Nocturnal ‘coffee frog’ discovered in Costa Rica

A recently discovered species of tiny, nocturnal frog has been found in Costa Rica's central Pacific region, specifically within coffee plantations. This unique amphibian, referred to as the "spring frog" or 'coffee frog,' measures under four centimeters in length and boasts dark green spots. The species, considered new to science and endemic to Costa Rica, was observed by AFP reporters in San Lorenzo de Tarrazu.

The Costa Rican researchers, including Wagner Chaves-Acuna from the University of Costa Rica and the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research in Argentina, identified the frog as a distinct tree frog species. Notably, male frogs possess a translucent throat that inflates during their short, high-pitched nighttime calls. These frogs are most active at night, often singing while perched on coffee shrubs.

Frogs generally thrive in shaded, moist environments with access to food, primarily small insects. However, their diet is limited to the insects present in the coffee plantation habitat rather than the coffee berries themselves. Chaves-Acuna cautions that the use of pesticides in coffee farming could potentially pose a threat to these small amphibians.

He explains that these chemicals can travel through the air, seep into the soil, and enter aquatic systems where the frogs' tadpoles develop, thus posing a significant risk to the species.