This “new” frog was hiding in plain sight for 100 years
Scientists have formally identified a common frog species, Pristimantis milpe, which had been misclassified for over a century. By re-examining historical specimens at the Natural History Museum in London, researchers corrected a long-standing taxonomic error.
Why it matters
It highlights the critical importance of museum collections and accurate taxonomy in understanding global biodiversity.
Scientists at the Pontificia Universidad Cat lica del Ecuador have formally described Pristimantis milpe , a common and widespread frog that spent more than a century being mistaken for another species. The mystery was resolved by studying specimens collected in Ecuador during the 19th century and preserved at the Natural History Museum in London.
The finding stands out because many newly described species are rare or confined to small areas. Pristimantis milpe , by contrast, is widespread, relatively easy to find, and readily detected by its nighttime call. Its known range covers more than 67,000 square kilometers across the Choc forests of western Ecuador and southern Colombia, from sea level to elevations of 1,200 meters.
The formal description appears in the international journal ZooKeys , which focuses on biodiversity and taxonomy.
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