{"id":43528,"date":"2024-11-05T12:41:54","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T11:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/00ff6296-1b5b-44a3-8fec-bfa90ae1fd47"},"modified":"2024-11-05T14:27:28","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T13:27:28","slug":"it-underwent-what-we-call-miniaturisation-bizarre-new-toad-with-missing-body-parts-discovered-in-brazilian-rainforest","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/it-underwent-what-we-call-miniaturisation-bizarre-new-toad-with-missing-body-parts-discovered-in-brazilian-rainforest\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cIt underwent what we call miniaturisation\u201d: bizarre new toad with missing body parts discovered in Brazilian rainforest"},"content":{"rendered":"

The newly described species of flea toad, found in the Atlantic Forest of S\u00e3o Paulo state, is the second smallest vertebrate in the world. <\/p>

By Daniel Graham\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 05 November 2024 at 11:41 AM<\/p>

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Scientists have discovered a new species of flea toad on the coast of S\u00e3o Paulo state in Brazil.<\/strong><\/p>

The tiny amphibian<\/a> is less than 7mm long, making it the second smallest vertebrate on Earth.<\/p>

The toad has been named Brachycephalus dacnis<\/em> (B. dacnis<\/em>), after Project Dacnis, an NGO focused on conservation, research and education that safeguards stretches of Atlantic Rainforest.<\/p>

The new species of flea toad was found in Ubatuba, on the coast of S\u00e3o Paulo state in Brazil\/Getty <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

What is a flea toad?<\/h2>

Flea toads are tiny amphibians in the genus\u00a0Brachycephalus<\/em>\u00a0that measure less than a centimetre in length \u2013 that’s smaller than a fingernail.<\/p>

\u201cThere are small toads with all the characteristics of large toads except for their size,” explains Lu\u00eds Felipe Toledo, corresponding author of the article (published in PeerJ<\/a><\/em>) and a professor in the Institute of Biology. “This genus is different. During its evolution, it underwent what we biologists call miniaturisation, which involves loss, reduction and\/or fusion of bones, as well as fewer digits and absence of other parts of their anatomy.\u201d<\/p>

B. dacnis<\/em>\u00a0is the seventh flea toad in\u00a0Brachycephalus<\/em> \u2013 a genus previously celebrated for its vibrant and toxic species, such as the pumpkin toadlet, known for its striking colours.<\/p>

\"Flea
B. dacnis is 7mm long\/Lucas Machado Botelho, Projeto Dacnis <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

Meet the new species: Brachycephalus dacnis<\/em><\/h2>

The discovery of\u00a0B. dacnis<\/em>\u00a0was guided by its distinct vocalisations, which set it apart from\u00a0B. hermogenesi<\/em>, a similar species that shares its yellowish-brown colour and habitat in the leaf litter of the Atlantic Rainforest.<\/p>

Both of these species skip the tadpole stage and emerge from their eggs as tiny replicas of their adult form, but their calls \u2013 and, as DNA analysis confirmed, their genetic makeup \u2013 are different.<\/p>

However, scientists believe\u00a0B. dacnis<\/em>\u00a0may also be present in Picinguaba, where\u00a0B. hermogenesi<\/em>\u00a0was first described in 1998, hinting that historical DNA analysis could reveal even more about this cryptic species.<\/p>

\"Brachycephalus
B. dacnis male \u2013 note the missing digits\/Bornschein et al. <\/figcaption> <\/figure>

To make\u00a0B. dacnis<\/em>\u00a0distinct from its relatives, the researchers documented its skeletal structure, internal organs and unique vocalisations. Such thorough descriptions are crucial in distinguishing miniature species, which often appear nearly identical externally, says Toledo.<\/p>

\u201cThe diversity of these miniature frogs may be far greater than we think. Hence the importance of describing as many traits and features as possible, to expedite the description process and get to work on conservation as quickly as possible,\u201d Toledo concludes.<\/p>

Main image: Atlantic Rainforest in Ubatuba, Brazil<\/em><\/p>

More wildlife stories from around the world<\/strong><\/p>