Microhyla eos belongs to a group narrow-mouthed frogs knows as Rice Frogs

Scientists have reported the discovery of a new species of frog from the northeastern State of Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting India’s amphibian diversity amid rising concerns over biodiversity loss.

A team of scientists from the University of Delhi and the Zoological Survey of India discovered the new species from riparian habitats in a primary evergreen forest in the Namdapha tiger reserve, which is the easternmost protected area in the country. It is described as the 50th member of the genus Microhyla, a group of narrow-mouthed frogs commonly known as Rice Frogs or Chorus Frogs, primarily and widely distributed in Asia.

Distinct new species

The new species is named eos, after the mythological Greek goddess of dawn, personifying its habitat in Arunachal Pradesh which is popularly known as the Land of the Rising Sun or the Land of Dawn-lit Mountains. The frog was confirmed to represent a distinct new species after detailed comparison of both DNA and morphology with all previously known members of the group found across South, Southeast, and East Asia. The finding has been published in the latest issue of Zootaxa, an international scientific journal.

“The northeast of India is a hidden treasure, especially the vast stretches of pristine forests in the Eastern Himalayan regions of Arunachal Pradesh,” says S.D. Biju, the lead author of the study from the University of Delhi. “Our discovery shows that the actual number of frog species in northeast India, even in the relatively common and well-studied groups, is higher than current estimates. More extensive studies are required to scientifically identify and describe the northeastern frogs, which are already facing extinction threats from human activities”.

Microhyla eos strikingly differs from other narrow-mouthed Chorus frogs by its size, shape, colouration and markings, foot webbing, and other morphological features. What the scientists found surprising about the newly discovered species Microhyla eos, is its evolutionary relationship. DNA analysis by the research team revealed that the closest relatives of Microhyla eos are in Southeast Asia rather than India.