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AMOLOPS SIJU

13th April, 2023

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Context

  • Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of frog from deep inside a cave in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district.

Details

  • This discovery is the second time that a frog was discovered from inside a cave in the country, the first being the discovery of the Micrixalus spelunca in 2014 from a cave in Tamil Nadu.
  • There have been reports of the presence of frog populations (up to 400 m from cave entrance) in Siju Cave since 1922 when the first bio speleological exploration of the cave was done by the ZSI.
  • The team had also discovered three other new species of cascade frog (Amolops) in Arunachal Pradesh and those include the - Amolops chanakya, Amolops terraorchis and Amolops tawang.

About the frog

  • The team named the new species as Amolops siju after the cave from where this discovery was made.
  • Family: Cascade Ranidae family
  • Genus: Amolops (among the largest groups of ranid frogs).
  • Distribution: India’s North East and north, Nepal, Bhutan, China, the Indochina region and the Malaya Peninsula.

About Siju Cave

  • Siju cave is a 4 km long natural limestone cave.
  • Siju Cave, also known as Bat Cave in English, is located in the North East Indian state of Meghalaya near the Napak Lake and Simsang River game reserve.
  • It is famous for its stalagmites and stalactites.

About Zoological Survey of India

  • The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), founded on 1 July 1916 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Government of India as a premier Indian organisation in zoological research and studies to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the country.
  • Headquarters: Kolkata

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Which of the following statements with reference to Siju Caves in India is/are correct?

a. It is located in Meghalaya near the Napak Lake and Simsang River game reserve.

b. It is famous for its stalagmites and stalactites.

  1. a only
  2. b only
  3. both a and b
  4. neither a nor b

Correct Answer: 3

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/new-frog-species-discovered-in-cave-in-meghalayas-south-garo-hills-3937719