Addressing the Wallacean shortfall: anuran (Amphibia, Anura) diversity and new state records from Godda Forest Division, Santhal Parganas, Jharkhand, India

Despite extensive research on biodiversity patterns, significant gaps remain in our understanding of species’ geographic distributions, representing a persistent Wallacean shortfall. The Godda Forest Division of Jharkhand state, located in the eastern part of India, remains largely unexplored with respect to amphibian diversity. In this study, we present the results of a six-month field survey conducted in the Godda Forest Division of Jharkhand spanning the summer and monsoon seasons. Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequences were used to resolve the identification of taxonomically cryptic species. The survey documented 19 anuran species belonging to four families and 11 genera. These findings provide essential baseline information and underscore the need for systematic herpetofauna assessments across Jharkhand.