A research team has discovered two new species of frogs described as “glass frogs”. They also determined that these frogs, which live in the Andes in Ecuador, are near extinction. Glass frogs sure look surreal. Frogs with translucent skin allow us to observe their internal organs in action.
The newly identified species were named Mashpi glass frog (Hyalinobatrachium mashpi) and Nouns glass frog (Hyalinobatrachium nouns). A closer look at their DNA reveals that they are separated from other frogs and are a different species. The research paper was published in the journal PeerJ.
Frogs live in forests where agriculture and mining threaten their environment. Scientists are concerned about pollution and habitat loss, and he says, “If a mining company comes along and destroys the few streams we know these frogs exist in, they’re likely to go extinct.”
Glass frogs highlight the biodiversity of the Andes and show how much there is to learn about mountain animals. You can watch glass frogs, a wonder of nature, in the video below:
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