New species of voiceless frog discovered in Tanzania
UC researchers found the frog while looking for another amphibian
Researchers discovered a new species of frog in Africa that has an unusual trait: it’s completely silent.
The Ukaguru spiny-throated reed frog does not croak, sing or ribbit. Found in Tanzania’s Ukaguru Mountains for which it is named, Hyperolius ukaguruensis is among the few frogs around the world that do not vocalize to other frogs.
The new species belongs to a group of “spiny throated” reed frogs, which true to their name have tiny spines on the male’s throat. Since they can’t rely on sound to recognize members of their species, they might use spines instead.
“It’s a very odd group of frogs,” said Lucinda Lawson, a conservation biologist and assistant professor of research at the University of Cincinnati.
“The male frogs don’t call like most other frogs do. We think they may use the spine as something like Braille for species recognition,” Lawson said. “Without a call, they need some other way to recognize each other.”
This group of frogs has only a few species, found in small populations that make them rare and at risk of extinction. Finding a new member of this group is a major win for conservation, Lawson said.
The discovery was described in the journal PLOS ONE.
Lawson in 2019 led an international team on an amphibian search of the Ukaguru Mountains, where scientists have conducted at least seven previous surveys. They were hoping to find the beautiful tree toad, Churamiti maridadi, an amphibian that has only been observed twice in the wild in this same forest and is feared extinct.
“Our hopes were not very high. We knew the odds were stacked against us,” said study co-author H. Christoph Liedtke, a postdoctoral researcher with the Spanish National Research Council.
Researchers scoured undisturbed streambanks both day and night, documenting their search with handheld global-positioning satellite receivers. They looked under logs and in tree holes in an area of forest used by beekeepers, poachers and small-scale loggers.
They also set pitfall traps made of plastic buckets buried at ground level to catch amphibians that hide under the leaf litter. Researchers consulted with local foresters and distributed photos of the toad to nearby residents hoping someone — anyone — might have seen it.
While researchers never found the toad, they came across a locally abundant population of reed frogs unknown to science.
“Time spent looking for the beautiful tree toad yielded unexpected results. It was a fantastic finding that made the effort well worth it,” Liedtke said.
We think about this question a lot: why does one species matter?
Lucinda Lawson, UC assistant professor of biology
The newly discovered reed frog joins a family of nearly 200 species in the genus Hyperolius. Lawson said they immediately recognized they had found something special.
“With any Hyperolius, I can probably tell by looking at it whether it’s new or potentially new,” Lawson said.
“Immediately it was clear that it was a spiny-throated reed frog. But this one was a golden, greenish brown instead of the green color found in the other species,” Lawson said. “Sometimes color variation doesn’t mean anything, but it might here.”
A combination of genetic and genomic analyses confirmed the frog was distinct from other members of Hyperolius. Researchers also identified its closest evolutionary relation, Hyperolius ruvuensis, another species that is critically endangered and is likely extinct.
Measurements found that the frog has unique body proportions, with smaller eyes in relation to its head than other spiny-throated reed frogs.
Describing a species is the first step toward protecting it, particularly in increasingly fragmented forests like those in the Ukaguru Mountains, Lawson said.
According to the study, the newly discovered frog could be of high conservation concern.
“The Mamiwa-Kisara North Forest Reserve is a T-shaped remnant forest,” Lawson said. “It has a lot of edge effects from people cutting firewood. There are all sorts of pressures on this forest. It’s easy to cross the whole thing in just a few hours of hiking.”
Knowing how many species exist and where is critical to conservation, Liedtke said.
“The Ukaguru Mountains are part of the greater Eastern Arc Rift, a fascinating cradle of biodiversity, with many species endemic to single mountain blocks,” Liedtke said. “The fast population growth in Tanzania means that the mountain forest habitats are under growing threats from people.”
Amphibians are especially susceptible to human impacts. Since they absorb chemicals through their skin, they are vulnerable to toxins or changes in water acidity.
“If a bird’s habitat is destroyed, they sometimes can fly to a new forest. But that’s hard for amphibians,” Lawson said.
Having a diverse number of species is important to maintain healthy ecosystems, Lawson said.
“We think about this question a lot: why does one species matter?” Lawson said.
Frogs are part of the food chain. They eat insects and, in turn, are eaten by other animals.
“If this one species goes extinct, nothing much happens. We just lose one more strand in the fabric of the ecosystem,” Lawson said. “But if you keep pulling out strands, the ecosystem becomes destabilized and the fabric unravels.”
Co-author Simon Loader, curator of vertebrates at London’s Natural History Museum, said he was thrilled to help describe a new species. The discovery shows how much more there is to learn about diversity-rich parts of the world.
“We still have a long way to go before understanding what species are there and where they can be found,” he said. “This is particularly the case for the biodiverse-rich submontane forests of Tanzania.”
Also contributing to the study were UC biology graduate Erin Siemer and doctoral student John Lyakurwa of the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
Featured image at top: An international team of biologists described a new species, the Ukaguru spiny-throated reed frog, found in Tanzania's Ukaguru Mountains. Photo/Christoph Liedtke
Next Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Cincinnati researchers want to know if MRIs can work better
June 28, 2024
WVXU and the Cincinnati Business Courier highlighted a new collaboration between the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, UC Health GE HealthCare, JobsOhio, REDI Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s to create an MRI Research and Development Center of Excellence located on UC’s medical campus.
UC 1819 Innovation Hub workshop spreads AI awareness
June 28, 2024
Microsoft and Disrupt Now joined forces to run a June 24-27 seminar at UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub teaching Cincinnati residents how to responsibly use AI.
Free Wi-Fi, work area coming to Greater Cincinnati
June 27, 2024
St. Lawrence Park in Price Hill now has free Wi-Fi and a furnished outdoor space for community members to access digital needs. The space is part of The Nodes Project, which stands for “Neighborhoods of Design Engagement": a collaboration between UC DAAP communication designers and community entities.
Study aimed at reducing opioid overdose deaths presents results
June 27, 2024
The University of Cincinnati's John Winhusen and Caroline Freiermuth discussed the evidence-based practices implemented during the HEALing Communities Study to fight the opioid epidemic with Spectrum News.
UC alum credits journalism program with early success
June 26, 2024
Zachary Jarrell came to the University of Cincinnati in 2019 to pursue a degree in statistics. In 2023, he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Journalism. For many undergraduates, the journey through college rarely takes the expected track. Detours happen, and majors change. When plans switch up, it can be helpful to a student’s success to find support. For Jarrell, it was the people he worked alongside in the journalism department who helped him on his journey. It has left a lasting impression on his life so far, guiding him to multiple internships as an undergraduate, real-world experience in prominent news outlets, and eventually a successful career in the highly competitive field of journalism.
University of Cincinnati, UC Health collaborate with GE HealthCare on MRI research center
June 26, 2024
The University of Cincinnati and UC Health are collaborating with GE HealthCare, JobsOhio, REDI Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s to create an MRI Research and Development Center of Excellence located on UC’s medical campus.
The health impact of living near a natural gas leak
June 25, 2024
UC College of Arts and Sciences Professor Amy Townsend-Small talks to the BBC about the health issues faced by neighbors of leaking natural gas wells.
University of Cincinnati Cancer Center launches Blood Cancer Healing Center
June 25, 2024
The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center celebrated the opening of its state-of-the-art Blood Cancer Healing Center June 24.
Carnegie Foundation recognizes UC with Leadership for Public Purpose classification
June 24, 2024
UC part of inaugural group honored for focusing on developing students as leaders
UC study: Signaling pathway in brain helps maintain health, prevent cognitive deficit
June 24, 2024
Research led by the University of Cincinnati sheds new light on the role of the TGF-β signaling pathway in the brain to maintain balance and prevent inflammation and cognitive deficits.