New frog species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh's mountain forests
Researchers have found two brand-new frog species hiding out in the mountain forests of Arunachal Pradesh.
After three years of exploring five northeastern states, the team confirmed these unique frogs—Soman's Slender Arm Frog and Mechuka Slender Arm Frog—are officially new to science.
Meet the new frogs
Soman's Slender Arm Frog is a small, greyish-brown amphibian with silver-grey to light-blue eyes, spotted near Tiwarigaon calling by forest streams.
Its cousin, Mechuka Slender Arm Frog, is a bit bigger with a brown body with a reddish tinge and silvery-white eyes, first collected near Mechuka town.
Why it matters
These frogs only live north of the Brahmaputra river, while all their relatives are found south—showing how natural barriers shape where animals live.
Since Arunachal Pradesh is part of a major biodiversity hotspot, finding these rare frogs helps scientists plan better ways to protect wildlife in the region.