‘Territorial’ creature found near swampy water is discovered as new species in Amazon
Scientists walked along a northern portion of the Amazon. A high-pitched chirping sound pierced the air. As they approached a “swampy” stream, they encountered a “territorial” creature — and discovered a new species.
Researchers spent six years exploring the forests around an Amazon region known as the Guiana Shield, according to a study published June 6 in the journal Zootaxa. They surveyed Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil looking for unidentified or poorly documented amphibians.
Near some swampy waters in Suriname, the researchers encountered a “territorial” frog, the study said. Taking a closer look at the animal, they identified it as a new species of nurse frog: Allobates vicinus.
Allobates vicinus is a tiny, “cryptically-colored” frog, researchers said. It can reach about half an inch in size and has a “light brown” body with darker brown patches. A relatively well-defined brownish-black band runs down the frog’s sides. Its eyes are “metallic copper.”
Male Allobates vicinus frogs were generally smaller than females and had a lighter white underside, the study said. Females of the species had “bright yellow” undersides.
Researchers recorded the call of male Allobates vicinus frogs and described it as cricket-like chirp.
Allobates vicinus frogs were active during the day and “abundant” near swampy waters, the study said. Male frogs defended their territory and emitted an alarm-like call if an intruder approached.
The frog — whose name means “neighbor” in Latin — was found in several regions of Suriname but had a clear boundary along the Maroni River where it was “neighbor” to another frog species, the study said.
Allobates vicinus frogs were previously grouped with another species of frog based on molecular analysis. “Subtle” but consistent differences in morphology and calling behavior of Allobates vicinus frogs identify it as a distinct species, the researchers said.
Researchers described their approach as an “integrative” methodology for identifying different species.
While exploring a nearby region in French Guiana, researchers encountered another “territorial” frog along the bank of “mid-sized rivers.” They took a closer look and identified a second new species of nurse frog: Allobates ripicolus.
Allobates ripicolus is also a “small” and “cryptically-colored” animal, researchers said. It has a “light brown” coloring with a poorly defined band running down its side and “metallic gold” eyes.
Researchers found Allobates ripicolus frogs in southern areas of French Guiana, south Suriname and two neighboring Brazilian states. The frog was named for its preferred habitat, a Latin word for “river banks.”
A photo shows a frog actively calling from its perch, its throat area ballooning outward.
Allobates ripicolus frogs were previously considered an “undescribed species,” researchers said. Closer analysis of the frog’s distinct call and morphology identified it as a new species.
Despite the identification of two new species, “the actual number of undescribed species in the eastern Guiana Shield remains unknown,” the researchers said.
The research team included Antoine Fouquet, Miquéias Ferrão and Rawien Jairam.
Suriname is a country along the northern coast of South America and borders Guyana, French Guiana and Brazil. French Guiana is an “overseas department” of France, not an independent country.
This story was originally published June 14, 2023 at 4:23 PM with the headline "‘Territorial’ creature found near swampy water is discovered as new species in Amazon."
