New pumpkin toad The species was recently discovered in the mountains of southern Brazil. Bracicephalus lulai It is just over one centimeter long (0.39 inches in total) and the size of a pencil tip. This is a completely new species of frog, described in detail in study published this week in the journal PLOS One.
“This new species is unique due to the combination of many characteristics,” Marcos R. Bornscheinsays co-author of the study, a biologist from the University of Estadual Paulista (UNESP) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Popular Science. “But it stands out because of its orange color and its advertising call features, including having four pulses per note.”
In fact, it was this unique advertising call (where animals make a sound to find their mother or announce their presence) that led Bornschein and team to this discovery. They used several tools and techniques, including CT scans and DNA analysis, to make sure this tiny orange frog was different from its relatives in the genus. Bracycephaly. Known 22 Bracicephalus types and Bracicephalus lulai most closely related to two species found in the Serra do Quiri mountain range in southern Brazil. Its species name Click accept honors Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
These tiny amphibians boast a bright orange body with green and brown freckles. Males range in size from 8.9 to 11.3 millimeters, while females range from 11.7 to 13.4 millimeters. According to the team, they are among the smallest four-legged animals on the planet. Luckily, these tiny frogs are well protected in their habitat, where they live among leaf litter.
“The new species is found in well-preserved forests that are very difficult to access, which means it is not at risk of extinction,” says Bornschein. “This is one of the few Brachycephalic species that are not threatened, which is very encouraging for us.”
Even though their status is not at risk, the team is still calling for immediate conservation efforts to protect this frog and its relatives. Amphibians are among the most endangered group of animals due to habitat loss and wider impacts climate change.
For Bornschein, the discovery highlights the incredible biodiversity of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. He discovered the first Brachycephalic view while studying in southern Brazil in 1988. Since then, 22 species of this genus have been discovered in the region.
“That’s about one new species every year and a half,” Bornschein says. “I am honored to see how much science has advanced since the modest initial discovery, but we should not assume that all discoveries have been made. I believe that eight to 10 new species of these remarkable toads could still be described in southern Brazil over the next 10 to 15 years.”
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