‘Bright yellow' forest creature with ‘powerful' call discovered as new species
Its source turned out to be a new species.
A team of researchers spent 20 years doing 'extensive field work' in French Guiana, an overseas territory of France along the northeastern coast of South America, 'in an effort to better understand the extraordinary diversity of this region,' according to a study published July 28 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy.
During some of these wildlife surveys, researchers encountered a few 'cryptic'-looking frogs, the study said. At first, researchers identified these frogs as a known species, but years later, they decided to take a closer look.
The team analyzed the frogs' DNA, examined their appearances and noticed several subtly yet consistently unique features, the study said. Researchers realized they'd discovered a new species: Pristimantis flavus, or the yellow rain frog.
Yellow rain frogs can reach about an inch in length, the study said. They have 'large,' 'copper'-colored eyes, and fingers with 'expanded' discs.
Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin word for 'yellow' because of its 'vivid' appearance.
Photos show the color variation of the new species, which changes 'depending on light and/or temperature conditions.' The frogs 'are paler at night than during the day' but still retain 'a distinct dark brown' line between their eyes, the study said.
Male yellow rain frogs make a 'short and powerful 'tk' sounds, similar to tongue clicks,' researchers said. 'Males were found calling in chorus, typically calling for about one minute … They then remain silent for another minute before starting to call again,' a cycle heard 'throughout the night.'
The new species is nocturnal and tree-dwelling, but much about the lifestyle and behavior of the new species remains 'unknown,' the study said. No female yellow rain frogs were found.
In general, rain frogs are 'difficult' to study because 'many of them' are 'only found in the forest canopy,' the study said. This 'peculiar ecology makes them difficult to observe and collect,' especially female frogs, which don't call like male frogs do.
So far, the new species has only been found at two sites within a disputed territory, controlled by French Guiana but claimed by Suriname, the study said. French Guiana also borders Brazil.
The research team included Alexander Tamanini Mônico, Elodie Courtois, Esteban Diego Koch, Michel Blanc, Maël Dewynter and Philippe Kok.
The team also discovered a second new species of rain frog.
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Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
‘Bright yellow' forest creature with ‘powerful' call discovered as new species
As darkness seeped into a forest in South America, a 'bright yellow' creature with 'large' eyes perched on the leaves and began calling. The 'powerful' sound caught the attention of nearby scientists — and for good reason. Its source turned out to be a new species. A team of researchers spent 20 years doing 'extensive field work' in French Guiana, an overseas territory of France along the northeastern coast of South America, 'in an effort to better understand the extraordinary diversity of this region,' according to a study published July 28 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. During some of these wildlife surveys, researchers encountered a few 'cryptic'-looking frogs, the study said. At first, researchers identified these frogs as a known species, but years later, they decided to take a closer look. The team analyzed the frogs' DNA, examined their appearances and noticed several subtly yet consistently unique features, the study said. Researchers realized they'd discovered a new species: Pristimantis flavus, or the yellow rain frog. Yellow rain frogs can reach about an inch in length, the study said. They have 'large,' 'copper'-colored eyes, and fingers with 'expanded' discs. Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin word for 'yellow' because of its 'vivid' appearance. Photos show the color variation of the new species, which changes 'depending on light and/or temperature conditions.' The frogs 'are paler at night than during the day' but still retain 'a distinct dark brown' line between their eyes, the study said. Male yellow rain frogs make a 'short and powerful 'tk' sounds, similar to tongue clicks,' researchers said. 'Males were found calling in chorus, typically calling for about one minute … They then remain silent for another minute before starting to call again,' a cycle heard 'throughout the night.' The new species is nocturnal and tree-dwelling, but much about the lifestyle and behavior of the new species remains 'unknown,' the study said. No female yellow rain frogs were found. In general, rain frogs are 'difficult' to study because 'many of them' are 'only found in the forest canopy,' the study said. This 'peculiar ecology makes them difficult to observe and collect,' especially female frogs, which don't call like male frogs do. So far, the new species has only been found at two sites within a disputed territory, controlled by French Guiana but claimed by Suriname, the study said. French Guiana also borders Brazil. The research team included Alexander Tamanini Mônico, Elodie Courtois, Esteban Diego Koch, Michel Blanc, Maël Dewynter and Philippe Kok. The team also discovered a second new species of rain frog.
Miami Herald
25-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Forest creature with ‘starry sky'-like pattern discovered as new species
In 'one of the wettest areas in southeastern Brazil,' a forest creature with 'fringed' feet sat in the rain and called out. Its 'large' copper eyes scanned the soggy ground, but it wasn't the only one looking around. 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.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Yahoo
The grisly discovery that shows our ancestors ate children
Human ancestors ate small children 850,000 years ago, a gruesome discovery has shown. Archaeologists working at the Gran Dolina cave site in Burgos, northern Spain, found a human neck bone belonging to a child aged between two and four years old, with clear butchery marks. The vertebra was found with other bones and teeth belonging to Homo Antecessor, considered to be the last common ancestor of both Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals, and who lived between 1.2 million and 800,000 years ago. Although cannibalism is well documented in early humans, experts say it is unusual to find a child being eaten and it marks the earliest evidence of the practice found to date. The site of the marks on the neck bone suggests the youngster was decapitated. 'This case is particularly striking, not only because of the child's age, but also due to the precision of the cut marks,' said Dr Palmira Saladié, the co-director of the Gran Dolina excavation of the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution. 'The vertebra presents clear incisions at key anatomical points for disarticulating the head. It is direct evidence that the child was processed like any other prey.' Other adult bones belonging to Homo Antecessor found at the site show evidence of defleshing marks and intentional fractures, similar to those found on animal bones consumed by humans. Experts say it suggests that 'early humans exploited their peers as a food resource' and may also have used cannibalism as a method of controlling territory. Homo Antecessor is the earliest human to move into Europe and was given the species name antecessor because it means 'pioneer' or 'early settler' in Latin. It was of stockier build than modern humans, with males ranging in height from 5.2ft to 5.9ft, but had some modern facial features, such as a hollowed cheekbones and a projecting nose, unlike earlier hominids. The earliest evidence of human cannibalism dates back to 1.45 million years where a butchered Homo Erectus bone was found in northern Kenya and it is likely the practice existed until relatively recently. Some archaeologists suggest that before formal burials, human populations would eat the dead as a funerary ritual. At Gough's Cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, human skulls were found that appeared to have been used as cups, dating from 15,000 years ago. Gnawed human bones were also excavated from the same period. Experts believe that, during the Ice Age, cannibalism would have been a good way of finding food in tough times while also removing rival groups and ritually absorbing their power. Hundreds of stone tools have been discovered previously at Gran Dolina, as well as human bones showing evidence of human chewing. 'What we are documenting now is the continuity of that behaviour: the treatment of the dead was not exceptional, but repeated,' added Dr Saladié, a specialist in prehistoric cannibalism. 'Every year we uncover new evidence that forces us to rethink how our ancestors lived, how they died, and how the dead were treated nearly a million years ago.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
