Kali Night Frog Discovered: UPSC Current Affairs

Description

Why In News?

Researchers have identified a new species of "Wrinkled Frog" named Nyctibatrachus kali in the Kali Tiger Reserve of Karnataka..

About Nyctibatrachus kali

Discovery: The frog was discovered by a collaborative team of researchers and frontline forest staff after tracking a unique "tock" sound that resembled wood chopping.

Scientific Name: Nyctibatrachus kali, named after the Kali River that flows through its habitat.

Nature:

It is classified as a cryptic species; morphologically almost identical to an existing species but genetically distinct.
It bears a striking resemblance to the Kumbara Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus kumbara), discovered in 2014.

Habitat: The species is currently known only from the Castle Rock region of the Kali Tiger Reserve, making it a stream-dwelling amphibian highly sensitive to habitat changes.

About Kali Tiger Reserve

Location: Situated in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.
Composition: The reserve was formed by combining two protected areas:

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary
Anshi National Park.

The Kali River flows centrally through the reserve, serving as the major water source for the district and the ecosystem.
Vegetation Profile: The forest is a diverse blend of semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, interspersed with bamboo patches and grasslands.
Flora: Key plant species include Teak, Silver Oak, Eucalyptus, and various indigenous medicinal plants.
Fauna:

Predators: Tiger, Leopard, and the rare Black Panther (melanistic leopard).
Herbivores: Elephant, Bison (Gaur), Sambar, Spotted Deer.
Birds: The reserve supports a high density of the Great Indian Hornbill.

Source: DECCANHERALD

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. "Nyctibatrachus kali", recently seen in the news, is a species of:

a) Gecko endemic to the Eastern Ghats

b) Night Frog found in the Western Ghats

c) Freshwater fish found in the Cauvery river

d) Spider discovered in the Thar desert

Answer: B

Explanation: Researchers have identified a new species of "Wrinkled Frog" named Nyctibatrachus kali in the Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Nyctibatrachus kali, commonly known as the Kali Night Frog, is a newly discovered amphibian species endemic to the Western Ghats. It was found in the Kali Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and is easily identifiable by its unique "wood-chopping" or "tock" acoustic call.

A cryptic species is an organism that looks morphologically identical to an already known species but is genetically distinct. The Kali Night Frog is a cryptic species because it visually resembles the Kumbara Night Frog but has a 5% to 10% genetic divergence.

A: Chytridiomycosis is a lethal skin disease in amphibians caused by the aquatic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). It is responsible for the rapid decline and extinction of over 90 amphibian species worldwide.