Three new species of frogs discovered in Peru

Three new species of frogs have been discovered in a mountain range in northern Peru, the Peruvian Institute of Herpetology, a branch of zoology that studies amphibians and reptiles, announced Friday, July 4.

A team of Peruvian scientists identified them a few weeks ago in a forest ecosystem located between 2,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level, in the Piura region.

"We have found three new species of frogs of the genus Pristimantis , which inhabit little-explored areas of northern Peru," herpetologist German Chavez told Agence France-Presse.

The amphibians have been named Pristimantis chinguelas , Pristimantis nunezcortezi , and Pristimantis yonke . They were discovered in the dwarf forests and mists-filled heaths of the Huancabamba Mountains. "These frogs don't rely heavily on bodies of water, and the fact that they don't is a good indicator of the health of the habitat around them," Chavez said.

The new species are about 5 centimeters long and are distinguished by their large yellow eyes and cream, yellow, and brown coloring. They are also characterized by their high-pitched song. The ecosystem in which they live is constantly threatened, particularly by agricultural burning and deforestation.

The Huancabamba mountain range is an area of ​​great biogeographic importance due to its biodiversity and the connection it establishes between the Amazon and the Pacific coast.