A 21-year-long study has led to the discovery of a new species of frog, named in honor of an Assam college that played a pivotal role in reshaping the identity of a once-stigmatized locality.
Key Highlights
- The new species, Leptobrachium aryatium, was recorded in the Garbhanga Reserve Forest, located on the southwestern fringe of Guwahati, near the Meghalaya border.
- Belonging to the genus Leptobrachium—a group of stocky frogs known for their broad heads, short hind limbs, and strikingly colored eyes—this find adds to a genus that currently comprises 38 known species, widely distributed from southern China and India to the Sunda Shelf and the Philippines.
- The naming of the frog carries deep social significance. It draws inspiration from Arya Vidyapeeth College, one of Assam’s most respected educational institutions.
- The college is located near Aryanagar, a locality that was formerly known as Sharabbhati, which translates to “a place for brewing liquor.”
- Once associated with country liquor production, the area underwent a symbolic transformation in 2022, when it was renamed Aryanagar to reflect a more dignified and progressive image, in line with the values upheld by the nearby college.
