Deep in the misty heights of a remote South American mountain, scientists have uncovered a fascinating new species—one that seems to have been left behind by time.
Introducing Caligophryne doylei, or Doyle’s mist frog, a bumpy-skinned amphibian with striking blue eyes and a disproportionately large head.
A Hidden World on the Neblina Massif
The Neblina massif, a rugged sandstone plateau spanning the Venezuela-Brazil border, is one of the most isolated and difficult-to-reach places on Earth. According to a February 2024 study published in Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, a team of researchers ventured to this remote peak in 2017, searching for unique wildlife.
What they found was astonishing—22 frogs that didn’t match any known species. These “relicts in the mist” had remained undiscovered for millennia, hidden away in their high-altitude habitat.
Meet Doyle’s Mist Frog
Doyle’s mist frog is a medium-sized species, growing up to about 1.3 inches in length. Its most distinctive features include:
✅ A massive head with striking blue eyes
✅ Slightly protruding nostrils
✅ A robust, warty body
✅ Color variations ranging from dirt brown with white patches to reddish brown with black blotches
The frogs were observed in open grassy habitats between 6,500 and 8,500 feet in elevation. One was even spotted near a clutch of at least 11 round, whitish eggs, possibly guarding them.
A Frog So Unique, It Needed a New Family
The newly discovered frog was so different from any known species that researchers placed it in an entirely new family (Caligophrynidae) and genus (Caligophryne). This classification was based on its DNA, skeletal structure, habitat, and body shape.
Doyle’s mist frog was named in honor of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the famed author of The Lost World, a novel that imagined prehistoric creatures surviving on a secluded mountaintop—much like this real-life discovery.
More New Species From the Neblina Massif
During their expedition, the research team also discovered another previously unknown frog species, Neblinaphryne mayeri, on the same mountain.
Discover More Amazing Creatures
Thousands of new species are identified each year! Here are three of the most fascinating recent discoveries:
🔹 Spiky creature with ‘bent’ toes found in Vietnam
🔹 Mysterious amphibian marked with an ‘X’ discovered in China
🔹 Color-changing frog that lays eggs in foamy nests
The discovery of Doyle’s mist frog highlights the incredible biodiversity of our planet and the importance of conservation efforts in remote ecosystems. With so many species still undiscovered, who knows what other secrets these misty mountains might hold?
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