A photo from open sources
Scientists have discovered seven new species in the rainforests of Brazil tiny frogs, each smaller than a thumbnail. Miniature frogs live on isolated wet peaks rainforest.
Alpine habitat is isolated islands, therefore life frogs are exposed to such threat as change climate. Illegal deforestation and livestock breeding also pose a threat to the natural habitat of frogs.
Brightly colored frogs belong to the species brachycephalus – group amphibians inhabiting the rainforests of southern Brazil. Suspecting that perhaps even more of these frogs are hiding in southern atlantic forest, scientists led by Marcio Pai went hiking in a remote, humid forest in the states Parana and Santa Katarina.
There they discovered a huge number of new species of frogs, including those seven species that are indicated in their report. The length of all frogs – less than 0.4 inches (one centimeter), while their bright color is similar on colored marmalades. According to scientists, such bright shades designed to warn predators of neurotoxins contained in the skin frogs. Scientists were lucky to see one of the frogs climbed on top of another for mating, in which the male climbs on the back of the female to impregnate her eggs while she releases it into the water.
All species of frogs that have been discovered live in grass and fallen foliage.
According to Marcio Pye and his colleagues, such a great success in the discovery of new species may mean that the total number of brachycephals still not definitive. Mountain Frog Habitat may be the key to their diversity. Separated by valleys which they cannot overcome, babies live their lives in isolated communities, interspecific crosses occur, and they evolve into completely different species than the frogs living behind outside the mountain peaks of the rainforest.
According to researcher Louise Ribeiro, this is only the beginning. Especially considering the fact that they have already discovered additional species and are in the process of their formal descriptions.
A life
