The golden-backed frogs (genus Hylarana) that the team found in the Western Ghats - Sri Lanka global biodiversity hotspot, were thought to be one species. After intensive research and application of integrated methodologies, the team concluded that the frogs in both countries are really quite different and are in fact different species altogether.
The golden-back frog species, Hylarana temporalis, was the first one to be discovered within the Western Ghats Sri Lanka global biodiversity hotspot way back in 1864, when Sri Lanka was still Ceylon. Similar frogs were soon spotted all along the Western Ghats stretch of India, and were pre-maturely assumed to belong to the same species.
The problem, according to experts, lay in the fact that the golden-backed frogs in Sri Lanka were not studied well enough nor in a systematic way. As a result, only a small number of these frog species were known. But, Dr. Biju and his colleagues went on to conduct intensive morphological and genetic studies that finally confirmed the distinction between golden-backed frogs species in India and Sri Lanka.
This remarkable find goes on to strongly assert the vast diversity and differentiation in the fauna of both these countries.
Lakshmy Raman, Executive Editor, Sanctuary Asia, said, "Dr. Satyabhama Das Biju exemplifies the best of science and conservation. In the crucible of his life-purpose lie solutions to some of the most vexing problems confronting the human race, primarily climate change, about which the frogs have consistently been sending us messages that we can no longer afford to disregard.
Source: DU Professor Discovers 7 Frog Species.
Author: Purva Variyar.
