Overview
- The species—Leptobrachium mechuka and L. somani, the latter named for journalist E. Somanath—were diagnosed from Lower Dibang Valley and Shi Yomi after multi-year fieldwork.
- Genetic analyses show 16S mitochondrial rRNA divergences of 3.6–4.2% and 4.5–4.7% from L. bompu, corroborated by morphology, bioacoustics, and micro-CT scans.
- A Medog County, China, population previously reported as L. cf. bompu is reassigned to L. mechuka based on the new evidence.
- The review finds that L. smithi is absent from India, with earlier Indian records attributable to L. aryatium or L. sylheticum.
- Authors emphasize the Brahmaputra River’s role as a biogeographic barrier and call for targeted surveys to document hidden amphibian diversity in Northeast India.