New Cascade Frog Species Discovered in Nagaland

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Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India discovered a new cascade-dwelling frog species in Nagaland.
They found this new species in the hill streams of Kiphire district, which lies close to the Myanmar border.
The team named the species Amolops kamal to honor the late zoologist Dr. Kamal Choudhury.
The journal of the Zoological Survey of India published the research paper confirming this discovery.

The common name of this new species is the Nagaland cascade frog.
It belongs to the family Ranidae and the Asian cascade-dwelling frog genus Amolops.
The genus Amolops contains 90 recognized species across the world.
Out of these, scientists have recorded 20 species from India.
In India, these species fall under three main groups: Amolops marmoratus, Amolops monticola, and Amolops viridimaculatus.
This new species sits within the Amolops indoburmanensis species complex.

These frogs have large digital discs on their toes. This feature helps them grip wet, slippery rocks in fast water.
This species is a cryptic species. This means it looks almost identical to other frogs but has a completely different genetic makeup.
Researchers used a method called integrative taxonomy to identify the frog.
This method combines traditional physical body measurements with advanced molecular DNA mapping.

These frogs live in fast-flowing hill streams, waterfalls, rocky cascades, and wet streamside habitats.
They possess strong limbs, sticky toe pads, and streamlined bodies to survive in rushing waters.
Their presence indicates clean, oxygen-rich, and undisturbed freshwater ecosystems.
They eat small insects and form a vital part of the stream food chain, keeping the ecosystem balanced.
In India, these frogs live mainly in the Western Ghats and North-East India.

The discovery proves that Amolops indoburmanensis is not a single widespread species. Instead, it is a group of distinct evolutionary lineages.
It shows that DNA analysis is vital because physical appearance alone cannot reveal these hidden species.
These frogs are highly sensitive to water pollution, habitat loss, deforestation, dams, and climate change.
This finding highlights the rich biodiversity of Northeast India and the urgent need to protect its fragile forest streams.