Meet the newly discovered frog with a 3-centimetre body and a big ‘secret’

Within a new study conducted in Peru, scientists have uncovered a previously unknown miniature marsupial frog species, Gastrotheca mittaliiti. And, although it measures only 2.7-3.3 centimetres, it has turned amphibian biology upside down. Found in the isolated mountainous region of the Peruvian Amazon, the species' great secret' is to utilise a unique method of reproduction. Rather than developing their eggs in water like other (typical) frogs, this species' female has developed a sophisticated method of spawning where she has her young develop in her back, where there is an enclosed, natural and safe area for them to live until they reach developmental autonomy. As a result, this marsupial adaptation allows this particular frog to mitigate environmental pressures from the attention of increasing climate change threats, as well as increasing habitat destruction in the high-altitude rainforest ecosystems in which it resides. The discovery of Gastrotheca mittaliiti highlights the urgent need for expanded conservation efforts to protect the Andes' unique, undiscovered biodiversity.The Gastrotheca mittaliiti has a distinct brood pouch that distinguishes it as the ‘marsupial’ species it is named after. The female frog utilises this organ to raise her developing embryos, according to the NAMPA. This pouch is crucial for the survival of frogs in the mountainous region of Amazonas, which borders Ecuador, as there are often few or dangerous sources of standing water. By carrying the tadpoles on her back, this species of frog, which is 3 centimetres in length, greatly increases her ability to produce the next generation without relying on the use of water as a nursery.A study published in Phys, classified this species as being at ‘high risk.’ With lengths of just 2.5-3.5 centimetres, Gastrotheca mittaliiti are distinctive due to their bright green colouration and the presence of small bumps over their entire body. However, Agence France-Presse (AFP) notes that their specialised habitat is being threatened by the impacts of climate change and human-caused fires. Finding a tiny, soft-bodied creature measuring only three centimetres long in a dense rainforest was made possible by utilising highly advanced technologies, including both acoustic monitoring and DNA analysis methodologies, from the University of Seville. Part of the scientific team's use of (bio) acoustics involved recording the unique (as opposed to being part of) ‘species’ of the ‘Gastrotheca mittalelti,' recorded (as opposed to being a single call), knowing both the timing and frequency of this species of frog's vocalisations. Once all this data had been collected, it was used to triangulate the position of this species in the canopy of the rainforest. This project at ICDS demonstrates the value of utilising modern technology to help better understand ‘cryptic species’.