Creature with ‘translucent groin’ discovered in unexplored part of Amazon rainforest

While surveying a remote region of the Amazon rainforest, researchers stumbled upon a new species of amphibian — one with private parts that are, in fact, not very private.

The creature is a species of rain frog distinguished by its “translucent groin,” according to a study published by an international team of researchers on June 6 in the journal PeerJ.

While other frog species have brightly colored groins that might serve to ward off predators, it’s not clear what, if any, evolutionary purpose a see-through crotch might serve, Alexander Mônico, one of the study’s authors, told McClatchy News.

The newfound frog was found in a “peculiar” and largely unstudied forest in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, where many species are likely waiting to be identified. Known as a white-sand forest, it is populated by thin trees with canopies stretching no higher than 70 feet.

Twenty-four specimens were collected during surveys of the region in 2018 and 2020. They were euthanized and preserved in ethanol for later study.

Analyses of the specimens’ physical features, mating calls — which were recorded by researchers — and genomic data all indicated the presence of a previously unknown creature.

It was given the name Pristimantis campinarana, which is taken from a Portuguese word for the forest it was encountered in. Its genus, Pristimantis, is one of the “most species-rich among vertebrates,” with around 60 unique species currently known.

Other than its clear groin, the newfound amphibian is distinguished by its bronze and brown eyes, shagreen skin and diminutive size — it’s less than an inch long. Its range is believed to be restricted to the white-sand forests of Amazonas.

The frog is most active at twilight, and can be found taking shelter under the leaves of certain flowering plants, Mônico said. Often males are clustered in groups of up to 10 individuals.

The creature’s discovery underscores the need for effective protection of the state’s unique and biodiverse forests, Mônico wrote in a Facebook post.

There are around 4,000 known species of frogs in the world, and around 400 of them are native to the Amazon rainforest, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Google Translate was used to translate the Facebook post from Alexander Mônico.

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