Yahoo – AFP,
March 9, 2016
Bogota (AFP) - A new species of terrestrial frog with yellow eyebrows has been found in Colombia's East Andes, researchers announced.
Pristimantis macrummendozai frog was discovered in the Iguaque Merchan paramos, Colombia's East Andes (AFP Photo) |
Bogota (AFP) - A new species of terrestrial frog with yellow eyebrows has been found in Colombia's East Andes, researchers announced.
The
Pristimantis macrummendozai was discovered in the Iguaque Merchan paramos, an
Alpine ecosystem, north of the town of Arcabuco in the central department of
Boyaca, according to the Humboldt Institute, which worked on the study in
collaboration with the Environment Ministry.
The
discovery "places Colombia among the five most biodiverse countries in the
world," said Andres Acosta, curator of the Humboldt Institute's biological
collections.
Researchers
said on Tuesday the frog has a skin with folds that retain humidity, and that
its dark color helps it blend well with the rocky soil of this mountainous
region.
"Unlike
other species, the Pristimantis macrummendozai reproduces well in the humidity
of the paramos region, laying its eggs in the ground," the Humboldt
Institute said in a statement.
The frog's
front legs have sticky pads similar to velcro that allow the male to keep its
grip on the female during reproduction.
The Humboldt
Institute noted that with this latest discovery, there are now 10 known species
of high-altitude frogs in the East Andes, home to 16 paramos regions such as
the Chingaza, Santurban, Almorzadero and Cundinamarca.
Frog with yellow eyebrows discovered in Colombia https://t.co/r04pVM2O9J pic.twitter.com/NDSYB1BYQt— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 9, 2016
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