Meowing night frog

2021-06-20T23:23:39Z

2603:9001:9280:2C7:3530:ABCF:B1E2:9727: When they were seen in Florida.

{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Davidraju Nyc.poocha (2).jpg
| taxon = Nyctibatrachus poocha
| authority = [[Sathyabhama Das Biju|Biju]], 2011
}}

The '''meowing night frog''' (''Nyctibatrachus poocha'') is one of 12 species of frogs in the [[genus]] ''[[Nyctibatrachus]]'' discovered in September 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/09/pictures/110916-new-species-frogs-india-night-science-animals-meowing/ |title=Pictures: Meowing Night Frog, Other New Species Found |first=Christine |last=Dell'Amore |work=[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] |date=2011-09-16 |accessdate=2011-09-18}}</ref> It is found primarily in the [[Western Ghats]], [[India]].<ref name="DH">{{cite web |url= http://www.deccanherald.com/content/191326/twelve-frog-species-detected-western.html |title=Twelve new frog species detected in Western Ghats |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |date= 2011-09-16 |accessdate= 2011-09-18}}</ref> The team, composed of researchers from the [[Bombay Natural History Society]], [[Zoological Survey of India]] and [[Vrije Universiteit Brussel]], led by [[herpetologist]] [[Sathyabhama Das Biju]] of the [[University of Delhi]], used morphological traits and molecular markers to identify the 12 new [[species]] and three others which were thought to have been extinct.<ref name="DH" /><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|author=The Associated Press|author-link=The Associated Press|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=140556098 |title=Scientists Discover 12 New Frog Species In India |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=2011-09-17 |accessdate=2011-09-18}}</ref> The meowing night frog is named for its distinct cat-like call. The species has been seen in NorthEastern Florida in the United States in December 2020 (facts unknown). <ref>Moorer, William-Jr (2 December 2020). Eye witness account. Jacksonville, Florida, USA</ref>

According to Biju, the 12 new species, described in ''[[Zootaxa]]'' journal, were exclusive to the Western Ghats and one of the ancient groups of frogs that coexisted with dinosaurs. "Night frogs (''[[Nyctibatrachus]]''), which were exclusively seen in Western Ghats, have unique breeding behaviour. These frogs successfully complete their breeding without any physical contact between male and female," Biju told the [[Press Trust of India]].<ref name="DH" />

The findings also led to the rediscovery of three frog species which were unseen for over 75 years since their original descriptions by [[C. R. Narayan Rao]] in 1920 and 1937, respectively, after scientists "had completely ignored these animals, thinking they were lost." The ''[[Nyctibatrachus sanctipalustris]]'' (Coorg night frog) was unseen for 91 years and the [[Kempholey night frog|Kempholey]] (''Nyctibatrachus kempholeyensis'') and [[forest night frog]]s (''Nyctibatrachus sylvaticus'') for 75 years.<ref name="NPR"/><ref name="IT">{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-17/flora-fauna/30168721_1_frog-species-s-d-biju-new-amphibian-species |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927050831/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-17/flora-fauna/30168721_1_frog-species-s-d-biju-new-amphibian-species |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-27 |title=12 night frog varieties found in the Western Ghats |date=2011-09-17 |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=2011-09-18}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3346630}}

[[Category:Nyctibatrachus]]
[[Category:Frogs of India]]
[[Category:Endemic fauna of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Amphibians described in 2011]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Sathyabhama Das Biju]]

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Meowing night frog