Cascade Frog
Why in News?
- A 15-year scientific study led by Prof. S. D. Biju, University of Delhi, has identified three new species of Cascade Frogs in India; the findings were published on 12 August 2026 in the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology.
- The three species are Ammachi’s Cascade Frog (Amolops ammachi) from Tripura, Sendenyu Cascade Frog (Amolops sendenyu) from Nagaland, and Beautiful Cascade Frog (Amolops bella) from West Bengal.
Key Findings
- Genus: Amolops; these frogs are generally associated with rocky waterfalls, fast-flowing forest streams and hill-stream ecosystems across Asia.
- Ammachi’s Cascade Frog (A. ammachi): Discovered in the Jampui Hills of Tripura and named after Padmini Varkey, a Kerala social worker popularly known as “Ammachi”.
- Sendenyu Cascade Frog (A. sendenyu): Found in Nagaland and named after Sendenyu village, the locality associated with its discovery.
- Beautiful Cascade Frog (A. bella): Recorded from West Bengal and characterised by distinctive green coloration with mosaic-like markings.
- The researchers examined more than 300 geographic populations across the Northeast and used DNA analysis, morphology and tadpole characteristics to distinguish previously unrecognised species.
Ecological Importance
- Cascade Frogs are closely associated with clean, fast-flowing freshwater systems, making them useful indicators of stream ecosystem health.
- Their discovery highlights the vulnerability of mountain streams and forest habitats to habitat degradation, pollution and climate change.
- The study demonstrates that India's biodiversity inventory remains incomplete, particularly in remote northeastern landscapes.
