Scientists have identified a new type of tree frog in Costa Rica that lives among coffee trees, but it is now at risk due to chemicals used in farming. This frog, known by the nickname ‘spring frog’ and scientifically called Isthmohyla nacientes, is less than four centimeters long. Its body is covered in dark green spots, and it has a translucent throat that swells when males call out at night. Researchers found the frog in San Lorenzo de Tarrazú, a mountain village in the province of San José. These frogs prefer shady and humid places, often hiding among crops where they hunt small insects rather than eating coffee cherries. Although they are most often seen in coffee plantations, specimens have also been found far from farms.
The frog was first noticed in the 1960s but was mistaken for a different species until recent studies corrected that error, according to CBS News. Scientists from the University of Costa Rica and Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research contributed to the research. Wagner Chaves-Acuna, one of the researchers involved in the study, warned that pesticides used on coffee farms could harm these small amphibians, according to a report from carrollcountyobserver.com. He explained that chemicals can spread through the air and seep into the ground, eventually entering water systems where tadpoles grow, jang.com.pk reported.
In addition to pesticide use, this frog faces other dangers such as pollution from waste dumping and changes in natural habitats due to tourism. The National Alliance for the Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles (ANCAR) reported that the frog’s environment is under pressure from multiple threats.
Despite its small size and unique habitat preferences, this species plays an important role in local ecosystems. The discovery highlights how farming practices can affect wildlife even when those animals are not directly targeted by chemicals.
Conservationists continue to monitor the frog’s population and look for ways to protect its environment.
IMAGE: Digital News Report Art Department: Newly Discovered Coffee Frog in Costa Rica