This “new” frog was hiding in plain sight for 100 years

A common frog found across Ecuador and Colombia has finally been recognized as its own species after more than a century of mistaken identity. Museum specimens from the 1800s helped scientists reveal that Pristimantis milpe had been hiding in plain sight all along. This “new” frog was hiding in plain sight for 100 years.

Ron Scientists at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador have formally described Pristimantis milpe, a common and widespread frog that spent more than a century being mistaken for another species. The mystery was resolved by studying specimens collected in Ecuador during the 19th century and preserved at the Natural History Museum in London. The finding stands out because many newly described species are rare or confined to small areas.

Pristimantis milpe, by contrast, is widespread, relatively easy to find, and readily detected by its nighttime call. Its known range covers more than 67,000 square kilometers across the Chocó forests of western Ecuador and southern Colombia, from sea level to elevations of 1,200 meters. The formal description appears in the international journal ZooKeys, which focuses on biodiversity and taxonomy.