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New species of frog discovered at Guyana/Brazil Border
Interesting creatures…
Kaieteur News – A new species of frog was recently discovered perched on a leaf at the top of a mountain located at the Guyana-Brazil border, the Miami Herald reported on June 5.
New species of frog called ‘stefania maccullohi’ (Miami Herald photo)
Researcher, Phillipe Kok.
According the Author of the article, Aspen Pflughoeft, the frog was found by scientists exploring the Wei-Assipu-tepui, a “small table-top mountain” along the border known as “Little Roraima”. “Little Roraima” is situated in Cuyuni/Mazaruni, Region Seven district of Guyana.
A female Stefania maccullohi carrying babies on her back. (Miami Herald photo)
Pflughoeft wrote that it was a researcher by the name of Phillipe Kok who spotted the animal after observing one carrying nine babies on its back. Kok reportedly named the new frog species ‘stefania maccullohi’ after Ross Douglas MacCulloch, a herpetologist from Canada who contributed “to the knowledge of the amphibians and reptiles of Guyana.”
New species of frog called ‘stefania maccullohi’ (Miami Herald photo)
A study conducted by Kok and his team revealed that Stefania maccullochi frogs range in size from 1.8 inches to about 2.9 inches in size, with females being larger than males. The creature’s coloring varies greatly, ranging from “plain medium brown” to “chestnut brown” and from brown-ish red to “almost completely red.”
One of the highlights of the creature reportedly observed by the researcher was that several female Stefania maccullochi frogs were seen carrying their babies on their backs. The scientists managed to capture a photo perched on a leaf with nine babies on her back.
Additionally DNA analysis reportedly found that new species had between 4.1% and 4.9% genetic divergence from other frog species. The Miami Herald reported that despite being distinct, it still resembles other frog species found on Venezuelan mountain tops and labeled the creature “critically endangered” because of its limited geographic distribution. The animal is said to be threatened by climate change, human fires and an uptick in people visiting its isolated habitat.
Source of information: (https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article276107631.html?fbclid=IwAR0yO762pMeNWlqnlEPmT8qJMeYbLRKsl1GRSQttMGsGaTUQN1OsysATP6A)
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