By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 26: The Bangladeshi Cricket Frog (Minervarya asmati), previously known only from Bangladesh, Manipur and Mizoram, has unexpectedly made its way into Meghalaya.
Scientists from St. Edmund’s College, Shillong, stumbled upon this amphibian newcomer during a herpetological survey, marking the species’ first-ever recorded presence in the state.
This discovery extends the frog’s known range by an impressive 260 km northward, proving that Minervarya asmati is far from stationary.
Researchers had collected three male specimens—two from paddy fields in Mawlai Umshing Mawkynroh, Shillong and one from an ephemeral pool in Cherrapunjee.
Their findings, now published in the Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, further enrich Meghalaya’s already diverse ecosystem. With this addition, the state’s official frog count has risen from 61 to 62.
Meghalaya, situated within the Indo-Myanmar and Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots, has long been a haven for unique wildlife discoveries. Its diverse landscapes serve as a crossroads for species from Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, making it a prime location for amphibian research.
Originally described from Hathazari in Bangladesh’s Chittagong District, the Bangladeshi Cricket Frog was later recorded in Dhaka, Nazipur, and more recently in Manipur and Mizoram. However, its presence in Meghalaya is a first. Despite its expanding range, Minervarya asmati remains an enigma in conservation circles, as the IUCN Red List has yet to assess its status.
To confirm their finding, researchers conducted DNA analysis, reinforcing the distinct lineage of Minervarya, a genus often mistaken for its close relative Fejervarya.
This latest identification helps piece together the biogeographical puzzle, linking known populations in Bangladesh to their newly discovered habitat in Northeast India.
