Description of a new species of Amolops (Anura: Ranidae) from a cave ecosystem in Meghalaya, Northeast India

Seventeen nominal species of the ranid frog genus Amolops, some of which are based on unverified historical records, are reported from India. Herein, we describe a new species of Amolops of the marmoratus group from a cave ecosystem. This is an uncommon habitat for this group offrogs, which is commonly found around cascades. The Siju Cave, from which four specimens of the new species were collected is a natural limestone cave located in the South Garo Hills District of Meghalaya, Northeast India. The new species is separated from other congeners based on morphological and genetic differences and is also geographically isolated from it ssister species.

کلیدواژه ها:

Amolops siju sp. nov. ، cryptic species ،  Garo Hills ، Siju Cave ، subterranean frog