A new species of frog, Pristimantis paganus, has been identified in two protected provinces in Ecuador, raising concerns about its habitat's vulnerability due to illegal mining and climate change.
A recently published study in the journal PeerJ details the discovery of a new frog species, Pristimantis paganus, characterized by its black back and marbled belly, found in the Napo and Pastaza provinces of Ecuador. This endemic species inhabits the Colonso Chalupas Biological Reserve and the Llanganates National Park, thriving in cloud forests and high mountain ecosystems ranging between 2,100 and 2,500 meters above sea level.
The study highlights that while viable populations of Pristimantis paganus, including males, females, and juveniles, have been found within Ecuador's National System of Protected Areas (SNAP), these habitats are at risk from external pressures such as illegal mining, deforestation, and climate change. The threat posed by these human activities could lead to declines in the populations of this unique frog species.
Given these environmental challenges, the researchers advocate for the frog to be classified as 'near threatened' according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) scale. This classification underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect this newly identified species and its fragile ecosystem from further degradation, ensuring the survival of Pristimantis paganus in its natural habitat.
