Nagaland Scientists Discover New Cascade Frog Species

A new cascade-dwelling frog species, Amolops kamal, was described on 29 May 2026 from Nagaland. The species was found near Singrep village in Kiphire district during a field survey conducted in August 2024 by scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Shillong.

Cascade Frogs and the Genus Amolops

Cascade frogs belong to the genus Amolops, which includes stream-dwelling frogs adapted to fast-flowing hill streams and waterfalls. The genus Amolops is placed in the family Ranidae, which is a major family of true frogs.

Taxonomic Identification

Integrative taxonomy combines morphology, genetics, and other biological data for species identification. Molecular phylogenetic studies were used to confirm that Amolops kamal forms a distinct evolutionary lineage within the Amolops indoburmanensis species complex.

Scientific Naming and Publication

The species name kamal honours the late Dr. Kamal Choudhury, who was a teacher and mentor to lead author Bhaskar Saikia of ZSI Shillong. The research was published in Records of the Zoological Survey of India, a scientific journal associated with the Zoological Survey of India.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Zoological Survey of India was established in 1916 and functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Nagaland is one of the eight states of Northeast India and has several hill-stream habitats suitable for amphibians.
• Amolops species are often associated with rocky streams, cascades, and forested mountain regions.
• Species complexes are groups of closely related organisms that require genetic and morphological study for correct identification.

Biodiversity Context

Northeast India is a recognised biodiversity hotspot with high amphibian diversity and many endemic species. Kiphire district lies in eastern Nagaland and contains forested and mountainous terrain that supports stream-based fauna. The research team included Bhaskar Saikia, Bikramjit Sinha, A. Shabnam, Prabir Narayan Konwar, Mridul Kumar Borthakur, and K.P. Dinesh. The discovery adds a new species to the amphibian inventory of India.