Rare and endangered herpetofauna recorded in survey at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve - The Hindu

Context
A recent survey at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) recorded new species of reptiles and amphibians, including endangered and critically endangered species.

New species found

• Critically Endangered Species: Micrixalus spelunca (cave dancing frog) and Nyctibatrachus indraneili (Indraneil’s Night Frog).
• Endangered Species: Endemic Star-eyed Bush Frog, Nilgiri Bush Frog, and Nilgiris wart frog.

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

• Location: Nilgiri District, Tamil Nadu, at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Vegetation: Tropical evergreen, moist deciduous, teak forests, grasslands, and swamps.
• Fauna: Elephants, Gaur, Tigers, Panthers, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, etc.