Mizoram yields two new-to-science frog species, one hiding in plain sight

Mizoram has yielded two new-to-science species of frogs, one of which was hiding in plain sight on a university campus for more than two decades.

The species have been named Duttaphrynus phawngpui after Mizoram’s highest peak and Ingerana aizawl after the state’s capital. One of them was long mistaken for a widespread frog.

Ingerana aizawl has a distinctly bumpy, wrinkled back, a clearly visible domed eardrum and small toe pads, and differed by up to 6.6% from its nearest relatives, researchers said.