Four new horned frogs discovered in Northeast Himalayas

November 20, 2018

Team of biologists has discovered four new species of Indian horned frogs from Himalayan regions of Northeast India. The team also comprised S D Biju, famously known as the ‘Frogman of India’. Horned frogs get their name from fleshy horn-like projection on upper eyelids of some species

Four new species of horned frogs

They were discovered in the forests of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Scientists have named them as Himalayan horned frog (Megophrys himalayana), Garo white-lipped horned frog (Megophrys oreocrypta); Yellow spotted white-lipped horned frog (Megophrys flavipunctata) and Giant Himalayan horned frog (Megophrys periosa). These frogs vary in size — yellow spotted white-lipped horned frog measures about 5.7-7.5 cm and is smallest among four. Giant Himalayan horned frog measures about 7.1 to 11.2 cm, making it largest of 15 horned frog species found in Northeast India.