Newly identified species of Tanzanian tree toad leapfrog the tadpole stage and give birth to toadlets

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🗞️ Driving the news: Scientists have identified three new species of Tanzanian tree toads that skip the egg and tadpole stage entirely, giving birth directly to tiny, fully formed toadlets
• The discovery — published in Vertebrate Zoology — reveals how these amphibians, belonging to the Nectophrynoides genus, evolved viviparity, or live birth, an extremely rare reproductive strategy among amphibians

🔭 The context: Out of over 4,000 known frog and toad species, fewer than 1% are viviparous
• This adaptation likely evolved in mountain habitats with little access to standing water, such as Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains and Southern Highlands
• Researchers reclassified what was once thought to be a single species, N. viviparus, after genetic, morphological, and acoustic analyses of 257 museum specimens revealed three distinct species: N. luhomeroensis, N. uhehe, and N. saliensis

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The findings highlight both the biodiversity richness and fragility of East Africa’s forest ecosystems, many of which are threatened by deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and climate change
• These toads’ unusual life cycle underscores the evolutionary adaptability of amphibians — a group already suffering steep global declines due to habitat loss and disease
• Protecting these forests safeguards not just these newly discovered species, but countless other organisms yet to be identified

⏭️ What's next: Researchers call for expanded field surveys to map the new species’ ranges and assess their conservation status
• Several members of the genus Nectophrynoides are already endangered or extinct in the wild, and scientists warn that time is running out to catalog remaining populations
• The study also reinforces the importance of museum collections in uncovering hidden biodiversity and guiding future conservation policy

💬 One quote: “Describing these new species that give birth to live young helps us understand the evolutionary flexibility of amphibians, one of the most diverse and ecologically sensitive groups of vertebrates.” — Dr. Diego José Santana, Field Museum of Natural History

📈 One stat: Each female Nectophrynoides can give birth to 40–160 live toadlets, compared with up to 20,000 eggs laid by species that reproduce in water

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