Recently Discovered Poison Dart Frog Honors Afro-Colombian Musical Heritage
Recently, scientists have identified a new species of poison frog living in the tropical forests of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. Despite its habitat's severe deforestation and pollution, these tiny, vibrant frogs were surprisingly abundant. They are roughly 0.7 inches long, easy to spot due to their daytime activity and preference for marshes and streams.
Unique to this species is its yellow-orange blotch on one side and rare mating call. Unlike other frogs in the area, it emits a single, distinctive call rather than a series of notes. Initially discovered by herpetologist Rebecca Tarvin, during her graduate research on poisonous frog toxins in Colombia, this fascinated creature had been mistaken for a similar, but strikingly different, local species.
Tarvin, joined by fellow researcher Mileidy Betancourth-Cundar, had first collected a suspected new species sample eight years ago. Their recent return to Colombia yielded more samples, leading them to better understand its unique attributes. To describe the species, they collected and cataloged a holotype specimen and assigned it the scientific name Epipedobates currulao, after the popular Afro-Colombian musical style.
This species belongs to the genus Epipedobates, which is considered the most recently evolved group of poisonous frogs in South America. Understanding how its chemical defenses evolved is an ongoing interest for Tarvin's research, which involves comparing poison frogs to other venomous animals to unlock the mechanisms behind their toxins.
The discovery of the new species allows us to observe the evolution of poisonous frogs firsthand. Its unique coloration and mating call indicate a step towards developing the brilliant warning coloration associated with other poison dart frogs. The march of evolution never ceases, even in our own backyards, and our neighborhoods house hidden surprises waiting to be discovered.
- The new species of poison frog, named Epipedobates currulao, is impacted by climate change and environmental toxins in its habitat, despite its resilience and abundance.
- The Afro-Colombian musical culture's influence extends beyond music, as researchers Tarvin and Betancourth-Cundar named the new frog species after the popular style currulao.
- The tiny, vibrant Epipedobates currulao nurse frog, a new species to science, is easily identifiable with its yellow-orange blotch and distinctive mating call.
- The discovery of this new amphibian species in Peru, Colombia, and Ecoador highlights the importance of preserving tropical forests, which are under threat from deforestation and pollution.
- Tarvin's ongoing research focuses on understanding how poison frogs in the genus Epipedobates, including the new species, develop their chemical defenses against predators, drawing parallels with venomous animals.
- The unique yellow-orange blotch and mating call of the Epipedobates currulao could contribute to the development of the bright warning coloration and chemical defenses typical of poison dart frogs.
- The grrlscientist, Rebecca Tarvin, and her colleague Mileidy Betancourth-Cundar made significant contributions to the field of herpetology by discovering the New World's latest poison dart frog species, BCF5DC253653194EC16806A83B71F3F4, found at an elevation of 1800m.
