After more than 21 years of research, the new frog species “Leptobrachium aryatium” is named after the Assam Academy

Leptobrachium Aryatium, a new science frog recorded from the reserve forest at the edge of Guwahati. Photo: Special arrangement

Guwahati A study spanning 21 years has produced a new frog named after the Assam Academy, which helped a local school become a hub for rural wine production.

Aryanagar in Guwahati was once called Sharabbhati, which means a place to brew wine. The region was renamed in 2022 to make it respected by local authorities, considering Arya Vidyapeeth College to be one of the most famous educational institutions near Assam and deservedly.

Leptobrachium aryla new science frog recorded in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, bordering Meghalaya in southwestern Guwahati, now wearing the university’s name.

The frog was described by four zoologists as an alumni or faculty member in the latest issue of The Journal. Zootaxa. They are Jayaditya Purkayastha, a non-governmental organization in Guwahati, who helps the planet. Dipankar Dutta of Meghalaya University of Science and Technology; Jayanta Gogoi of Arya Vidyapeeth College and Saibal Sengupta of Assam Don Bosco University.

“The frog stands out with its fiery orange and black eyes, unique mesh throat pattern and a smooth and rhythmic call of dusk. Scientific analysis of its appearance, DNA and call patterns confirms that this is a previously unknown species.”

Generic Leptobrachiumincluding a group of chunky frogs with relatively short heads and relatively short eyes, currently consisting of 38 species, widely distributed in southern China and India to the Sunda shelves and the Philippines islands.

From its first study in 2004, frogs from the Garbhanga Reserve forest were initially identified as Leptobachium Smithi. “For a long time, little work has been made on the genus. Recent molecular and morphological studies have shown that there is a great recessive diversity within the genus, describing several new species, especially in Southeast Asia and the Indian-Berma region.”

Zoologists’ quartet restored their old data on the subject and counted it in new research on other species in the genus Leptobrachium aryl As a unique species.

The study makes the Garbhanga Reserve Forest a biodiversity hotspot threatened by urban sprawl and habitat destruction.

A reserve forest that helps regulate the Guwahati climate and water system, Garbhanga is home to elephants, butterflies and rare birds, in addition to reptiles and amphibians (e.g. Leptobrachium aryl.