Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India, in partnership with the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board, have rediscovered the Sri Lankan golden-backed frog (Hylarana gracilis) after two centuries. The discovery was made in the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary in the Chittoor district, the southernmost point of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. This finding increases the number of freshwater frog species in India to 20.
Bharath Bhupathi from the Zoological Survey of India, Hyderabad, encountered these frogs near a forest pond and initially suspected they could be a new species. However, after consulting taxonomic experts and using morphological and DNA barcoding tools, the species was confirmed as the Sri Lankan golden-backed frog.
Mr. Bhupathi emphasized that rediscovery is more significant than discovering a new species, as it provides evidence of the historic land bridge between India and Sri Lanka.
Amphibians are recognized as ecological indicators of healthy ecosystems, and the Eastern Ghats are home to 27 species of amphibians, significantly fewer than the Western Ghats.
The study was the result of collaborative efforts by multiple scientists, including Deepa Jaiswal, S.S. Jadhav, and Karuthapandi M. from ZSI, Hyderabad, and K.P. Dinesh from ZSI, Pune, along with Kalyani Kunte from the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board.
District Forest Officer (Chittoor) C. Chaitanya Kumar Reddy welcomed the discovery, noting that finding this exotic species in the Palamaner range of Chittoor is a positive sign for the region and that all steps will be taken to protect the species.
Currently, the Sri Lankan golden-backed frog populations in India and Sri Lanka are approximately 800 km apart. The shallow genetic divergence of 0.2% to 1% between these populations supports evidence of sea level changes in the late Pleistocene period or the Ice Age, resulting in land connections between India and Sri Lanka.
