UPSC Articles
Minervarya Pentali
Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III – Biodiversity
In news A team of Delhi University (DU) researchers has discovered a new frog species and has named it after former DU Vice-Chancellor and plant geneticist Deepak Pental.
About the new frog species
- Minervarya Pentali, was discovered from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot at multiple localities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- This new species is endemic to the southern Western Ghats.
- This species is also among the smallest known Minervarya frogs.
- It belongs to the family Dicroglossidae.
- The new species was identified on the basis of multiple criteria including “external morphology, DNA and calling pattern.”
- The study was funded by DU, Department of Science and Technology (DoST), CSIR, Critical Ecosystem partnership Fund from the US, and Global Wildlife Conservation in the US.
- Minervarya sahyadris is a species of frog that is also endemic to Western Ghats of India.
- Its IUCN status is Endangered.
News Source: IE
