Various life forms need appropriate environments for their survival. Forests and mountain ranges often provide conductive environments for organisms to thrive. The Western Ghats, besides aiding the balance of climate in the southern part of India, also sustains a wide range of biodiversity.
The Western Ghats, a 1600 kilometre long mountain range, runs from north to south, along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau. This mountain range is home to a large number of animals that are not found anywhere else. The region is also termed as one of the ‘hottest biodiversity hotspots’ in the world and 170 different amphibian species are found here.
In the recent past, a dozen or so frogs, new to science, were discovered in the forests of the Western Ghats. The frogs were discovered in the hill ranges of the Southern Western Ghats after several expeditions spanning the last few years. Six are bush frogs, one is a canopy bush frog, and two species are associated with bamboo reeds.
Frogs all over the world are facing high risk of extinction due to climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. The new discovery points to the hidden biodiversity wealth of the Western Ghats, and this calls for intense research and conservation efforts in the region.
Picture credit: google
