Biju SD

Biju has been studying amphibians for nearly 30 years. Through extensive fieldwork in forests across the Indian subcontinent and neighbouring South and Southeast Asian regions, Biju has discovered and described nearly 100 new species along with his students and collaborators. Biju is currently Professor, Head of the Department of Environmental Studies, and Dean of the Faculty of Science, at University of Delhi.

Educational qualification
PhD (Biology) Vrije Universiteit Brussel Animal Science: Frog Systematics & Conservation 2007
PhD (Botany) University of Calicut Plant Science: Angiosperm Systematics 1999
MSc (Botany) University of Kerala 1987

Major areas of specialization
Molecular Phylogeny | Systematics | Taxonomy | Evolution |Biogeography | Reproductive Ecology | Biodiversity Conservation

Scientific publications
Over 80 scientific articles in international peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, PNAS, etc

Selected publications (* corresponding author) see full list
Biju SD and Bossuyt F. 2003. New frog family from India reveals an ancient biogeographical link with the Seychelles. Nature 425: 711–714.
About this research Nature I BBC News I CNN

Garg S and Biju SD*. 2019. New microhylid frog genus from Peninsular India with Southeast Asian affinity suggests multiple Cenozoic biotic exchanges between India and Eurasia. Scientific Reports 9 (1906): 1–13.
About this research BBC News I The Independent UK

Roelants K, Gower DJ, Wilkinson M, Loader SP, Biju SD, Guillaume K, Moriau L and Bossuyt F. 2007. Global patterns of diversification in the history of modern amphibians. PNAS 104: 887–892.
About this research New Scientist

Van Bocxlaer I, Loader SP, Roelants K, Biju SD, Menegon M and Bossuyt F. 2010. Gradual adaptation toward a range-expansion phenotype initiated the global radiation of toads. Science 327: 679–682.
About this research Science

Garg S, Suyesh R, Sandeep S and Biju SD*. 2017. Seven new species of Night Frogs (Anura, Nyctibatrachidae) from the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot of India, with remarkably high diversity of diminutive forms. PeerJ 5: e3007
About this research BBC News I National Geographic I CNN I The Washington Post I The Guardian

Kamei RG, Mauro DS, Gower DJ, Van Bocxlaer I, Sherratt E, Thomas A, Babu S, Bossuyt F, Wilkinson M and Biju SD*. 2012. Discovery of a new family of amphibians from Northeast India with ancient links to Africa. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, London 279(1737): 2396–2401.
About this research Nature I BBC News I National Geographic I The Guardian I Times I The New York Times I CNN

Mahony S, Foley NM, Biju SD, Teeling EC. 2017. Evolutionary History of the Asian Horned Frogs (Megophryinae): Integrative approaches to timetree dating in the absence of a fossil record. Molecular Biology and Evolution 34(3): 744–771.

Willaert B, Suyesh R, Garg S, Giri VB, Bee MA and Biju SD*. 2016. A unique mating strategy without physical contact during fertilization in Bombay Night Frog (Nyctibatrachus humayuni) with the description of a new form of amplexus and female call. PeerJ 4: e2117.
About this research Science I New Scientist I National Geographic I The Guardian I The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Biju SD*, Senevirathne G, Garg S, Mahony S, Kamei RG, Thomas A, Shouche Y, Raxworthy CJ, Meegaskumbura M and Van Bocxlaer I. 2016. Frankixalus, a new rhacophorid genus of tree hole breeding frogs with oophagous tadpoles. PLoS One 11(1): e0145727.
About this research Nature I BBC News I National Geographic I The Guardian I Telegraph UK I New York Times I Independent UK I News Week

Biju SD*, Garg S, Gururaja KV, Shouche Y and Walujkar SA. 2014. DNA barcoding reveals unprecedented diversity in Dancing Frogs of India (Micrixalidae, Micrixalus): a taxonomic revision with description of 14 new species. Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences) 43(1): 37–123.
About this research Nature I BBC News I National Geographic I The Guardian I The Independent I The Washington Post I The New York Times I Scientific American

Hoffmann M. et al. 2010. The impact of conservation on the status of the world’s vertebrates. Science 330: 1503–1509.

Amphibian conservation initiatives
Biju currently leads the conservation initiative Western Ghats Network of Protected Areas for Threatened Amphibians- www.wnpata.org to identify and propose conservation areas for amphibians in India. He is also the Director of the Lost Amphibians of India (LAI) www.lostspeciesindia.org, a national initiative that aims to rediscover amphibian species thought-to-be lost since their original descriptions, with the participation of citizens and scientists.

Additional skills: Nature photography and scientific illustrations
Published over 150 photographs and about 100 illustrations in reputed journals and magazines including, BBC Wildlife, National Geographic Magazine, The Economist, Nature (the best photograph of the week 2012), Science, PNAS, Proc. Royal Soc. London, Outdoor Photographer, New York Times, The Guardian, Forbes, Newsweek, TIME etc. Selected by National Geographic Society as 10 Best News Pictures of 2012.

Awards & recognition
IUCN/ASG Sabin Award 2008 (Prize money 25000 USD) and Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Service Award 2011, among other recognitions and fellowships. Research selected as “Top 10 scientific discoveries of 2012” by National Geographic Society; “Top 10 animal stories” by Nature in 2014; “10 cutest animal discoveries” by Nature in 2014. Scientific Associate, Visiting Faculty/Scientist in reputed international Universities and institutions.