Agasthya
A newsletter on the Natural History, Ecology
and Conservation of the Agasthyamalai region, Western Ghats, India.
Any and all opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of ATREE.
Centre for Excellence in Conservation Science
Royal Enclave,Srirampura,Jakkur Post
Bangalore-560064
Telephone: 080-23635555 (EPABX)
Fax : 080- 23530070
KMTR has had its share of rediscoveries in the past. Nanobatrachus indicus, Black narrow mouthed frog was rediscovered in 2000 by a team of researchers headed by Vasudevan.K of WII. It has not however been reported after that. Duttaphrynus beddomeii, Beddomes toad was last seen in the same year by them. We happened to chance upon it after a decade from around the same area where it was reported. The more recent and probably the most flamboyant rediscovery which grabbed the world's attention was that of Chalazodes bubble nest frog (Raorchestes chalazodes). This frog was last seen 136 years ago and was described with only one specimen deposited at British Museum and had evaded the researchers ever since. But the frog reappeared live to the scientific world in 2009 from Upper Kodayar during an amphibian survey in KMTR. We were proud to be in the team which re-discovered it almost after 136 years. It was one of the many intensive surveys that we and Dr. Biju from the University of Delhi carried out as part of Lost Amphibians of India Network. But even we didn't expect such overwhelming results. Before our report, the frog was thought to have gone extinct. While such rediscoveries stress the importance of frequent field surveys and expertise in taxonomy, conservation and ecology, this particular case highlights the mysteries and knowledge that KMTR still holds for those who are willing and dedicated to unravel them.
Editorial Team
Editor: Allwin Jesudasan
Associate editor: Rajkamal Goswami
Editorial Review: R. Ganesan, M. Soubadra Devy, T. Ganesh
Design and presentation: Kiran Salegame
A S H O K A T R U S T F O R R E S E A R C H I N E C O L O G Y A N D T H E E N V I R O N M E N T
Bringing back from oblivion
-Seshadri K S and R Ganesan
If you have any suggestions or comments please let us know through the boxes below
