Five miniature horned frog species discovered in India’s eastern Himalayas

Scientists have identified five new species of miniature horned frogs in India’s eastern Himalayas, more than doubling the known number in the Jingophrys group. The findings point to a greater role for the Himalayas in frog evolution than previously recognised and underline the biodiversity of a region that remains little explored.

The team from the University of Delhi and Harvard University studied the frogs after five years of fieldwork in Arunachal Pradesh. One species, Jingophrys tanogogo, is the first frog known in India to eat snails and the first in its family recorded with that diet. DNA analysis suggests the group diversified as the Himalayas rose and the Asian monsoon developed over millions of years; researchers say further work is needed to understand the frogs’ biology and conservation needs.