua New Guinea.
    • The family contains large-sized (e.g., genus Hoplobatrachus) and dwarf species, with a total length about 30 mm (e.g., genus Nannophrys).
  • It was discovered from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, extending along the southwest coast of the Indian Peninsula.
  • This new species is endemic to the southern Western Ghats.
  • This species is also among the smallest known Minervarya (genus) frogs.

The Western Ghats

  • These are the mountain ranges running parallel along the western coast of India starting from Gujarat and ending in Tamil Nadu.
  • Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are the six Indian states covered by Western Ghats.
  • The mountain range is also a “Hottest Hotspot” of biodiversity.
  • The Ghats are often called the Great Escarpment of India and are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • High Biodiversity and Endemism are special features of Western Ghats along with the presence of Evergreen Forests.

Source: IE