A Conservation Leadership Programme supported expedition has discovered a new species of poisonous frog in a remote mountainous region in Columbia.
Washington, Aug 29 : A Conservation Leadership Programme supported expedition has discovered a new species of poisonous frog in a remote mountainous region in Columbia.
The frog, which is about two centimetres long, has been named the "golden frog of Supatá".
Initially, scientists thought the frog was similar to several other common species in the area. However, detailed analysis of the frog's characteristics, and a review of the study reports by Conservation International experts revealed that it belonged to a unique species, found only within a 20-hectare area in Colombia's Cundinamarca region.
Colombia is one of the world's richest countries in amphibian diversity, with more than 583 species.
Researchers say, as the frog is a recent discovery, and endemic only to the Cunidnamarca region, very little is known about it.
So far, the scientists know that the golden frog of Supatá belongs to a group of "dart fogs" that are known to be highly venomous.
In the coming months, scientists hope to have more information about the frog.
"The importance of this project is not just the discovery of the new frog," said Oswaldo Cortes, team leader and one of the winners of the 2007 Conservation Leadership Programme awards.
"But, most importantly, what this new discovery shows is how little we still know about our planet, and the many species that haven't yet been discovered. This is why it is so important to work with local communities and educate them about the need for conservation," he said.
ANI