New Peru marsupial frog Gastrotheca mittaliiti found
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- Gastrotheca mittaliiti was discovered in the mountainous Amazonas region of the Peruvian Amazon bordering Ecuador.
- Gastrotheca mittaliiti measures 2.7 to 3.3 centimeters (1 to 1.3 inches) and is bright green with small protuberances on its back.
- Gastrotheca mittaliiti carries its eggs in a pouch on its back, allowing it to nurture its young without aquatic environments.
- Manuel Oliva, director of the Ceja de Selva Research Institute for Sustainable Development, warned the species is at high risk due to climate change and farmer‑started fires.
- Zootaxa published the study, which involved collaboration with Florida International University and the University of Seville.
- Researchers say the number of wild specimens is unknown, highlighting limited knowledge of its population.
Why it matters: The frog’s high‑risk status highlights how climate‑driven habitat loss and farmer‑initiated fires are endangering newly documented species, putting the Ceja de Selva Research Institute’s conservation goals at stake and underscoring the urgency for protective measures in the Peruvian Amazon for scientists and local communities.
