Imphal, Aug 16: A groundbreaking discovery has recently come to light as a collaborative team of Indian and Russian scientists unearthed a new species of salamander inhabiting the mountain lakes of Manipur.
This newfound species, scientifically named Tylototriton zaimeng, was previously mistaken for its close relatives T. himalayanus and T. verrucosus. The study, published in the latest issue of Herpetozoa, a journal by the Austrian Herpetological Society, sheds light on this exciting revelation.
The term ‘cryptic‘ is used to describe species that closely resemble their relatives and are challenging to distinguish from them. This new discovery exemplifies this phenomenon, as the species was nearly indistinguishable from its close counterparts until now.
Professor HT Lalremsanga, a zoology expert at Mizoram University and one of the nine scientists involved in the discovery, elaborated on the term ‘cryptic’ and its significance in this context. “Cryptic means those different species which look very similar and cannot easily be distinguished from related species,” he explained.
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The new species has been christened Tylototriton zaimeng, paying homage to Zaimeng, a mountain lake situated at a lofty 2,215 meters above sea level on the Khongtheng mountain range in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. In the dialect spoken by the Liangmai people, a Naga tribe inhabiting both Nagaland and Manipur, Zaimeng translates to ‘Puzzle Lake’ or ‘Mystery Lake.’
Field surveys conducted in 2022 led the scientists to stumble upon several specimens of this new salamander species at three distinct locations featuring mountain lakes and swamps in Manipur. Their objective was to uncover the concealed identities of the Tylototriton verrucosus species group, members of which had long perplexed even seasoned herpetologists.
What set the Tylototriton zaimeng apart were its distinctive characteristics. The salamander exhibited a massive and wide head with a rounded snout and protruding supratemporal bony ridges. A well-defined sagittal ridge adorned its crown, while its elegantly formed limbs were short and did not overlap when adpressed along its body.
A broad and unsegmented vertebral ridge ran along its back, accompanied by 13–14 pairs of rib nodules, setting it apart from its relatives. The creature sported a captivating brown hue adorned with dull orange to yellowish-brown markings on various parts of its body. The study also detailed its unique vomerine teeth arrangement.
Beyond its physical attributes, DNA tests confirmed its place in Clade I of the subgenus Tylototriton, emerging as a sister species to T. panwaensis and T. houi. This genetic distinction emphasized the species’ uniqueness.
The habitat of Tylototriton zaimeng was found to be exclusively confined to the Khongtheng mountain range in Manipur. Due to its limited distribution and isolation, scientists are advocating for its inclusion in the IUCN Red List as a vulnerable (VU) species. This move underscores the importance of conservation efforts to safeguard this enigmatic creature and its delicate habitat.
The discovery of the Tylototriton zaimeng salamander species stands as a testament to the remarkable biodiversity that still lies undiscovered within our natural world. This finding not only adds to our understanding of the intricate web of life but also highlights the urgent need for conservation measures to protect species that are vulnerable due to their limited distribution.
