A team of researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India has discovered a new species of mud-nesting “fanged frog” inside Namdapha Tiger Reserve, shedding fresh light on the rich but largely unexplored biodiversity of Northeast India. The newly identified species, named Limnonectes motijheel, was recorded during field surveys carried out between 2022 and 2023. Scientists linked the species to Motijheel, a wetland area inside the reserve that supports several amphibian species.
Researchers said the frog is known for its fang-like jaw structure and unusual nesting behaviour. Unlike most frogs that breed in water bodies, this species creates cup-shaped mud nests beneath layers of leaf litter on the forest floor. Male frogs reportedly call from hidden nests to attract mates, making them difficult to detect during surveys. Scientists noted that the species produces a distinct “wooooak” call during the breeding season in April and May.
The study was conducted by researchers Bitupan Boruah, NV Rajiv, Sourav Dutta and Abhijit Das, who confirmed the species through detailed genetic and morphological analysis. The survey also documented Limnonectes longchuanensis in India for the first time, increasing the number of known Limnonectes species in the country to six.
