Amphibians New to Science Discovered in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

November 16, 2010 11:03 AM
Amphibians New to Science Discovered in Colombia
Posted by CBSNews.com staff

http://i.i.com.com.nyud.net:8090/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2010/11/16/frog_1_370x278.jpg

This new toad species with striking red eyes was found
in the cloud forests of Choc??³, Colombia.
(Credit: ??© Robin Moore/iLCP)

A trio of amphibians – including a toad with ruby eyes, another with a long beak and a penchant for taking cover on dead leaves, and a frog sporting "racing stripes" on its legs – are thought to be completely new to science, researchers who discovered the gang in western Colombia announced Monday (Nov. 15).

"I have never seen a toad with such vibrant red eyes," said Robin Moore of Conservation International, referring to the new toad whose genus is still undetermined. "This trait is highly unusual for amphibians, and its discovery offers us a terrific opportunity to learn more about how and why it adapted this way."

Moore led the September expedition along with Don Church of Global Wildlife Conservation and Colombian scientist Alonso Quevedo of Fundaci?n ProAves. The team was searching for the long lost Mesopotamia beaked toad, which hasn't been seen since the start of World War I, and is considered critically endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

"After spending several days searching for the Mesopotamia beaked toad with no success, the team's spirits were pretty low," Moore said. "But finding these new species, including a new beaked toad, was like a shot of adrenaline. We definitely left on a high."

More:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-20022935-501465.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. New frog, toads found in Colombia

New frog, toads found in Colombia
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 | 11:24 AM ET



One of the three new species was a rocket
frog, a type of poison dart frog. The toxic
skin secretions of frogs from that group were
once used by indigenous hunters in South
America to make their blow darts more deadly.
(Robin Moore/iLCP)

Three new species of amphibians have been discovered in the rainforests of western Colombia.

The previously unknown frog and two toads reported by the non-profit group Conservation International this week include:

A beaked toad just two centimetres long, which resembles the dead leaves where it hides. The researchers said it is also unusual in that its eggs likely hatch directly into baby toads, instead of going through a tadpole stage.

• A rocket frog (a type of poison dart frog) that likely grows to a maximum size of three centimetres long.
  
• A toad with bright red eyes that is three to four centimetres in length and lives at an elevation of 2,000 metres. Its classification among other toad species has not yet been determined.

More:
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/11/16/frog-toads-colombia-species.html