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New frog species named after J.R.R. Tolkien – Hello Hyloscirtus tolkieni!

Hyloscirtus tolkieni stream frog named after .R.R. Tolkien

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”

J.R.R. Tolkien

A new species of frog from the Andes in Ecuador has been named after J.R.R. Tolkien, the creator of Middle-earth and author of famous works such as “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings.” The researchers named the new species Hyloscirtus tolkieni, inspired by the amazing colors of the frog that reminded them of the magnificent creatures from Tolkien’s fantasy worlds.

Stream frogs are a group of amphibians found in the high Andes of several South American countries, including Ecuador, and they are closely connected to the pure rivers and streams in the mountain areas. The Río Negro Stream Frog is relatively large (65mm long) with a greyish green back with yellow spots and black specks, a pale pink and black iris, and golden yellow belly with large black spots.

The stream frog lives in the streams of the Río Negro-Sopladora National Park, a recently declared protected area in Ecuador that preserves thousands of hectares of nearly untouched forests and many undiscovered species. A single individual of this new species was found during an expedition in the park.

The authors of the study agree that it is important to study the new species and its population to assess its risk of extinction. They also suggest exploring new sites where more populations may exist and assessing the impact of threats such as climate change and mining on its long-term conservation.

Discovering new species is crucial for supporting global conservation efforts and revealing the wealth of biodiversity linked to countless natural resources and environmental services. Amphibians, for example, play important roles in controlling pests and maintaining the stability of nature. Unfortunately, 57% of amphibian species in Ecuador are at risk of extinction.

Image Credits

In-Article Image Credits

Hyloscirtus tolkieni stream frog named after .R.R. Tolkien via Pensoft Publishers by Juan Carlos Sánchez-Nivicela / Archive Museo de Zoología, Universidad San Francisco de Quito with usage type - Creative Commons License

Featured Image Credit

Hyloscirtus tolkieni stream frog named after .R.R. Tolkien via Pensoft Publishers by Juan Carlos Sánchez-Nivicela / Archive Museo de Zoología, Universidad San Francisco de Quito with usage type - Creative Commons License

 

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