Scientists have discovered a new species of purple frog (Nasikabatrachus) in the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and have named it after herpetologist and former Principal Scientist at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), S. Bhupathi.
Bhupathi died in a tragic accident while being on the field study in the Agastyamalai hills of the Western Ghats.
According to a paper published in Alytes, a scientific journal devoted to the study of frogs and ambhibians the frog named Nasikabatrachus bhupathi, was discovered by a scientist named J. Janani in the Watrap Range of the Grizzled Giant Squirrel Sanctuary in Srivilliputhur.
A close relative of the genus of Nasikabatrachus Sahyadrensis a species of purple frog discovered in 2003, N.Bhupathi is also believed to be an endemic of the Western Ghats, especially in the eastern slopes close to the rivers. Initially thought to be N.Sahyadrensis, differs from its earlier discovered cousin in many ways including acoustic signals.
The breeding season also differs between the two species as N.Bhupathi is known to breed during the northeast monsoon (between October and December), whereas its sister, N.Sahyadrensis breeds during the southwest monsoon (May to August). It also differs in its physical and skeletal features and identifications were made by breeding the tadpoles in laboratory.
The scientists were lured by the mating calls of the species from burrows and was collected in a stream 200 meters above mean sea level in the sanctuary.
“The distribution is expected to be confined to moist soil near the streams, or with significant groundwater. Nasikabatrachus lives and feeds underground, therefore hard, dry soil and rock (from mountain uplift) is expected to present an insurmountable barrier to burrowing and feeding, preventing this species from dispersing far,” reads the paper.
Claiming that further study is required on N.bhupathi to understand the geographic range and population size in the Western Ghats, scientists also believed that its distribution could be narrow confined to the foothills of western slopes of Western Ghats.
“However, it is evident that the population of N. Bhupathi at its type locality needs to be protected within the Watrap Range, one of the three second-order streams (where breeding populations were observed) is disturbed and polluted, as it falls in a pilgrimage route.
Measures need to be taken to stop degradation and restore the stream habitat for this unique and rare species of frog,” adds the paper.