The meowing night frog (Nyctibatrachus poocha) is one of 12 species of frogs in the genus Nyctibatrachus discovered in September 2011.[1] It is found primarily in the Western Ghats, India.[2] 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 three others which were thought to have been extinct.[2][3] The meowing night frog is named for its distinct cat-like call.
| Meowing night frog | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Nyctibatrachidae |
| Genus: | Nyctibatrachus |
| Species: | N. poocha
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| Binomial name | |
| Nyctibatrachus poocha Biju, 2011
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According to Biju, the 12 new species, described in Zootaxa journal, were exclusive to the Western Ghats and one of the ancient groups of frogs that coexisted with dinosaurs. "Night frogs (Nyctibatrachus), which were 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.[2]
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 unseen for 91 years and the Kempholey (Nyctibatrachus kempholeyensis) and forest night frogs (Nyctibatrachus sylvaticus) for 75 years.[3][4]
References
edit- ^ Dell'Amore, Christine (16 September 2011). "Pictures: Meowing Night Frog, Other New Species Found". National Geographic. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ a b c "Twelve new frog species detected in Western Ghats". Deccan Herald. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ a b The Associated Press (17 September 2011). "Scientists Discover 12 New Frog Species In India". NPR. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ^ "12 night frog varieties found in the Western Ghats". The Times of India. 17 September 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2011.