KUCHING: Twenty-six new frog species were discovered during research projects across Sarawak this year, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan told the State Legislative Assembly today.
He said of these, six had been given their scientific names based on the locations where they were found.
Awang Tengah, who is also state natural environment minister, said the new species found in Mulu had been given the scientific name 'limnonectes muluensis' and the one found in Penrissen had been named 'limnonectes penrissensis'. He said the remaining 20 species had yet to be named as they were undergoing morphological identification.
Awang Tengah said the discovery of the new species reflected Sarawak's rich diversity of frog species.
"Frogs serve as important indicators of ecosystem health due to their sensitivity to environmental changes."
The research projects were part of the 10th World Congress of Herpetology, which was hosted by Sarawak from Aug 5 to 9.
The congress, which aims to promote the research, education and conservation of herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians), was attended by 1,500 participants from 72 countries.