Another "Lost" Amphibian Rediscovered (Via HerpDigest)

Another "Lost" Amphibian Rediscovered
Seer Press 8/29/10

The Science community is undoubtedly rejoicing over the rediscovery of another species that have long been regarded as almost non-existent in the past years but are just believed to be extinct. The campaign which was started by the Conservation International in its bid to find the "lost amphibians" is gradually paying off as one of the smallest frog in the whole world was spotted in the dense forests of Borneo.

Tagged by scientists as Microhyla nepenthicola, the amphibians compared to the size of a pea was seen near the location of a mountain in Kubah National Park. The scientists backing the claims are Indraneil Das and Alexander Haas. The former belongs to the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak while the latter is under the Biozentrum Grindel und Zoologisches Museum of Germany.

The frog's name was taken from a species of the pitcher plant scientifically known as Nepenthes ampullaria. The frog thrives on this plant as the pitcher plant's opening is an ideal location for the deposition of the frog's eggs. As expected, the tadpoles' ideal breeding place is the liquid accumulated in the space inside the plant. When they turn into adults, they could grow to half inch long and so, the search came as an adventure for the two scientists.

What gave way to the challenge is the call of these amphibians. Their singing remarkably started from sunset to early evening characterized by continuous croaking in between short pauses. Moreover, they do it inside or near the pitcher plants.

The said rediscovery hopefully will shed more light on the understanding of our experts in terms of the changes we experience in our environment nowadays. Amphibians are said to be sensitive when it comes to changes in their environment; that is why, today, records state that this group of animals continue to be in danger of becoming extinct even if their presence meant insect population control and freshwater system maintenance resulting to the reduction of diseases and crop damage.