"Each species of Megophrys in Sumatra possibly has limited distribution," Hamidy noted in a written statement received by ANTARA here on Monday.
He highlighted that out of the five species seen in Sumatra, four are endemic.
In addition to being endemic, Megophrys is found in highlands and lowland forests, he informed.
According to Hamidy, the conversion of forest habitats into palm oil plantations and farming land is the biggest threat to the existence of the species.
Moreover, frogs from the Megophrys genus have a faint morphological diversity, he said.
The two new Megophrys species were successfully identified based on a taxonomy status evaluation by utilizing molecular and morphological data, he informed.
The researcher said that while carrying out a herpetofauna survey across the Barisan Mountains, Sumatra, he found the South Sumatra Megophrys population with smooth back skin that is morphologically similar to M. montana from Java.
Related news: New frog species discovered in area of PT Freeport Indonesia
In addition, he also found a population with back skin that resembles M. parallela from North Sumatra.
Hamidy said he worked with his collaborators Kanto Nishikawa from Kyoto University, Japan, and Eric N. Smith from the University of Texas at Arlington, US, in identifying the new species.
One of the team members who identified the species, Misbahul Munir, who was also the first to report the findings, noted that the horned frog has a unique characteristic—the tip of its head and its eyelid resemble a horn.
The Megophrys also has another unique trait: its mouth is modified to resemble a wide cone-shaped structure, Munir said.
Currently, there are 13 Megophrys species that are known to be located in Southeast Asia, specifically in Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and the Philippines, he said.
Kalimantan has a record six species located on the island, he added.
Related news: Indonesian researcher identifies new frog species
Translator: Martha S, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
