Photo: German Chavez
Researchers have discovered a bizarre new species of frog in the Peruvian Amazon. The animal that goes by the name “Synapturanus daanta” was baptized has dark brown, chocolate-colored skin. The appearance of the animal is a bit reminiscent of the chocolate frogs in the Harry Potter films. Except that this is not a candy, but a real frog. The animal has a long, downward-curving snout and is about the size of a 50 cent coin. Researchers found the tiny frog during an inventory of the lower Putumayo Basin in the Amazon peatlands. The habitat in the Amazon is particularly threatened due to deforestation and agriculture. About a tenth of all animal species on earth live in the Amazon. New species are regularly discovered there. Like this curious frog… For the researchers, further proof that scientists and locals must work together to protect this region.