Three new frog species discovered in Peru

A team of Peruvian scientists has discovered three new species of frog in a mountain range in northern Peru, the Peruvian Institute of Herpetology said Friday (4).

The frogs were found a few weeks ago in a forest ecosystem located between 2,000 and 3,000 meters above sea level in the Piura region (north).

“We have found three new species of frogs of the genus Pristimantis, which inhabit little-explored areas of northern Peru,” herpetologist Germán Chávez told AFP.

The amphibians were named by scientists 'Pristimantis chinguelas', 'P. nunezcortezi' and 'P. yonke'.

The discovery was made in the mountains that cross the Huancabamba mountain range in Piura, amid persistent fog, dwarf forests and silent Andean paramos (high-altitude grasslands), Chávez said.

“These little frogs do not depend much on water bodies and, because they do not depend on this, it is a good indicator of the health of the habitat around them,” explained the researcher.

The new species measure about five centimeters and are distinguished by their large yellow eyes and cream, yellow and brown colors. Another characteristic is their high-pitched song.

The ecosystem they inhabit faces constant threats, especially due to the spread of agricultural fires and deforestation.

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

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