Shillong, Oct 10: In a significant stride toward documenting Meghalaya’s extraordinary biodiversity, a new comprehensive book titled Amphibians of Meghalaya was released today by D. Sathiyan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, during the valedictory function of Wildlife Week 2025 organized by the Meghalaya Forest and Environment Department.
The book, authored by Bhaskar Saikia of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) Shillong, Dr. Bikramjit Sinha of ZSI Kolkata, and Harish Chandra Choudhary, Chief Wildlife Warden of Meghalaya, has been jointly published by the Meghalaya Forest and Environment Department and ZSI, Shillong.
The volume catalogues 60 known amphibian species found across Meghalaya, offering detailed species accounts with color photographs, diagnostic features, altitudinal range, and precise distributional data. Notably, the book also rectifies several long-standing taxonomic inaccuracies that had persisted in scientific records concerning some amphibians of the region.
Speaking at the launch, D. Sathiyan said the publication marks a milestone in Meghalaya’s ongoing efforts to strengthen biodiversity documentation and research-based conservation. “Meghalaya’s unique terrain and microclimates harbor some of the rarest and most sensitive amphibian species in India. This book will help deepen scientific understanding and public appreciation of this rich natural heritage,” he added.
Meghalaya is known to support one of the richest assemblages of amphibians in the country, many of them endemic to its subtropical forests and montane ecosystems. The new publication is expected to serve as a vital reference for researchers, students, forest officers, and nature enthusiasts, while reinforcing the importance of continued monitoring and conservation of amphibian habitats amid changing climatic conditions.
The event was attended by senior forest officers, scientists from the Zoological and Botanical Survey of India, and conservationists from across the region.
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