Two new frog species found in Mizoram are named after the state capital Aizawl and its highest peak Phawngpui
Background
Mizoram's forests are in the news as the state weighs connectivity projects against habitat loss. Two new species of frogs have been found in Mizoram and named after the state's capital, Aizawl, and its highest peak, Phawngpui. The study describing the Phawngpui species was published in the journal Taprobanica, and the work was carried out by researchers from Mizoram University and the National Research and Innovation Agency in Indonesia. The 56-mm long toad named after Phawngpui was discovered at an elevation of nearly 2,000 metres. The study said northeast India is a hotspot for Asian amphibians and forms one of the most species-rich and threatened regions globally, and that targeted sampling across Phawngpui National Park and adjacent upland regions is needed.
In plain words
Amphibian Amphibian — A cold-blooded vertebrate such as a frog or toad that lives in water and on land.
Endemic Endemic species — A species found naturally only in one limited area.
Sky island Sky island — An isolated high peak whose species are cut off from others like them.