五年调查带来新物种

德里大学与哈佛研究团队经过五年野外调查，在印度东喜马拉雅地区识别五种Jingophrys属小型角蟾，使这一组已知物种数量超过翻倍。成果11月11日发表于Royal Society Open Science。其中Jingophrys tanogogo被称为印度首种已知以蜗牛为食的蛙，也是其所属科首次记录这种食性；不等于全球所有蛙类中首次发现。

演化与当地知识

研究结合DNA分析，认为山脉隆起与亚洲季风形成期间的环境变化推动物种分化。当地族群提供野外协助，部分新种以他们命名，例如Jingophrys taniitatii结合Tanii族名与Apatani语“蛙”一词。另三种为J. siangensis、J. hrdy及J. wularsoni。研究者强调仍需进一步了解繁殖、生物学和保护需要，偏远森林中短暂的繁殖期可能使这些动物长期被忽略。

来源：BBC News 原报道。大鱼新闻整理原创中文摘要；保留原网页刊发日期。

SD Biju A snail-eating horned frog discovered in India has been named Jingophrys tanogogo

SD Biju A snail-eating horned frog discovered in India has been named Jingophrys tanogogo

SD Biju Some discoveries, such as the Jingophrys taniitatii, were named to honour the local tribes that helped the researchers

SD Biju Some discoveries, such as the Jingophrys taniitatii, were named to honour the local tribes that helped the researchers

SD Biju Jingophrys hrdy or the Hrdy's horned frog is among the miniature frogs discovered in India's Arunachal Pradesh state

SD Biju Jingophrys hrdy or the Hrdy's horned frog is among the miniature frogs discovered in India's Arunachal Pradesh state

SD Biju Researchers say they will have to carry out more studies to better understand the biology of the new species, including Jingophrys siangensis ( Siang horned frog)

SD Biju Researchers say they will have to carry out more studies to better understand the biology of the new species, including Jingophrys siangensis ( Siang horned frog)