The Search for the Lost Frogs Gets Results


Undescribed Beaked Toad. CI
Once a species is discovered, described, named, and cataloged in one of the world's museums it often sits there, ignored by most of the world. This is true of most animals, but birds and some mammals may be exceptions. Thus, described species may get lost both literally and figuratively. A literally lost species would occur when the museum specimens disappear from the museum; they may be misplaced, sent to another museum and lost by a researcher or someone else at that institution. A species may be figuratively lost after it has been described and no one can find it again in the field. Both situations happen more often than you would suspect. What follows is a heavily edited press release from Conservation International (CI) and it can be found by clicking HERE.

Conservation International has organized and launched an initiative they are calling "The Search for the Lost Frogs," which they are describing as a quest to rediscover several "lost" amphibians. Other organizations involved in this activity are the IUCN Amphibian Specialist Group (ASG), Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) and Fundación ProAves. The Search has produced some results since the initiative started in September, including some species that have not been previously described.

Field work in western Colombia has returned with three species of frogs believed new to science. The scientific expedition, led by CI's Amphibian Conservation Specialist Dr. Robin Moore, Dr. Don Church of GWC, and Colombian scientist Alonso Quevedo of Fundación ProAves, into Colombia to search for the long lost Mesopotamia beaked toad (Rhinella proboscideus) described by George Boulenger in 1882. The species has not been seen since the outbreak of World War I, and is categorized as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Despite a week of intensive field study scouring habitats from chilly cloud forests to steamy lowland rainforests in Colombia's Chocó and Antioquia departments, the lost species eluded the team.

"After spending several days searching for the Mesopotamia beaked toad with no success, the team's spirits were pretty low" said Moore, who has organized the Search for Lost Frogs for CI and the ASG, "but finding these new species, including a new beaked toad, was like a shot of adrenaline. We definitely left on a high." Dr. Moore added, "Finding three new species in such a short space of time speaks to the incredibly rich biodiversity of these relatively unexplored forests and highlights their importance for conservation. Protecting these habitats into the future will be essential to ensure the survival of both the amphibians and the benefits that they bring to ecosystems and people." What they did find  was two new species of toads (Family Bufonidae) and a new species of Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobatidae), some details follow.

New species of beaked toad – genus Rhinella, found in the rainforests of Chocó department of Colombia, In addition to its strange appearance, the beaked toad is rather unusual in that it probably skips the tadpole stage, laying eggs on the forest floor that hatch directly into toadlets. The coloration and shape of the head make the toad resemble the dead leaves on which it lives, and the only two individuals found were no larger than 2 cm in length. Moore commented on this toad, “As for the new beaked toad, it is easily one of the strangest amphibians I have ever seen. Its long pointy snout-liked nose reminds me of the nefarious villain, Mr. Burns, from The Simpsons television series."

They also found a new toad species of an undetermined genus.  It inhabits the forest floor; this toad is 3 to 4cm in length, with striking bright red eyes. This highly unusual species has scientists baffled – they know nothing about this species other than where it lives. It was found at 2,000 m elevation in the Chocó montane rainforest. In describing the new mystery toad, Dr. Moore said, "I have never seen a toad with such vibrant red eyes. This trait is highly unusual for amphibians, and its discovery offers us a terrific opportunity to learn more about how and why it adapted this way." A new species of rocket frog – genus Silverstoneia was also collected.

The Search, which is taking place in 19 countries on five continents, has also led to the rediscovery of three species in the past few months, including: a Mexican salamander not seen since it was discovered in 1941, a frog from the Ivory Coast not seen since 1967 and another frog from Democratic Republic of Congo not seen since 1979.

The first phase of the Search for the Lost Frogs campaign will continue through the end of 2010, with further rediscoveries expected this year. The search for the Mesopotamia beaked toad also continues. Thanks to support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the four organizations involved in the Colombian search have hired a team of young researchers to explore the mountains of Colombia in search of this and other lost species.


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