On the heels of the 10 new frog species discovered in Colombia, scientists have found approximately 200 new species of frogs in Madagascar. In fact, the recent discovery may not be the last, according to Professor David R. Vieites, CSIC researcher at the Spanish National Natural Sciences Museum in Madrid:
“the diversity of species in Madagascar is far from being known and there is still a lot of scientific research to be done. Our data suggest that the number of new species of amphibians not only has been underestimated but it is spatially widespread, even in well studied areas. For example, two of the most visited and studied National parks, Ranomafana and Mantadía/Analamazaotra, harbour 31 and 10 new species respectively.”
This exciting discovery includes some pretty cool new frogs.
If you like frogs and haven’t seen it yet, set your Tivo for Almighty Amphibians, a one-hour show on Animal Planet. The show profiles several frogs, toads, and salamanders, such as the Cane Toad and Goliath Frog.
It is a cool show and moves quickly. You’ll see some very unusual frogs!
Researchers in Colombia have discovered ten new amphibian species, including three types of “glass frogs” known for their transparent skin. The new species were found during a three-week study conducted by Conservation International and the Ecotropico Foundation in Columbia.
Besides the three glass frogs, scientists found three types of poison dart frogs, two new rain frogs, a harlequin frog, and a new type of salamander. The new species are not believed to exist anywhere else in the world. The scientists cited the study as a sign of hope for species facing extinction.
Jose Vicente Rodriguez-Mahecha, scientific director of Conservation International Colombia, said: “Without a doubt, this region is a true Noah’s Ark.
“The high number of new amphibian species is a sign of hope, even with the serious threat of extinction that this animal group faces in many other regions of the country and the world.”
The Water Holding Frog is a most unusual frog. It lives in a dry area of Australia and makes the most of its limited exposure to rain. During rainy season, it can gain 50% additional weight in water, then it can survive for two years or more without coming back up to the surface for additional food or water!
For years, frogs have helped humans make key scientific advancements to improve the quality of life for us all. They have helped with HIV research, pregancy research, and now, cancer research. Scientists studying South African Clawed Frog (Xenopus Laevis) tadpoles – not to be confused with the African Dwarf Frog – have discovered a compound which prohibits the movement of pigment cells as the frog grows into an adult.
As a result of these pigments being blocked, the adult frog does not grow up with its usual greenish-brown color. It is the uncontrolled movement of these pigment cells in both humans and frogs that causes a form of skin cancer. According to the study, understanding how to block these cells could lead researchers to better understand how to prevent tumors from developing and spreading.
On the heels of the 10 new frog species discovered in Colombia, scientists have found approximately 200 new species of frogs in Madagascar. In fact, the recent discovery may not be the last, according to Professor David R. Vieites, CSIC researcher at the Spanish National Natural Sciences Museum in Madrid:
