6 new species of rain frogs discovered in Ecuador
A new species of frog has been discovered in Ecuador. They were not seen before in the country. The new rain frog seems to be even more closely related to the Amazon River frog (Platymantis dorsalis) than the green frog (Pseudophryne amazonica) which has been discovered there recently. It is likely the only rain frog in the Pacific region. There are many other species of frogs in Ecuador, but this new one is the only species of rain frog.
The discovery has been made by the Center for Amazonian Research (CARIF-AMAZ, ) which is led by Dr. Maria Josefina Dominguez-Bello. The new species was discovered in the dry lowlands of the Cordillera Occidental de los Amazones, and they were discovered in the rainy season between July and November.
Dr. Dominguez-Bello is the director of the Department of Zoology and Human Behavior at CONICET, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He joined CARIF-AMAZ in 2002.
“Rain frogs are known to be a type of frog found in the dry lowlands of the coastal regions of South America. The discovery of the new rain frog on the island of Loja, Ecuador, brings them from this type to the other types,” said Dr. Dominguez-Bello.
“These frogs have remained unknown outside the Amazon basin for so long. These are probably the only rain frogs in the Pacific region, probably in the entire world,” added Dr. Dominguez-Bello.
The new species is not at all similar to the Amazon River frog. The new rain frog is more closely related to the other species of rain frog. The new rain frog is different from the Amazon River frog in several ways. The new rain frog is smaller, and it has a lighter color, and it is more elongated, smaller, and lighter in the color of its skin
