ROOPAK GOSWAMI

Shillong, March 6: In a significant addition to Meghalaya’s growing biodiversity records, researchers have documented the first-ever occurrence of Yang’s frill-limbed tree frog (Kurixalus yangi) in the state, highlighting the rich but still underexplored amphibian diversity of the region.

It was found by Holiness Warjri and Madhurima Das of Assam Don Bosco University, along with noted wildlife researcher Jayaditya Purkayastha of Help Earth, during an amphibian survey in Mawpat village in South West Khasi Hills district.

The tiny tree frog was recorded on October 10, 2024, at an elevation of around 1,355 metres above sea level. Researchers confirmed the species through detailed morphological examination and genetic analysis of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, and the specimen has been preserved in the zoological collection of Assam Don Bosco University.

Originally described from Yunnan in China, Kurixalus yangi has previously been reported from Myanmar and parts of Northeast India such as Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. The new record now extends the species’ known distribution to Meghalaya.

Scientists say the discovery comes at a time when amphibians in Meghalaya face growing conservation threats. Studies indicate that climate change, habitat degradation and wild harvesting of frogs for food are among the major pressures affecting amphibian populations in the state.

Researchers have already identified at least 17 amphibian species in Meghalaya as high conservation concern species.

Burrowing amphibians such as caecilians are particularly vulnerable to rising temperatures and declining rainfall, while bush frogs like those belonging to the genus Raorchestes depend heavily on moist forest floors for egg development. Tree-hole breeding frogs such as Nasutixalus jerdonii may also face risks if climate change leads to erratic rainfall patterns.

Meghalaya is also home to several rare and endemic amphibians, including Bufoides kempi, Bufoides meghalayanus, Limnonectes mawlyndipi, Leptobrachella khasiorum and Leptobrachella nokrekensis, further underlining the state’s global ecological importance.

Researchers say continued surveys and conservation efforts will be crucial to protect Meghalaya’s fragile amphibian habitats and uncover more hidden species in the state’s forests.

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