ZSI Shillong researcher Bhaskar Saikia names newly discovered Nagaland frog after his late mentor Dr. Kamal Choudhury in a tribute to the teacher who inspired his journey into taxonomy

ROOPAK GOSWAMI

GUWAHATI,  May 28: A team of researchers has discovered a new species of cascade-dwelling frog from Nagaland and named it Amolops kamal in honour of the late Dr. Kamal Choudhury, former Head of the Department of Zoology at B. Borooah College, Guwahati.

The naming of the species is both a scientific milestone and a personal tribute. The lead author of the study, Bhaskar Saikia of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), was once a student of Dr. Choudhury at B. Borooah College and credited his teacher’s mentorship for inspiring his journey into taxonomy and biodiversity research. Dr. Choudhury passed away on December 1, 2025.

Adding emotional significance to the discovery, one of the co-authors of the study is Dr. Mridul Kumar Borthakur, the current Head of the Zoology Department at B. Borooah College and a former colleague of Dr. Choudhury. Researchers said the publication stands as a tribute from both a student and a colleague connected through the same institution. The newly described frog was discovered from Singrep village in Nagaland’s Kiphire district during field surveys conducted in August 2024 by scientists from the ZSI Shillong centre.

Detailed morphological and molecular analysis carried out in collaboration with ZSI Pune confirmed that the specimens represented a distinct evolutionary lineage within the Amolops indoburmanensis species complex. Researchers said the finding challenges earlier assumptions that Amolops indoburmanensis was a single widespread species, instead revealing that it comprises multiple cryptic lineages spread across Northeast India and Myanmar.

The genus Amolops, commonly known as cascade frogs because of their affinity for fast-flowing hill streams, currently includes around 90 recognised species globally, with 20 species reported from India. Scientists noted that many species within the group appear morphologically similar, making DNA-based phylogenetic analysis crucial for accurate identification.

Nagaland Cascade Frog is suggested as a common English name for this species.

The discovery once again underlines Northeast India’s importance as a global hotspot of amphibian diversity and evolution. Scientists said the region’s rugged mountains, isolated streams and complex landscapes have enabled the evolution of several unique and endemic amphibian species.

Speaking on the discovery, the Director of the Zoological Survey of India, Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, emphasised that sustained faunal exploration and scientific documentation are vital for understanding and conserving India’s biodiversity. The discovery of Amolops kamal highlights the rich yet understudied faunal diversity of North-East India and underscores the importance of long-term field surveys in biodiversity hotspots.

Dr. Bikramjit Sinha of ZSI, Kolkata, who lead the field expedition, noted that the frog was encountered from a fast-flowing hillstream habitat during a survey conducted in Nagaland in August 2024. He added that the rugged landscapes and isolated stream ecosystems of the region continue to harbour many poorly known amphibian lineages.

Dr. K. P. Dinesh of ZSI, Pune, highlighted the importance of molecular approaches in amphibian taxonomy, particularly in North-East India where many frog species are morphologically similar. He stated that molecular data are increasingly essential for delineating species boundaries, understanding true species distributions and identifying cryptic species complexes that may otherwise remain hidden under a single species name.

The study has been published in the latest issue of the journal Records of the Zoological Survey of India. The research team included Bhaskar Saikia, Bikramjit Sinha, A. Shabnam, Prabir Narayan Konwar, Mridul Kumar Borthakur and K. P. Dinesh. With the addition of Amolops kamal, the known diversity of cascade frogs in India has further expanded.

Also Read: Hidden life beneath Meghalaya: Scientists discover two new microsnail species in Khasi Hills caves

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