States » EastPosted at: Sep 15 2026 10:06PM


Tiny frog from Mizoram University campus identified as new species

Aizawl, Sept 15 (UNI) A tiny frog found beside a stream on the Mizoram University campus in Aizawl has been identified as a new species, highlighting the unexplored amphibian diversity of Northeast India.
The species, named Ingerana aizawl, was described by researchers from Mizoram University, Cotton University and conservation organisation Help Earth in a paper published Monday in the journal Zootaxa.


The discovery was made at Hratdawng Stream, about 15 km west of central Aizawl, where researchers led by Mizoram University Zoology department head Prof Hmar Tlawngte Lalremsanga encountered frogs that had long been identified as Ingerana borealis.


Detailed examination showed that the Mizoram population was different from recognised species of the genus, both in physical characteristics and genetic makeup. The researchers used an integrative approach involving morphology and mitochondrial 16S rRNA DNA analysis to establish its identity.


Genetic analysis placed the Mizoram frogs in a distinct and strongly supported lineage. They differed from their closest recognised relative, Ingerana occidens, by 4.8 to 6.6 per cent genetically, while the divergence from I. borealis populations in Arunachal Pradesh was substantially greater, at 15.3 to 17.6 per cent.


The finding also clears up years of uncertainty over the identity of the frog found in Mizoram.


The state's population had been recorded as I. borealis since 2009. A reassessment in 2026 established that frogs from Meghalaya's Garo and Khasi Hills belonged to I. occidens, while true I. borealis was confined to areas north of the Brahmaputra. The Mizoram population could not be conclusively assigned to either species because molecular evidence was not available.


The newly recognised frog is small and stout-bodied. Adult males measure between 22 and 25.5 mm from snout to vent, while females measure 24.4 to 26 mm. It has a circular tympanum, a prominent supratympanic fold and small, rounded discs at the ends of its fingers and toes. Its back is notably wrinkled.


The frog is generally dark brown to reddish-brown, with darker sides forming a diffuse band towards the groin. Its iris is dark brown to blackish with a slight coppery hue.


It appears to be strongly dependent on moist habitats. Researchers recorded the species around streams, wetlands and marshes at elevations between 94 and 823 metres. Most individuals were found at night on wet rocks in or alongside trickling, fast-flowing or cascading streams.


During daylight hours, the frogs were observed sheltering in rock crevices, moist leaf litter and bushes.


Breeding activity was recorded during the monsoon, mainly between May and July. Males called from outside the water and mating pairs were found along stream margins. However, researchers did not find eggs or larvae in the wild, and captive pairs also failed to lay eggs during the study.


The frog's call generally consists of about 12 notes. An analysed call lasted approximately 1.42 seconds and had a dominant frequency of 3,359 Hz.


The species has been named after Aizawl, reflecting the location where the type series was collected. The holotype, an adult male, was collected from Hratdawng Stream on April 18, 2024. Five female paratypes were collected at the same location in June 2026, while two additional males examined in the study came from Khaikhy in Mizoram.


The researchers said the discovery demonstrates how limited sampling and the absence of genetic studies can conceal amphibian diversity in Northeast India. They suggested that other populations currently assigned to Ingerana species could also represent undescribed species.


They called for wider morphological and molecular surveys across Northeast India and adjoining regions to establish clearer species boundaries and trace the evolutionary history of the genus.


The discovery could also affect conservation assessments. Mizoram's population was previously considered part of I. borealis, which was assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN in 2022. As a separate species, I. aizawl will now require its own assessment to determine its conservation status.


The researchers said the location of the discovery was itself noteworthy. The Mizoram University campus covers about 978 acres and extends from roughly 300 to 880 metres above sea level, retaining relatively undisturbed forest patches, particularly in its western section.


The finding therefore adds to growing evidence that even urban and institutional green spaces in the Northeast can harbour species that have escaped scientific recognition.
UNI ZS BM
Tags: #Tiny frog from Mizoram University campus identified as new species
More News

Odisha: ‘Tapoi’ captivates audience with a poignant tale of sisterly suffering

15 Sep 2026 | 11:30 PM

Bhubaneswar, Sept 15 (UNI) The poignant tale of ‘Tapoi’, marked by betrayal, cruelty and the enduring bond between a sister and her brothers, came alive on stage as the Ladies Club of Landmark Phase II Apartment Complex on Sundarpada-Jatni Road here staged a dance drama on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. .

see more..

Over 82 pc SIR hearings completed in Meghalaya: CEO

15 Sep 2026 | 10:42 PM

Shillong, Sep 15 (UNI) Over 82 percent of hearings under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 of electoral rolls in Meghalaya have been completed, with 542 voters found ineligible for inclusion in the final electoral roll after scrutiny, Chief Electoral Officer Brahma Deo Ram Tiwari said on Tuesday.

see more..

Alliance buzz returns to Bengal politics ahead of by-elections: Mamata reportedly reaches out to Cong

15 Sep 2026 | 10:18 PM

Kolkata, Sep 15 (UNI) Speculation over a possible electoral understanding between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress has resurfaced in West Bengal ahead of the October 6 Assembly by-elections to Nandigram and Rejinagar.

see more..

Tiny frog from Mizoram University campus identified as new species

15 Sep 2026 | 10:06 PM

Aizawl, Sept 15 (UNI) A tiny frog found beside a stream on the Mizoram University campus in Aizawl has been identified as a new species, highlighting the unexplored amphibian diversity of Northeast India.

see more..

Kolkata Police visit Eden Gardens in CAB election document fraud case

15 Sep 2026 | 10:00 PM

Kolkata, Sep 15 (UNI) Kolkata Police have summoned an employee responsible for distributing mail in connection with alleged irregularities in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) election process.

see more..