Latest news with #Ranitomeya
Forbes
18-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
New To Science Blue-Striped Poison Frog Discovered In Brazil
An international team of scientists announced their recent discovery of a colorful new poison frog in a remote place deep in the Amazon rainforest. Ranitomeya aetherea, a new poison frog species discovered in Brazil's Juruá River basin, an ... More under-sampled region. (Credit: A. T. Mônico / doi:10.1371/ Researchers from the Institute of Amazonian Research, in collaboration with a colleague from the National Museum of the Czech Republic, report they have discovered a new species of poison frog in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. The National Institute of Amazonian Research, lovated in Manaus, is a public educational and research institution that was founded in 1952, with the purpose of furthering scientific knowledge of the Brazilian Amazon Region. Despite possessing toxic skin alkaloids, poison frogs (Family: Dendrobatidae) have long been favorites because of their bright colors and patterns and their complex parental care behaviors. For these reasons, these tiny frogs are intensively studied, and this scientific attention has led to the discovery of a number of species that are new to science. And yet, these frogs still possess many mysteries: for example, the genus Ranitomeya is comprised of only 16 species that we know about and further, no new Ranitomeya species have been discovered and described in more than a decade. This is even more puzzling when one learns that Ranitomeya species experienced a diversification burst around 4–6 million years ago (ref). Where are all these other species? It is known that Ranitomeya species live in the northern part of South America, in the Andean foot-hills and in the Amazonian rainforest, and most of the currently recognized species are known to have a narrow geographic range (ref). Some of them appear to have low genetic variability and a conserved morphology (ref), whereas others have evolved multiple external color patterns. So recognizing new species is challenging. Finding new species is also challenging. For example, the researchers flew in a small plane to remote site in Brazil, then embarked on a 10-hour boat trip into the Juruá River basin, followed by a long hike into the rainforest in the company of local guides who also worked alongside them. The team ended up in an area dominated by palm trees, when they heard and saw the new frog species. The meandering Juruá River, a photo taken from the International Space Station. The Juruá River basin, which contains some of the world's most pristine rainforest, is one of the least accessible and least sampled regions in all of Amazonia (ref). It is thought to harbor an unusually high diversity of vertebrates that are still unknown, protected by the region's remoteness and difficult terrain. The team collected 26 individuals of the new frog species, including five tadpoles, and recorded the advertisement calls of seven male frogs. Its call was unique; consisting of 16 to 35 notes that lasts for eight to 16 milliseconds. Like most poison frogs, the adult frog is tiny; about the size of a human thumbnail. DNA was isolated from the new frogs and analyzed, and as predicted, revealed a new species of Ranitomeya. The new frog was named Ranitomeya aetherea, a name inspired by its dominant marking – long, sky-blue lines along the length of its body. The word 'aetherea' comes from the Latin meaning 'heavenly,' after the sky blue color of the dorsal side of the frogs. 'In addition, we attribute this name to one's feeling of enchantment and delicacy when encountering these frogs, as if they were from outside this world,' write the study's the authors (ref). Whilst still in the jungle during the rainy season of 2024, the researchers made detailed observations and recordings the frog's behavior in its natural habitat. They found the frogs were most active during the early and late parts of the day, although during the rainy season, they are active all day long. They also noted that the frogs tend to live among bananeira brava plants and often hide under fallen palm leaves. It is not known if this new species is endangered, but the researchers pointed out that the Jurua River area is poorly studied overall, so more frogs could be found if the area is better explored. Unfortunately, the Juruá River Basin and its wildlife are facing multiple, growing threats to their continued existence, as are all places on this planet. And yet, the team hope that discoveries such as this beautiful new frog may offer 'a glimmer of hope' in our troubling times. Esteban Diego Koch, Alexander Tamanini Mônico, Jussara Santos Dayrell, Anthony Santana Ferreira, Silionamã Pereira Dantas, Jiří Moravec, Albertina Pimentel Lima (2025). A remarkable new blue Ranitomeya species (Anura: Dendrobatidae) with copper metallic legs from open forests of Juruá River Basin, Amazonia, PLoS One 20(5):e0321748 | doi:10.1371/ © Copyright by GrrlScientist | hosted by Forbes | Socials: Bluesky | CounterSocial | Gab | LinkedIn | Mastodon Science | Spoutible | SubStack | Threads | Tribel | Tumblr | Twitter
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
From lost cities to eerie ‘ghost dogs' – six mysterious discoveries from deep inside the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon is one of the planet's last great wildernesses, stretching across nine countries in South America. It has been a source of mystery and legends for centuries, and is home to poisonous creatures, lost cities and even a boiling river. 7 The Amazon basin is home to a variety of poisonous creatures Credit: Getty 7 Earlier this year, a huge ancient city was uncovered in the Amazon, changing completely what researchers knew about the history of people living there Credit: Stephen Rostain 7 This LIDAR image provided by researchers in January 2024 shows complexes of rectangular platforms arranged around low squares and distributed along wide dug streets at the Kunguints site, Upano Valley in Ecuador Credit: AP 7 Discovered in still-isolated parts of the jungle, the Ranitomeya aetherea - a blue frog with copper legs and spots on its head - is just 15 mm long Credit: Koch et al., 2025, PLOS One, CC-BY 4.0 Deadly creatures The Amazon basin is home to a variety of poisonous creatures. There are roughly over 100 species of poison dart frogs, at least 17 species of venomous snakes, and other dangerous animals like the Brazilian wandering spider, Amazonian giant centipede, and electric eel. Earlier this week, wildlife researchers from Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia in Brazil announced they had discovered a new species of poisonous dart frog. Discovered in still-isolated parts of the jungle, the Ranitomeya aetherea - a blue frog with copper legs and spots on its head - is just 15 mm long. READ MORE ON WILDLIFE The small-but-deadly new creature is one of two Ranitomeya discovered over the past decade. Lost cities Earlier this year, a huge Hidden for thousands of years by lush vegetation, the lost city hosted houses and plazas, connected by winding networks of roads and canals. While researchers knew of mountainous or hillcrest cities, like Machu Picchu in Peru, it was believed that people only lived nomadically or in tiny settlements in the low-lying jungle. Most read in Tech Located in the Upano area in eastern "This is older than any other site we know in the Amazon," Professor Stephen Rostain, director of investigation at the National Centre for Scientific Research in France and research lead, said at the time. "We have a Eurocentric view of civilisation, but this shows we have to change our idea about what is culture and civilisation." Archeologists believe it was built around 2,500 years ago, and was inhabited for up to 1,000 years. Exactly how many people lived there at any one time is hard to say - but it is certainly in the 10,000s, if not 100,000s. Antoine Dorison, who co-authored a study with Rostain on the lost city, added: "It changes the way we see Amazonian cultures. "Most people picture small groups, probably naked, living in huts and clearing land - this shows ancient people lived in complicated urban societies." 7 These pups are so rare that even lifelong residents of the Amazon might never see one Credit: Galo Zapata-Rios and WCS 'Ghost dogs' Rumours of a short-eared dog sniffing around the Amazon had baffled scientists for years - so much so they have earned the nickname 'ghost dogs'. These pups are so rare that even lifelong residents of the Amazon might never see one. Although if you're lucky enough to catch one - it will be somewhere south of the Amazon River and east of the Andes Mountains. Much of what is now known is thanks to Renata Leite Pitman, a biologist and veterinarian who actually owned one herself. In 2009, Pitman heard of a short-eared dog puppy being sold to a logger at a market. But the dog's buyer had second thoughts when it started eating the neighbours' chickens - and relinquished ownership to Pitman. The pup, named Oso - meaning bear, would attract other short-eared dogs on walks through the rainforest with Pitman. These walks allowed scientists to observe the animals interacting for the very first time. Scientists learned that short-eared dogs eat meat and fish, as well as a variety of fruits, including Brazil nuts, forest açaí, breadnuts, and eggfruits. 'Ghost dogs', while rare, are believed to play an important role in spreading the seeds of many plants and trees. River of boiling water Shanay-Timpishka - also known as the river of boiling water - is not one you'd want to dip your toes in. With temperatures of up to 98-110°C (208.4-230°F), the Shanay-Timpishka can cause severe burns in seconds. The scalding waters, found in the Peruvian Amazon, are caused by geothermal activity. 7 With temperatures of up to 98-110°C (208.4-230°F), the Shanay-Timpishka can cause severe burns in seconds Credit: Getty 7 Often referred to as the "Queen of the Amazon", the green anaconda can reach up to 8.8m (29ft) in length Credit: Alamy Monster snakes The green anaconda rules the rainforest. Often referred to as the "Queen of the Amazon", these snakes can reach up to 8.8m (29ft) in length. But earlier this year, researchers discovered that examples of the famous green anaconda were actually two distinct species thought to have split almost 10million years ago. Although they look identical, they are genetically very different, a 17-year-long study revealed. The differences in their DNA is as much as five per cent. For context, the difference between humans and our ape relatives is roughly two per cent. Scientists have suggested defining the two by their localities - the northern green anaconda, scientifically known as Eunectes akayima, and the southern green anaconda, or Eunectes murinus.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Science
- The Sun
From lost cities to eerie ‘ghost dogs' – six mysterious discoveries from deep inside the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon is one of the planet's last great wildernesses, stretching across nine countries in South America. It has been a source of mystery and legends for centuries, and is home to poisonous creatures, lost cities and even a boiling river. 7 7 7 7 Deadly creatures The Amazon basin is home to a variety of poisonous creatures. There are roughly over 100 species of poison dart frogs, at least 17 species of venomous snakes, and other dangerous animals like the Brazilian wandering spider, Amazonian giant centipede, and electric eel. Earlier this week, wildlife researchers from Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia in Brazil announced they had discovered a new species of poisonous dart frog. Discovered in still-isolated parts of the jungle, the Ranitomeya aetherea - a blue frog with copper legs and spots on its head - is just 15 mm long. The small-but-deadly new creature is one of two Ranitomeya discovered over the past decade. Lost cities Earlier this year, a huge ancient city was uncovered in the Amazon, changing completely what researchers knew about the history of people living there. Hidden for thousands of years by lush vegetation, the lost city hosted houses and plazas, connected by winding networks of roads and canals. While researchers knew of mountainous or hillcrest cities, like Machu Picchu in Peru, it was believed that people only lived nomadically or in tiny settlements in the low-lying jungle. Located in the Upano area in eastern Ecuador, it is now considered the oldest city in the Amazon. "This is older than any other site we know in the Amazon," Professor Stephen Rostain, director of investigation at the National Centre for Scientific Research in France and research lead, said at the time. "We have a Eurocentric view of civilisation, but this shows we have to change our idea about what is culture and civilisation." Archeologists believe it was built around 2,500 years ago, and was inhabited for up to 1,000 years. Exactly how many people lived there at any one time is hard to say - but it is certainly in the 10,000s, if not 100,000s. Antoine Dorison, who co-authored a study with Rostain on the lost city, added: "It changes the way we see Amazonian cultures. "Most people picture small groups, probably naked, living in huts and clearing land - this shows ancient people lived in complicated urban societies." 7 'Ghost dogs' Rumours of a short-eared dog sniffing around the Amazon had baffled scientists for years - so much so they have earned the nickname 'ghost dogs'. These pups are so rare that even lifelong residents of the Amazon might never see one. Although if you're lucky enough to catch one - it will be somewhere south of the Amazon River and east of the Andes Mountains. Much of what is now known is thanks to Renata Leite Pitman, a biologist and veterinarian who actually owned one herself. In 2009, Pitman heard of a short-eared dog puppy being sold to a logger at a market. But the dog's buyer had second thoughts when it started eating the neighbours' chickens - and relinquished ownership to Pitman. The pup, named Oso - meaning bear, would attract other short-eared dogs on walks through the rainforest with Pitman. These walks allowed scientists to observe the animals interacting for the very first time. Scientists learned that short-eared dogs eat meat and fish, as well as a variety of fruits, including Brazil nuts, forest açaí, breadnuts, and eggfruits. 'Ghost dogs', while rare, are believed to play an important role in spreading the seeds of many plants and trees. River of boiling water Shanay-Timpishka - also known as the river of boiling water - is not one you'd want to dip your toes in. With temperatures of up to 98-110°C (208.4-230°F), the Shanay-Timpishka can cause severe burns in seconds. The scalding waters, found in the Peruvian Amazon, are caused by geothermal activity. 7 7 Monster snakes The green anaconda rules the rainforest. Often referred to as the "Queen of the Amazon", these snakes can reach up to 8.8m (29ft) in length. But earlier this year, researchers discovered that examples of the famous green anaconda were actually two distinct species thought to have split almost 10million years ago. Although they look identical, they are genetically very different, a 17-year-long study revealed. The differences in their DNA is as much as five per cent. For context, the difference between humans and our ape relatives is roughly two per cent. Scientists have suggested defining the two by their localities - the northern green anaconda, scientifically known as Eunectes akayima, and the southern green anaconda, or Eunectes murinus.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Two new poisonous frog species discovered: Scientists issue warning
Image credits: X/@ehehe__he, @HerpsInTheNews In a shocking and intriguing discovery, two new species of poison dart frogs have been identified by scientists in the remote Brazilian Amazon , highlighting how little is truly known about the biodiversity in the rainforest. The discoveries were published in ZooKeys and PLOS One, revealing that these species are in the genus Ranitomeya, which hasn't been seen for more than a decade. The journey towards a discovery Reaching the newly discovered frogs required a challenging journey which began with a small plane flight followed by a 10-hour boat ride in the Juruá River, near the Brazil-Peru border. Identifying these frogs required more effort than just visual inspection, as they are nearly identical. 'Very distinct species can have the same appearance: the same colours and the same pattern,' explained Koch. He added that the situation is further complicated because 'sometimes a single species can have multiple patterns of colour.' Thus, to confirm their findings, scientists performed genetic sequencing, detailed morphological measurements under microscopes and acoustic analyses of mating calls. According to the results, both species occupy different branches on the evolutionary tree, confirming they are separate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDs กับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้ | เรียนรู้เพิ่มเติม IC Markets สมัคร Undo Ranitomeya Aquamarina Image credits: X/@ehehe__he The first species, Ranitomeya Aquamarina, also known as the "metallic poison frog", is notable for its unique turquoise stripes against a jet-black body. These frogs often appear in pairs, indicating a monogamy that is rare in amphibians. They tend to stay together for long periods, which is not typical for dart frogs. Ranitomeya Aetherea Image credits: X/@HerpsInTheNews The second species is called Ranitomeya aetherea, known for its sky blue stripes on a brick red body. Both species measure roughly about 15 to 17 millimetres, about the diameter of a dime, making them among the tiniest poison dart frogs ever documented. Unlike the species above, the Ranitomeya aetherea males are typically solitary and engage in frequent advertising calls to attract females, who don't stay in one spot for long. While these discoveries mark a significant addition in the identification of rare Amazon species, their existence is threatened by the rapid deforestation being carried out in the area. Since they are found in small volumes in areas just a few miles apart, they are vulnerable, and their exact conservation status still remains unknown.
