Forest creature with ‘starry sky'-like pattern discovered as new species
Nearby scientists spotted the 'robust' animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar in southern Brazil several times between 2013 and 2022 to survey its amphibians, according to a study published July 9 in the peer-reviewed journal Herpetologica.
During the searches, researchers found a few unfamiliar-looking frogs with a unique call, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals, analyzed their DNA and realized they'd discovered a new species: Paratelmatobius stellaris, or the starry rapids frog.
Starry rapids frogs have 'robust' bodies measuring less than an inch in length, the study said. Their 'copper-colored' eyes are 'large and protuberant,' and their snouts are 'rounded.' They have 'robust' arms with 'short' fingers and 'medium-sized' legs with 'fringed' feet.
A photo shows the brown coloring of the new species. Its back is scattered with 'whitish and greenish flecks,' the study said. Overall, it appears to blend in with the surrounding leaf.
Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin word meaning 'star; stellar, (or) starry' because its belly coloring 'resembles a starry sky.' A photo shows the frog's stomach, which has a 'gray or brown background with small white blotches and flecks.' Its arms have orange blotches.
Starry rapids frogs live in 'dense' mountain forests 'with an average annual rainfall exceeding 3,300 mm (about 10 feet),' the study said. 'In December 2021 we visited the area during periods of intense rainfall (the rain paused only briefly throughout our fieldwork).'
Researchers found two frogs near the park lodging; both 'were vocalizing in the leaf litter.'
Based on the limited number of specimens and the area being 'well-sampled,' the new species 'appears to be a rare species,' but the team recommended further surveys to confirm, the study said.
So far, starry rapids frogs have only been found at the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar which is a roughly 250-mile drive southwest from Rio de Janeiro.
The new species was identified by its call sound, finger shape, coloring, feet shape and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 5% genetic divergence from related species.
The research team included Marcus Thadeu Santos, Lucas Vilela, Brenda Carvalho, Igor Silva, Miguel Rodrigues, Paulo Garcia, Thiago Carvalho and Célio Haddad.
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