Scientists discover new bright orange frog
A new species of small, bright orange frog has been discovered in the forests of southern Brazil.
Just over one centimeter long, this miniature animal belongs to the group of gourami frogs and has not been officially described in the scientific literature until now, writes Science Alert.
This species lives exclusively in a small part of the Serra do Quiriri mountain forest in the state of Santa Catarina, at an elevation of more than 750 meters above sea level, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.
Despite its striking color, it took scientists seven years to find and catalog it, and the key clue was its unique mating call. Researchers located the males by following the sound, while the quieter females were collected randomly from leaf litter.
After detailed genetic and morphological analyses in the laboratory, the team of scientists confirmed that it was a completely new species. They named it “B. lulai,” in honor of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Habitat loss due to pasture burning, cattle grazing, the spread of invasive plant species, tourism, mining, and deforestation pose serious threats to the survival of these amphibians, which are the most endangered class of vertebrates globally.
