Scientists discover a mysterious new frog hiding in the Amazon

Scientists have identified a previously unknown frog species living in the seasonally flooded forests of the western Amazon. Named Adenomera varcena , the species adds to growing evidence that Amazonian biodiversity is even richer than it appears.

The discovery also highlights the importance of cryptic diversity, in which animals that look nearly identical can actually belong to separate species. Researchers distinguished the new frog by combining several lines of evidence, including its DNA and distinctive call.

The findings were published in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology . The research team includes C lio F. B. Haddad, a professor at S o Paulo State University (UNESP), and Thiago R. Carvalho, a professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). Both are part of the Center for Research on Biodiversity Dynamics and Climate Change (CBioClima), a Research, Innovation, and Dissemination Center (RIDC) funded by FAPESP.