About Cascade Frog:
- These frogs belong to the genus Amolops.
- Habitat: They are typically found around rocky waterfalls and fast-flowing forest streams.
- Ecological Role: Cascade frogs are vital ecological anchors that connect aquatic and terrestrial food webs, control pest populations, and serve as sensitive indicators of clean water ecosystems.
Three New Cascade frog species:
- Ammachi’s Cascade Frog (Amolops ammachi):
- It was discovered in the Jampui Hills of Tripura.
- It honours the late Kerala social worker and philanthropist Padmini Varkey, affectionately known as ‘Ammachi’ (or mother).
- It has a light brown body interspersed with beautiful olive-green reticulations.
- Sendenyu Cascade Frog (Amolops sendenyu): It was found in Nagaland and named after Sendenyu Village; and
- Beautiful Cascade Frog (Amolops bella): It was discovered in West Bengal and named for its striking green body marked with yellowish-green or reddish-brown mosaic patterns.
