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Scientists have found a new orange toad species In Brazil it is so small that it fits on the tip of a pencil, highlighting the need for greater conservation efforts in the country’s mountainous forest areas.
The toad species, measuring less than 14 mm (0.5 in), was found deep in the cloud forests of Serra do Quiriri. mountain range In the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
Researchers have named the new species brachycephalus lulai In honor of the President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
Cloud forests are usually found at altitudes of 1,000 to 2,500 meters and a layer of clouds at the canopy level persists throughout the year.
So far, about two million animal species have been discovered in the world, with estimates suggesting that Earth is home to about eight million of them, meaning at least six million are still unknown.
For decades, researchers have been exploring the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest to find and catalog new species.
The area is known to be home to micro-endemic frogs and toads that are found only in small, restricted areas of the forest and are in danger of extinction.
In the latest study, researchers have documented the discovery of tiny frogs with attractive orange bodies and distinctive green and brownish markings.
The length of males was found to be between 9 to 11 mm and that of females was found to be between 11 to 14 mm.
Researchers say they are among the smallest four-legged animals on Earth, able to fit perfectly on the tip of a pencil.
Scientists identified the new species by its unique mating call, consisting of two short bursts of sound, unlike other known Brachycephalus in the area.
The researchers also performed CT X-ray scans to look at the skeletal structure and DNA analysis to confirm that they indeed had a new species.
Comparing the toad’s DNA samples with those of other species, they found that it was most closely related to two species living in the Serra do QueirÃ.
Following the discovery, scientists immediately called for conservation efforts to protect the toad species and its relatives.
“Through this tribute (the act of naming a new species), we want to encourage the expansion of conservation initiatives focused on the Atlantic Forest as a whole and the highly endemic miniature frogs of Brazil in particular,” the researchers wrote in the study published in the journal Nature. one more,
“We propose the creation of the Refugio de Vida Silvestre (RVS) Serra do Quiriri to protect this and other endemic species, without the need for government acquisition of private land,” they wrote.
Scientists have called for continued monitoring of the frogs to detect any new or emerging threats to their habitat.