This handout photo shows a 13.6mm Vijayan’s Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani) being held in Agasthyamala in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Scientists have discovered four new species of miniature night frogs small enough to sit on a fingernail in a remote part of India, according to a report published on Tuesday. The researchers, who spent five years exploring the lush Western Ghats mountains, said the tiny amphibians were there in abundance but had likely been overlooked because of their size.—AFP
This handout photo shows a 13.6mm Vijayan’s Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani) being held in Agasthyamala in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Scientists have discovered four new species of miniature night frogs small enough to sit on a fingernail in a remote part of India, according to a report published on Tuesday. The researchers, who spent five years exploring the lush Western Ghats mountains, said the tiny amphibians were there in abundance but had likely been overlooked because of their size.—AFP

NEW DELHI: Scientists have discovered four new species of miniature night frogs small enough to sit on a fingernail in a remote part of India, according to a report published on Tuesday.

The researchers, who spent five years exploring the lush Western Ghats mountains, said the tiny amphibians were there in abundance but had likely been overlooked because of their size.

They also found three other species of night frogs, according to the report in the PeerJ medical sciences journal.

“The miniature species are locally abundant and fairly common but they have probably been overlooked because of their extremely small size, secretive habitats and insect-like calls,” researcher Sonali Garg was quoted as saying. Indian night frogs split off from other frogs some 70 to 80 million years ago, making them a particularly ancient group.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.