Brilliant New Frog, Salamander Species Found

A new species, the Bolitoglossa taylori salamander, was found during an ecological assessment in northwestern Colombia late last year, according to a report released Monday.



The salamander is just one of ten apparently new amphibians discovered during the survey, each species with its own intriguing adaptations--including spikes, see-through skin, and poison.

With 754 amphibian species on record, Colombia has one of the most diverse amphibian populations on Earth, according to the nonprofit Conservation International, which conducted the survey.



A camouflaged rain frog--a family of frogs known to call out to other members, even in a downpour--perches on a leaf in northwest Colombia. The frog, of the Pristimantis genus, is one of ten amphibian species discovered in this region in late 2008 that may be new to science, a February 2009 report says.

"Without a doubt, this region is a true Noah's Ark," said Jose Vicente Rodriguez-Mahecha, scientific director of Conservation International's Colombia office, in a statement.



This wide-eyed species is one of three so-called glass frogs discovered in Colombian rain forests in late 2008, Conservation International announced February 4, 2009.

The frog's natural habitat is threatened by forestry, cattle ranching, illegal farming, mining, and other development that fragments the natural landscape.