A new frog species has been discovered, and it’s extra special to South Africa as the first endemic frog to the Cederberg!
Cederberg, South Africa (20 September 2024) — In big news for nature lovers and especially those fascinated by frogs, a new Dainty Frog species has been discovered right here in South Africa thanks to the Cederberg, locals and a big mission to bring this frog’s true identity to life.
Three years ago, Cape Town-based herpetologist and photographer Tyrone Ping and Oliver Angus ventured to the Cederberg on a mission to photograph species for Tyrone’s field guide, where they’d unknowingly embark on an entirely new frog-led pursuit.
They had become fascinated by large populations of a frog they’d found whilst in the Cederberg, a frog that would soon consume the next few years of their lives.
Although the frog had seemingly already been discovered, it had a case of mistaken identity that the lads became determined to correct.
Many, many trips to the Cederberg were made thereafter, with Nick Telford and Werner Conradie joining suit.
As Tyrone shares:
“The first specimens on this species were discovered by herpetologist Marius Burger in 1997 at the Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, located in the northern Cederberg. This specimen was mistakenly used in the description of a distantly related congener, Cacosternum karooicum, in 2002. However, our research reveals that these Cederberg frogs actually represent an entirely new species!”
Not only was it a new species altogether, Tyrone and the team also discovered that frog is also special for another reason.
“We are proud to introduce ‘Cacosternum cederbergense, now officially the first endemic frog species of the Cederberg!”
The discovery has officially been published in Zootaxa as of 18 September 2024. Those who are keen to learn more about ‘Cacosternum cederbergense’ can find it, here.
Cacosternum cederbergense
Cederberg Dainty Frog or Cederberg Caco: https://t.co/3I6186q4eZ pic.twitter.com/sNrGQIWO4x— Tyrone Ping (@itsrobotface) September 18, 2024
Sources: Tyrone Ping
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