New Frog Species discovered in Western Ghats

Researchers from the University of Delhi have named a newly-discovered frog species after former vice chancellor and renowned plant geneticist Prof. Deepak Pental.
The species was discovered from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
The newly-discovered species, named Minervarya Pentali, is endemic to the southern Western Ghats.

Biodiversity hotspots are regions with high species richness and a high degree of endemism.
The concept of biodiversity hotspots was developed by Norman Myers in 1988.
To qualify as hotspot a region should contain
- It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — which is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet. A hotspot, in other words, is irreplaceable.
- It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation. In other words, it must be threatened.
Conservation International (CI), an American based Non Governmental Organisation, founded in 1987 with the goal of protecting nature for the benefit of people.
In 1989, CI formally committed to the protection of biodiversity hotspots around the world. It identified 36 biodiversity hotspots so far.
They represent just 2.4% of Earth’s land surface, but they support more than half of the world’s plant species as endemics — i.e., species found no place else — and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species as endemics.
India hosts 4 biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats and Srilanka, the Indo-Burma region and the Sundaland (Nicobar Islands and Others).

Today Current Affairs Upsc Exam Syllabus & Previous Yearpaper.