India’s newest frog evolved 60 million years ago

Why in news?
  • The starry dwarf frog, named after Wayanad’s Kurichiya tribe, is found outside protected areas.
More in news
  • About the new frog:
    (1) 2 cm long and sports pale blue spots and brilliant orange thighs.
    (2) Starry dwarf frog a nocturnal amphibian that lives under leaf litter on a mountaintop in Kerala’s Wayanad.
    (3) Tts closest relatives are the Nycibatrachinae group of frogs that dwell in the streams of Western Ghats, and the Lankanectinae frogs of Sri Lanka.
  • Name:
    (1) The team named the new species the starry dwarf frog Astrobatrachus kurichiyana.
    (2) Genus Astrobatrachus after its starry spots and kurichiyana in honour of the Kurichiya tribal community who live in the area.
    (3) It is not only a new species but different enough to be assigned to a new ‘subfamily’.
  • How old it is?
    (1) Genetic analysis reveal that the species is at least 60 million years old.
    (2) The presence of Astrobatrachus and other ancient lineages in the southern Western Ghats highlights the mountain range’s role as a historical refugium and as an important centre of diversification.
Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 13th Mar 2019
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