Discovery of New Horned Frog Species in Arunachal Pradesh
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Discovery of a new species of forest-dwelling horned frog in Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Species Name | Xenophrys apatani |
| Location | Talle Wildlife Sanctuary, Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Named After | Apatani community, in recognition of their conservation efforts. |
| Research Team | Bhaskar Saikia, Bikramjit Sinha of ZSI Shillong; K.P. Dinesh, A. Shabnam of ZSI Pune; Ilona Jacinta Kharkongor of ZSI Itanagar. |
| Previous Misidentification | Mistakenly reported as Maoson horned frog (Xenophrys maosonensis) in 2019 by ZSI Shillong. |
| Correction | Genetic analysis revealed significant disparities, confirming it as a new species. |
| Biogeographic Distribution | Eastern Himalayas and Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspots. |
| Conservation Significance | Expected to guide future conservation efforts and enhance understanding of amphibian evolution. |
| Key Facts for Exams | - Capital of Arunachal Pradesh: Itanagar - Chief Minister: Pema Khandu - Formed as union territory: 21 January 1972 - Formerly known as: North-East Frontier Agency - State Bird: Hornbill - Total Districts: 28 |