Amolops Siju

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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.

Correct Answer: 3