Discovery of a New Frog Species in Costa Rica’s Coffee Plantations

A newly discovered nocturnal frog species has been found thriving in Costa Rica’s central Pacific coffee plantations. This tiny, greenish frog, measuring less than 4 centimeters, is known as the ‘spring frog’ or Isthmohyla nacientes.

Researchers from the University of Costa Rica and Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research have confirmed that this tree frog is a new species unique to Costa Rica. Previously, it was misidentified in the 1960s until recent genetic and morphological studies in 2021 clarified its classification.

The frog, also called the ‘coffee frog,’ features a translucent throat in males that inflates as they emit a distinctive short, high-pitched call. At night, these frogs become most active, often seen perched on coffee shrubs, feeding not on the berries but on small insects found within the habitat.

Researcher Wagner Chaves-Acuna cautions about the survival of these amphibians as they face danger from agrochemicals used in coffee farming. These pesticides can travel through the air and soil, entering the aquatic systems where frog tadpoles develop. Additional threats include waste dumping, increased tourism, and vegetation loss due to encroachment into protected areas.