A new species of toad has been recorded by scientists on the slopes of Cerro Candelaria, Located in the Ecuadorian province of Tungurahua. This discovery, led by experts from the Ecominga Foundation, INABIO, the San Francisco University of Quito, and the Amazon Regional University Ikiam, reinforces Ecuador's importance as a key area for Andean biodiversity. The species was named Osornophryne backshalli in honor of the renowned British naturalist Steve Backshall, who has supported various conservation actions in the region.
The discovery has been published in the scientific journal PeerJ and follows years of systematic botanical and herpetological research in the upper Pastaza River basin, an area of vital ecological importance. Steve Backshall's Bearsapo, as it is colloquially known, is a clear example of the still unexplored wealth of Ecuador's cloud forests.
Distinctive features of the new toad
The new species, Osornophryne backshalli, is notable for its small size and very particular details in its morphologyMales reach lengths of between 22 and 29 mm, while females can measure between 30 and 35 mm. Its dorsal skin has a pattern of conical warts, an olive-brown hue, dotted with striking yellow spots, while the belly shows an arrangement of irregular yellow spots on a dark brown background.
One of the most outstanding features of this amphibian is the triangular papilla located at the tip of the snout, accompanied by a discontinuous line of tubercles on the sides of the back. Furthermore, the fifth toe of the hind limbs is particularly short compared to similar species of the same genus.
A genus exclusive to the Andes and its evolution
The genus Osornophryne is endemic to the northern Andes of South America, with species found at altitudes between 2.000 and 4.000 meters in regions such as Colombia and Ecuador. O. backshalli represents the twelfth recognized species of the genus and extends its distribution beyond previously assumed limits, like the Pastaza River, which was believed to constitute an insurmountable biogeographic barrier.
The researchers' work included detailed morphological, osteological studies and genetic analysis, which confirmed the belonging of this species to the Osornophryne macaw group, with which it maintains a close relationship but with evident anatomical and coloration differences.
Habitat and conservation
The toad is found in evergreen cloud forests, at altitudes ranging between 2.568 and 2.725 meters above sea level. The species appears to have a low population density, since only a limited number of specimens have been documented over more than ten years of monitoring in the area.
The environment where it lives is made up of dense vegetation of palms, trees full of epiphytes and a thick layer of leaf litterThese environments are included in protected areas such as the Cerro Candelaria Reserve, part of the Llanganates-Sangay Connectivity Corridor, and Finca Palmonte, a private reserve affiliated with the Socio Bosque program.
Considering the scarce information on population and distribution, The species has been proposed as “Data Deficient” (DD) on the IUCN Red ListHowever, the places where it has been recorded currently benefit from legal protection and individual conservation initiatives.
