New-to-science Amazon frog stands out for its slow ‘lazy’ song
Scientists recently described a new species of a tiny brown frog found in the Amazonian floodplain forests of Ecuador and northwestern Brazil. It looks nearly identical to related species but its slow, widely spaced out call sets it apart, researchers note in a study. “I’ve had to get into arguments because people said the frog […]
In a recent study, scientists have identified a new species of tiny brown frog inhabiting the Amazonian floodplain forests of Ecuador and northwestern Brazil. This frog, named Adenomera varcena, bears a striking resemblance to related species, yet its unique slow-paced, widely spaced vocalization distinguishes it from the rest. Lead author Marianna Borburema, an undergraduate student at the Federal University of Minas Gerais and a researcher at the University of São Paulo, passionately defended her subject matter to Mongabay, proclaiming the frog's beauty and cuteness despite being labeled "ugly" by others.
The frog's evolutionary trajectory, however, has not been dictated by its appearance but rather by its song, making it a cryptic species. Measuring between 22 to 24 millimeters in length, the Adenomera varcena sports a brown skin tone adorned with dark blotchy patterns. Borburema's focus on the frog's auditory features led her to spend three weeks analyzing their sounds.
Evolutionary pressures, according to her, are more pronounced in the call rather than the frog's appearance, as the female's interest lies in the song. While related species tend to vocalize frequently, sometimes reaching up to 70 notes per minute, the Adenomera varcena's song is notably slow, with only one to five notes per minute, the slowest rate ever documented.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
