Science News Hubb
Advertisement
  • Home
  • Science News
  • Technology
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Science News
  • Technology
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
Science News Hubb
No Result
View All Result
Home Technology

New Species of Frog Named After the Hobbit Author, J.R.R. Tolkien

admin by admin
February 17, 2023
in Technology



Deep in the jungles of Ecuador lives a creature with pale, pink eyes, long, sticky webbed fingers, greenish-gray skin and a black and yellow speckled belly. At first glance, it seems like a creature one would find in a fantasy world. And that’s precisely the reason researchers decided to name the newly-discovered stream frog after the Father of Modern Fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien. 

“In a stream in the forest, there lived a Hyloscirtus. Not a nasty, dirty stream, with spoor of contamination and a muddy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy stream with nothing in it to perch on or to eat: it was a Hyloscirtus-stream, and that means environmental quality,” say the study authors in the recent study, published in the journal ZooKeys (adapted from the opening of The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien).

The Finding of the Frog

The frog, Hyloscirtus tolkieni (or, the Río Negro Stream Frog), lives in the pristine waters that flow from the mountains through the Río Negro-Sopladora National Park — which was only recently declared a natural preserve and protected area in 2018.


Read More: 20 New Frog Species Found in Madagascar


Researchers Juan C. Sánchez-Nivicela, José M. Falcón-Reibán and Diego F. Cisneros-Heredia named the frog after their mutual love for Tolkien — who is most notable for writing The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. According to a press release, the vibrant colors of the frog reminded the researchers of the magnificent creatures from Tolkien’s fantasy world. 

Researchers have been exploring the park since 2020 and uncovered several species previously unknown to science. According to a press release, the park is located in the south of Ecuador and contains large forested areas that have yet to be studied. 

(Credit: Juan Carlos Sánchez-Nivicela / Archive Museo de Zoología, Universidad San Francisco de Quito)

“For weeks, we explored different areas of the Río Negro-Sopladora National Park, walking from paramo grasslands at 3,100 meters [about 10,200 feet] elevation to forests at 1,000 m [3280 feet]. We found a single individual of this new species of frog, which we found impressive due to its colouration and large size,” says Sánchez-Nivicela, associate researcher at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito and co-author of the study — where the frog is described.

What Makes the Río Negro Stream Frog so Precious

One can easily distinguish the Río Negro Stream Frog from its cousins by size and color. It’s larger by frog standards, about two and a half inches long, compared to other Ecuadorian frogs like the glass frog, which is about one and one-quarter inches long.

Besides the pale pink eyes, the Río Negro Stream Frog has a gray-green back and a golden-yellow underside. Black spots cover its belly, mouth and toes. According to the press release, the frog also has black bars and spots on its fingers and toes and broad skin stripes. 

“The truth is that the tropical Andes are magical ecosystems where some of the most wonderful species of flora, funga and fauna in the world are present. Unfortunately, few areas are well protected from the negative impacts caused by humans. Deforestation, unsustainable agricultural expansion, mining, invasive species, and climate changes are seriously affecting Andean biodiversity,” says Cisneros-Heredia, director of the Museum of Zoology of the Universidad San Francisco de Quito and co-author of the study. 

Researchers have only studied one frog, stating that more research is needed to better understand the frog’s habitat and life history. Because nearly 57 percent of Ecuadorian amphibian species are threatened by extinction, researchers say it’s vital to explore new habitats where these frogs may exist and assess if long-term conservation methods need to be put into place to protect them. 



Source link

Previous Post

RSV Vaccines That Work? | The Scientist Magazine®

Next Post

UFO’s Look A Lot More Like Spying Than Extraterrestrials

Next Post

UFO's Look A Lot More Like Spying Than Extraterrestrials

Recommended

Psychedelics may improve mental health by getting inside nerve cells

February 17, 2023

Save a massive $760 Black Friday off this Autel EVO II V2 Pro drone bundle

November 25, 2022

Don't miss it

Science News

T. rex may have had lips like a modern lizard’s

March 31, 2023
Science News

Glymphatic system: The brain may flush out its waste products after a mental workout

March 31, 2023
Science News

Watch a clip from the next-to-last episode of ‘Hello Tomorrow!’ (video)

March 31, 2023
Technology

Northern Lights Dance across U.S. because of ‘Stealthy’ Sun Eruptions

March 31, 2023
Technology

Scientists Find Footprints Older Than the Dinosaurs

March 31, 2023
Technology

New Synthetic E. coli Is Immune to Bacteriophage Infection

March 31, 2023

© Science News Hubb All rights reserved.

Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement unless specified. By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • Science News
  • Technology
  • Contact us

Newsletter Sign Up

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Science News
  • Technology
  • Contact us

© 2022 Science News Hubb All rights reserved.