Hikers follow map of 1893 expedition — and rediscover a creature not seen since then
A Frenchman with a fascination for bugs. The 'controversial' writings of a 93-year-old scientist. A map reconstructed from an 1893 expedition.
The rediscovery of 'one of the rarest and most elusive amphibians' in Chile is quite a tale.
Philibert Germain, a scientist studying insects, visited a large estate in southern Chile in December 1893. He arrived at the landowner's house then hiked along the river, collecting wildlife specimens as he went.
Among Germain's collections were three frogs, which he sent to Rudolph Philippi, 'one of the most important naturalists of Chile during the 19th century,' according to a study published March 6 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
Philippi spent over 50 years studying countless aspects of Chile's environment before his death in 1904. Near the end of his very long life, he finished a paper classifying 'an excessively high number' of snake and amphibian species.
Germain's frog collections were included in the paper and identified as Alsodes vittatus, or the Malleco spiny-chest frog. But here the trail goes cold.
Follow-up surveys in the 1990s and early 2000s searched for the Malleco spiny-chest frog but couldn't find it, the study said. The Chilean government eventually classified the species as critically endangered but many considered the species 'lost,' giving it the distinction of being one of the country's 'rarest and most elusive' amphibians.
None of this deterred Claudio Correa, an amphibian researcher at the University of Concepción. Correa painstakingly reconstructed the route of Germain's 1893 expedition and realized that past surveys had been starting on the wrong side of the estate, according to a 2024 news release from the university.
A team of researchers set out to follow Germain's original route, the study said. During their hikes in 2023 and 2024, they found what they were looking for: several populations of Malleco spiny-chest frogs.
Photos show the rediscovered species. Some of the olive-green and brown frogs have a stripe running straight down their backs, while others have a faded stripe or no clear stripe at all.
Researchers quickly realized that the rediscovery of the Malleco spiny-chest frog created more questions than answers: How come Philippi describes the frogs as 'intense black'? Why do the frogs vary so drastically in color and pattern? Are these frogs even a distinct species?
More data, DNA analyses and research will be needed to answer these questions, the study said. But if anything is certain it's that the tale of the Malleco spiny-chest frog is far from over.
The research team included Correa, Edvin Riveros-Riffo and Juan Donoso. The team first announced their findings in April 2024 but only recently published a study on the topic.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the University of Concepción.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
18 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Metal detectorist revisits farm where he found gold artifact — and finds another
A resident of southern Norway has a knack for finding things. Recently, he revisited the site where he'd previously found a rare gold artifact — and found another ancient treasure. Metal detectorist Sverre Næsheim visited a farm in Hovland in 2019 and unearthed an ancient gold item known as a 'gullgubbe,' or gold foil, the Cultural Heritage Office of Vestfold County Municipality said in a May 15 Facebook post. At the time, Næsheim's discovery was a first-of-its-kind find for the county and sparked a monthslong georadar survey of the area, officials said in Facebook posts from 2019 and 2020. The scans identified traces of a large building, likely a gathering hall. This spring, officials allowed Næsheim to return to the now-protected area in Hovland to continue searching for artifacts, the county said. It didn't take long for him to find something. For the second time, Næsheim found a 1,200-year-old gold foil, officials said. Gold foils are thin pieces of gold stamped with designs and generally date between 570 and 800. The designs usually include people or animals and are typically interpreted as depicting a mythical wedding between a Norse god and a giant. Næsheim's newly unearthed gold foil is roughly half an inch in size and shows a couple looking at each other, officials said. A photo shows the design up close. The figures' heads reach the top corners, and the person on the left seems to have an outstretched arm. The entire scene is ringed by a cord-like border. Gold foils have been found in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Archaeologists don't know the purpose of these tiny artifacts but generally link them to ritual ceremonies. Like other sites where gold foils have been found, Hovland's name shows a link to Norse religion, officials said in 2019. In Old Norse, the term 'hov' referred to a temple or other site for cult activities. County officials said they plan to continue searching the Hovland site in hopes of finding more artifacts. Hovland is a small town along the southeastern coast of Norway, and a roughly 70-mile drive southwest from Oslo. Google Translate and Facebook Translate were used to translate the Facebook posts from the Cultural Heritage Office of Vestfold County Municipality.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Chilean scientists develop probiotic to help prevent stomach cancer
May 30 (UPI) -- Scientists at the University of Concepción in Chile have developed the world's first patented probiotic designed to prevent gastric cancer. The oral supplement is 93.6% effective and targets Helicobacter pylori, a key bacterial factor in the disease. The probiotic forms a protective coating along the stomach lining, preventing the bacteria from attaching when contaminated food or water is consumed. The supplement is approved for use starting at age 8 and also functions as an immunobiotic, helping regulate the body's immune response. Chilean biochemist and Ph.D. in biological sciences Apolinaria García led the research, using Lactobacillus fermentum as the base of the probiotic compound. Gastric cancer is among the most common cancers worldwide and ranks as the fourth-deadliest. Often called a "silent killer," its early symptoms are difficult to distinguish from more common and benign digestive conditions. Helicobacter pylori is found in about half the global population and is linked not only to gastric cancer but also to precursor conditions such as stomach ulcers and MALT lymphoma. In the United States, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 30,000 new stomach cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2025, with more than 10,000 deaths expected. In Latin America, countries such as Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia report some of the highest incidence rates and lowest survival rates for gastric cancer, said Dr. Patricio Mardónez, president of Chile's National Health Network. He noted that countries like Japan and South Korea have significantly reduced mortality through widespread early detection and screening programs. "Regionally, what was once a cancer seen mostly in people over 65 is now being detected in patients under 50," Mardónez said. While the exact causes behind the rise in gastric cancer diagnoses among younger people are still under investigation, several hypotheses have been proposed. Changes in diet and lifestyle may be contributing, including increased consumption of highly processed foods high in sodium and low in fresh fruits and vegetables. Sedentary behavior and obesity are also risk factors, along with prolonged use of medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPI), commonly prescribed for acid reflux.
UPI
4 days ago
- UPI
Chilean scientists develop probiotic to help prevent stomach cancer
Chilean scientists develop the world's first patented probiotic shown to prevent gastric cancer. File Photo by Billie Jean Shaw/UPI May 30 (UPI) -- Scientists at the University of Concepción in Chile have developed the world's first patented probiotic designed to prevent gastric cancer. The oral supplement is 93.6% effective and targets Helicobacter pylori, a key bacterial factor in the disease. The probiotic forms a protective coating along the stomach lining, preventing the bacteria from attaching when contaminated food or water is consumed. The supplement is approved for use starting at age 8 and also functions as an immunobiotic, helping regulate the body's immune response. Chilean biochemist and Ph.D. in biological sciences Apolinaria García led the research, using Lactobacillus fermentum as the base of the probiotic compound. Gastric cancer is among the most common cancers worldwide and ranks as the fourth-deadliest. Often called a "silent killer," its early symptoms are difficult to distinguish from more common and benign digestive conditions. Helicobacter pylori is found in about half the global population and is linked not only to gastric cancer but also to precursor conditions such as stomach ulcers and MALT lymphoma. In the United States, the American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 30,000 new stomach cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2025, with more than 10,000 deaths expected. In Latin America, countries such as Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia report some of the highest incidence rates and lowest survival rates for gastric cancer, said Dr. Patricio Mardónez, president of Chile's National Health Network. He noted that countries like Japan and South Korea have significantly reduced mortality through widespread early detection and screening programs. "Regionally, what was once a cancer seen mostly in people over 65 is now being detected in patients under 50," Mardónez said. While the exact causes behind the rise in gastric cancer diagnoses among younger people are still under investigation, several hypotheses have been proposed. Changes in diet and lifestyle may be contributing, including increased consumption of highly processed foods high in sodium and low in fresh fruits and vegetables. Sedentary behavior and obesity are also risk factors, along with prolonged use of medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPI), commonly prescribed for acid reflux.
