{"id":2187751,"date":"2025-07-26T12:00:29","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T11:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2187751"},"modified":"2025-07-26T09:08:28","modified_gmt":"2025-07-26T08:08:28","slug":"three-new-frog-species-discovered-as-scientists-trek-to-remote-peaks-in-the-andes-where-no-roads-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/three-new-frog-species-discovered-as-scientists-trek-to-remote-peaks-in-the-andes-where-no-roads-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Three New Frog Species Discovered as Scientists Trek to Remote Peaks in the Andes Where No Roads Go"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three new types of frogs were discovered during off-road scientific expeditions in the remote cloud-shrouded peaks of the Andes.<\/p>\n

The secretive amphibians were found between 2021 and 2024 in the Cordillera de Huancabamba mountains of northern Peru\u2014in forests and mountain trails with no road access.<\/p>\n

The species were recently confirmed and named, and each one tells a different story, according to the team\u2019s findings published in the journal Evolutionary Systematics.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re small and unassuming, but these frogs are powerful reminders of how much we still don\u2019t know about the Andes,\u201d said Peruvian herpetologist Germ\u00e1n Ch\u00e1vez, who led the research.<\/p>\n

Pristimantis chinguelas, discovered on a cliffside, has a body dotted with prominent large tubercles on both sides.<\/p>\n

Its high-pitched \u201cpeep\u201d can be heard on humid nights, reported the researchers.<\/p>\n

P. nunezcortezi lives near a cool mountain stream in a regenerating forest.<\/p>\n

\"New
New frog species in Peru \u2013 Pristimantis nunezcortezi (via SWNS)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With large black blotches on axillae and groins, it was named in honor of ornithologist Elio Nu\u00f1ez-Cortez, a conservation trailblazer in the region.<\/p>\n

P. yonke, the smallest of the three, was found nestled in bromeliads at a chilly altitude of nearly 3,000 meters (9,800 feet).<\/p>\n

Its name was a nod to \u2018yonque,\u2019 a sugarcane spirit consumed by locals to brave the highland cold.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Cordillera de Huancabamba mountains in the Andes of northern Peru-SWNS science study<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Study co-author Karen Victoriano-Cig\u00fce\u00f1as said, \u201cExploring this area is more than fieldwork \u2013 it\u2019s an immersion into wilderness, culture, and resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of these mountain ridges are isolated, with no roads and extreme terrain,\u201d said co-author Ivan Wong.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weather shifts within minutes, and the steep cliffs make every step a challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no wonder so few scientists have worked here before\u2014but that\u2019s exactly why there\u2019s still so much to find.\u201d<\/p>\n

The number of individuals in the species is unknown, but co-author Wilmar Aznaran points out that the Cordillera de Huancabamba is not just a remote range.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a living archive of biodiversity and cultural legacy. And we\u2019ve barely scratched the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n

This article<\/a> was first published by Good News Network on 13 July 2025. Lead Image: New frog species Pristimantis chinguelas found in Peru \u2013 Ivan Wong \/ SWNS.
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Wildlife in catastrophic decline<\/h2>\n

The 73% decline in vertebrate wildlife populations during the last 50 years (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish), is primarily driven by human activities that threaten biodiversity.<\/p>\n

Habitat Loss and Degradation<\/em> – human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture have led to the destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats, reducing the space and resources available for wildlife.<\/p>\n

Pollution<\/em> – air, water, and soil pollution from industrial activities, agriculture, and other sources can harm wildlife directly or indirectly by affecting their habitats and food sources.<\/p>\n

Climate Change<\/em> – changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and sea levels are disrupting ecosystems and impacting species’ ability to adapt and survive.<\/p>\n

Overexploitation of Resources<\/em> – unsustainable hunting, fishing, and logging practices can lead to the depletion of populations and the loss of biodiversity.<\/p>\n

Invasive Species<\/em> – the introduction of non-native species can disrupt ecosystems, compete with native species, and threaten their survival.<\/p>\n