Seven new species of frogs discovered in Madagascar

An international team of researchers has discovered seven new species of tree frogs that emit supernatural cries in the rainforests of Madagascar. Their strange, high-pitched whistles sound more like the sound effects from the science fiction series “Star Trek.” As a result, the researchers named the new species after seven of the most iconic species in the series. The work was published in Vertebrate zoology.

If you think all frogs croak, you’re wrong. Seven newly discovered species of the genus Boophis, found in the rainforests of Madagascar, emit special bird-like whistles when communicating with other frogs.

These whistles reminded the research team led by Professor Miguel Vences of Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany, of Star Trek, where sound effects similar to a whistle are frequently used.

“That’s why we named the frogs after Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer, Burnham and Pike, seven of the most iconic captains in the science fiction series,” explains Professor Vences.

“Not only do these frogs sound like Star Trek sound effects, but it also seems fitting that finding them often requires a bit of hiking. A few species are found in places accessible to tourists, but finding them for many of these species, we had to undertake great expeditions to remote forest fragments and mountain peaks. There is a real feeling of discovery and scientific exploration here, which we believe is in the spirit of Star Trek. “, explains assistant professor Mark D. Scherz of the university. from the Natural History Museum of Denmark at the University of Copenhagen, who was the lead author of the study.

To drown out the sound of the water

The otherworldly calls of these frogs are known as “advertising calls” – a type of self-promotion that researchers believe can convey information about the male frog’s suitability for mating with females. This particular group lives along fast-flowing streams in Madagascar’s most mountainous regions – a noisy background that may explain why the frogs call at such high pitches.

For Star Trek fans, some frog calls might remind them of the sounds of the “bosun’s whistle” and a device called a “tricorder.” To others, they might look like a bird or an insect.

“If frogs croaked like our familiar European frogs, they might not be audible over the sound of rushing water in the rivers they live near. Their high-pitched trills and whistles stand out against all that noise,” says Dr. Jörn Kohler. , senior curator of vertebrate zoology at the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, Germany, who played a key role in analyzing frog calls.

“Until now, the frogs’ appearance has led to them being confused with similar species, but each species makes a distinct series of these high-pitched whistles, which has allowed us to distinguish them from each other and from other frogs. ” he said.

The calls also matched the genetic analysis performed by the team.

Vulnerable to climate change

Madagascar is renowned for its immense biodiversity and research in its rainforests continues to uncover hidden species, making it a veritable frog paradise. Madagascar, an island the size of France, is home to about 9% of all frog species in the world.

“We have only scratched the surface of what Madagascar’s rainforests have to offer. Every time we enter the forest we find new species, and in terms of frogs alone, there are still several hundred species that we have not yet described.” » says Professor Andolalao Rakotoarison of the University of Itasy in Madagascar. In the last ten years alone, she and the rest of her team have described around 100 new species from the island.

The researchers behind the discovery hope this new knowledge will strengthen conservation efforts in Madagascar’s rainforests. Species often live in close geographic proximity, but at different altitudes and in different microhabitats. This division makes them particularly vulnerable to climate or environmental changes.

Thus, the research team calls for greater awareness about the conservation of Madagascar’s biodiversity to ensure that these unique species and their habitats are preserved for the future. But they also hope to continue exploration, looking for new species in forests where no scientist has gone before.