Scientists discovered new frog species Odorrana Arunachalensis

Scientists have discovered a new frog species in the fast flowing streams in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Subansiri district. The new species has been named after the state Arunachal Pradesh as Odorrana arunachalensis.

The new species discovered from Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) is one of the five discovered in India in the recent times and the 59th in the world. There are over 50 species of frogs belonging to the genus Odorrana.

The discovery of the new frog species was published in the Journal of Biosciences, the science journal of Arunachal Pradesh-based Rajiv Gandhi University journal.

Frog species Odorrana Arunachalensis
• Odorrana (commonly known as the odorous frog) is a genus of true frogs (Ranidae) from East Asia and surrounding regions including India.

• It is a medium-sized green frog adapted for a life in torrential waters of Arunachal Pradesh.

• The presence of a black band-like mark between the eyes is a distinguishing character of the Odorrana arunachalensis that separates it from all the other frog species of this genus.

• This new species dwells in moss and fern covered rocky section along the hill streams in mixed wet tropical forest type.

• The Odorrana Arunachalensis species is majorly sighted during the wet season from April to September. They are not seen in the dry seasons.

• Currently, they are being sighted within and outskirts of the Talley Valley WLS but are expected to be found in a wider range due to the availability of similar habitats of this species in other parts of the state.

• This new species was discovered by a team of scientists from the Zoological Survey of India led by Bhaskar Saikia, Bikramjit Sinha and Ilona Jacinta Kharkongor.

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