Silvery creature hiding in spiky plants of Madagascar turns out to be new species

In central Madagascar, a “soft chirp-like” sound competed for attention in the noisy forest. The sound came from a silvery creature hiding in a spiky plant. When scientists tracked down the calling animal, they also discovered a new species.

Researchers ventured into the forests around Andasibe on several wildlife surveys in 2022, according to a study published Jan. 8 in the journal Zootaxa. They had a very specific goal in mind: survey the frogs living in screw pine trees.

Within the “long, pointed leaves” of screw pine trees, researchers found six frogs that did not match any known species, the study said. Taking a closer look at the animals, they realized they’d discovered a new species: Guibemantis rianasoa, or the beautiful waterfall frog.

Beautiful waterfall frogs are considered “small,” usually measuring less than an inch in length, researchers said. They have “dull greenish” bodies, “slender” limbs and “silvery blotches” on their sides.

Photos show two Guibemantis rianasoa perched on leaves. The frogs have golden eyes and blue-tinged legs that look almost like a starry galaxy design.

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Researchers said they named the new species after the Malagasy words “riana,” meaning “waterfall,” and “soa,” meaning “beautiful,” because its coloring looked like the “colors of water reflecting forest vegetation.”

Beautiful waterfall frogs live in the spiky leaves of screw pine trees and were “regularly heard” emitting a “soft chirp-like” call from the plants, the study said.

Miguel Vences, the study’s lead co-author, told McClatchy News that co-authors Hugh Gabriel, an undergraduate student, and Andolalao Rakotoarison “did an amazing job in the field amongst the super spiny leaves.”

Guibemantis rianasoa has only been found in two neighboring areas, Andasibe and Fierenana, the study said. These areas are about 60 miles east of Antananarivo, the capital city.

Researchers suggested that the new species went overlooked because of its size or, when encountered, misidentified as juvenile frogs of another known species.

The new species was identified by its coloring, habitat, size and call sound, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had more than 5% genetic divergence from other species of frog.

The research team included Hugh Gabriel, Laila-Denise Rothe, Jörn Köhler, Sandratra Rakotomanga, Devin Edmonds, Pedro Galán, Frank Glaw, Richard M. Lehtinen, Andolalao Rakotoarison and Miguel Vences.

The researchers also discovered two more new species of frog, one with a “golden brown” color and one with “orange-brown” spots.

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