In the Western Ghats, a team of Delhi University researchers found a new frog species and named it after Deepak Pental, a former DU Vice-Chancellor, and plant geneticist.
Minervarya Pentali, a new frog species, was discovered in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, which stretches along the southwest coast of the Indian Peninsula, and is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, according to the research team.
Minervarya Pentali, a new frog species identified in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, which stretches along the southwest coast of the Indian Peninsula, is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, according to the research team.
The research team claims to have resolved the identity and taxonomic status of all known members of the genus Minervarya from Peninsular India after a ten-year investigation on the genus Minervarya.
Professor S D Biju said, “It is a great honor to name a frog species after Prof Deepak Pental, the former Vice-Chancellor of University of Delhi, in recognition of his tremendous support and encouragement for the establishment of the Systematics Lab at the University of Delhi, where research led to the discovery and description of nearly one-fourth of all known Indian amphibians.”
Professor Pental is a well-known researcher whose main focus is crop breeding. From 2005 until 2010, he served as the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University.
“Professor Biju has been really helpful; he believes I contributed much to this study. He considered me worthy despite the fact that I am not a naturist. However, it is entirely his labor, and he is deserving of more credit than I am. He’s a natural scientist who’s found a slew of new frog species, is an outspoken environmentalist who spends months and years in the field We need work like that.” Prof. Pental stated.
