Nyctibatrachus poocha
Encyclopedia
Nyctibatrachus poocha, also known as the meowing night frog because of its cat-like call, is one of twelve species
of frog in the Nyctibatrachus
genus
discovered in September 2011. It is found exclusively in the Western Ghats
, India
. The team, composed of researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society
, Zoological Survey of India
and Vrije Universiteit Brussel
, led by herpetologist Sathyabhama Das Biju
of the University of Delhi
, used morphological traits and molecular markers to identify the 12 new species
and 3 others which are thought to have been extinct.
According to Biju, the 12 new species, described in Zootaxa
journal, are exclusive to the Western Ghats and one of the ancient groups of frogs that coexisted with dinosaurs. "Night frogs (Nyctibatrachus
), which are exclusively seen in Western Ghats, have unique breeding behaviour. These frogs successfully complete their breeding without any physical contact between male and female," Biju told the Press Trust of India
.
The findings also led to the rediscovery of three frog species which were unseen for over 75 years since their original descriptions by C. R. Narayan Rao
in 1920 and 1937 respectively, after scientists "had completely ignored these animals, thinking they were lost." The Nyctibatrachus sanctipalustris
(Coorg night frog) was unsighted for 91 years and the Nyctibatrachus kempholeyensis
(Kempholey night frog) and Nyctibatrachus sylvaticus
(Forest night frog) for 75 years.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of frog in the Nyctibatrachus
Nyctibatrachus
Nyctibatrachus is a genus of true frogs endemic to India. It is a very ancient member of the true frog family, Ranidae.Their scientific name means "night frog", in reference to their habits and dark color.-Species:...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
discovered in September 2011. It is found exclusively in the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The team, composed of researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society
Bombay Natural History Society
The Bombay Natural History Society, founded on 15 September 1883, is one of the largest non-governmental organizations in India engaged in conservation and biodiversity research. It supports many research efforts through grants, and publishes the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. Many...
, Zoological Survey of India
Zoological Survey of India
The Zoological Survey of India is a premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies. It was established on 1 July 1916 to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the region...
and Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel is a Flemish university located in Brussels, Belgium. It has two campuses referred to as Etterbeek and Jette.The university's name is sometimes abbreviated by "VUB" or translated to "Free University of Brussels"...
, led by herpetologist Sathyabhama Das Biju
Sathyabhama Das Biju
Sathyabhama Das Biju is an Indian amphibian biologist, who teaches at the University of Delhi. With more than a hundred discoveries stemming from his personal work or that in his lab, his is one of the most productive amphibian research laboratories in the world.-Life:Born in Kerala, Biju started...
of the University of Delhi
University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is a central university situated in Delhi, India and is funded by Government of India. Established in 1922, it offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the Chancellor of the university...
, used morphological traits and molecular markers to identify the 12 new species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
and 3 others which are thought to have been extinct.
According to Biju, the 12 new species, described in Zootaxa
Zootaxa
Zootaxa is a peer-reviewed scientific journal for animal taxonomists. It is published by Magnolia Press . The journal was established by Zhi-Qiang Zhang in 2001 and new issues are published multiple times a week...
journal, are exclusive to the Western Ghats and one of the ancient groups of frogs that coexisted with dinosaurs. "Night frogs (Nyctibatrachus
Nyctibatrachus
Nyctibatrachus is a genus of true frogs endemic to India. It is a very ancient member of the true frog family, Ranidae.Their scientific name means "night frog", in reference to their habits and dark color.-Species:...
), which are exclusively seen in Western Ghats, have unique breeding behaviour. These frogs successfully complete their breeding without any physical contact between male and female," Biju told the Press Trust of India
Press Trust of India
Press Trust of India is the largest news agency in India. It is headquartered in Delhi and is a nonprofit cooperative among more than 450 Indian newspapers and has a staff of about 2,000 writers spread across 150 offices nationwide...
.
The findings also led to the rediscovery of three frog species which were unseen for over 75 years since their original descriptions by C. R. Narayan Rao
C. R. Narayan Rao
C.R. Narayan Rao was an Indian zoologist and herpetologist.Born in Coimbatore, he studied in Bellary and at the Madras Christian College under Professor Henderson who headed the department of zoology. After obtaining his graduate and post-graduate degrees and a gold medal for proficiency, he...
in 1920 and 1937 respectively, after scientists "had completely ignored these animals, thinking they were lost." The Nyctibatrachus sanctipalustris
Nyctibatrachus sanctipalustris
Nyctibatrachus sanctipalustris or the Coorg night frog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family. The specific name, sanctipalustris, "holy swamp" in Latin, refers to the type locality, "the sacred swamps of the Cauvery [river]...Coorg, India"....
(Coorg night frog) was unsighted for 91 years and the Nyctibatrachus kempholeyensis
Nyctibatrachus kempholeyensis
Nyctibatrachus kempholeyensis or the Kempholey night frog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.-Habitat:Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.-Taxonomy:...
(Kempholey night frog) and Nyctibatrachus sylvaticus
Nyctibatrachus sylvaticus
Nyctibatrachus sylvaticus or the forest night frog is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.-Habitat:Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and rivers.-Taxonomy:...
(Forest night frog) for 75 years.