College Student discovers new amphibian species in Ecuador

College Student discovers new amphibian species in Ecuador

Alejandro Arteaga, a 19 year old student of Biology in the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), discoverer of a new species of frog that is believed to date found only in Ecuador.

This amphibian, dubbed Bamboo’s Cutino, measured between 20 and 25 millimeters in length, its body is brown, which serves to camouflage themselves from predators and has red spots and yellow s abdomen and legs. The discovery took place in Mazar Wildlife Reserve, located in Canar, around the Sangay National Park.

Arteaga, a Venezuelan national, visited the reserve in 2009 for the first time the conviction would find a new species not yet discovered. The following year, Arteaga finalized a visit for research purposes and with the support of the Fundación Cordillera Tropical and PUCE. After three weeks of study, we identified this species, named Cutino Bamboo (Bamboo Pristimantis).

The studies were conducted in the U.S., where it was confirmed that there had been prior to the DNA of a frog with red spots and yellow legs and abdomen. With this certification, along with Juan Arteaga Guayasamín, Doctor of Biology and Professor of Indo Tech University, spreads the description of the species in the scientific journal Zootaxa. The article was included in the May issue. (BG)