This Kermit look-alike is the first glass frog species discovered in Costa Rica since 1973. Diane's Bare-hearted glass frog (
Hyalinobatrachium dianae), was highlighted in February's issue of
Zootaxa. At about 2.5 cm in size, this little creature is uniformly green in dorsal coloration while exhibiting a striking translucent underside. The purpose of this organ revealing underside has yet to be revealed by scientists. These glass frogs call the high hanging tree canopies of Central and South American rain forests home, only descending from these canopies to find a mate. Males are described as fiercely territorial, often physically engaging other male competitors for territory and mating partners. Steve Whitfield, an expert in Costa Rican frog species, mentions that this specie's environment is a bit of a double edged sword. On the one hand, the mountainous region of Costa Rica (400-800 meters above sea-level) is an ideal geographic location for amphibious creatures. That being said, this altitude is also home to the deadly skin attacking chytrid fungus which has in some cases decimated endemic frog species since the 1980s. This dangerous fungus as well as increasing deforestation are legitimate threats to the survival of not only this frog species but for the survival of biodiversity on an ecosystem scale.
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What has caused this adaptation in glass frog species?
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By Ralph Martins, National Geographic PUBLISHED April 21, 2015. "New Species of See-Through Frog Found, Looks Like Kermit." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 21 Apr. 2015. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.
3 comments:
This frog looks very cool! Thanks for the pictures!
What a gorgeous frog!!
The revealing underside could be adaptive? What an interesting thought! I wonder what the see through skin of this species belly shows to potential mates? Maybe allowing mates to somehow determine a more fit individual? This seems like an interesting topic for future research!
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