The stump-toed frog, which is only 1cm in length, was found in the forests of Madagascar’s Sahamalza, the north-western region of the island country, according to a new study published two days ago, titled “A new stump-toed frog from the transitional forests of NW Madagascar (Anura, Microhylidae, Cophylinae, Stumpffia) ” on ZooKeys. 

ZooKeys is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal which hopes to boost research and free information exchange in understanding the evolution of animals.

Scientists Angelica Crottini, Gonçalo M. Rosa, Samuel G. Penny and four others involved in the research suggest that the newfound species be placed on the critically endangered list after citing major threats to its habitat.

The scientists illustrate that the frog is only found in three forest patches, and these locations are being ravaged by fire, drought and deforestation.

“Habitat loss and fragmentation of these forest fragments is likely the greatest threat to this species’ survival,” the study claims.

For them, Stumpffia froschaueri should be as critically endangered and placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List since it meets all of their criteria.  

“Given this ongoing destruction of suitable habitat, population declines can be expected to continue unless some remedial action is taken. Thus the species should qualify as critically endangered,” the study goes on to state.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Madagascar hosts 250,000 different species of fauna and flora, of which 70% are not found anywhere else in the world. 

African News Agency (ANA)