Scientists discover orange toad species so tiny it can fit on pencil tip
Scientists discover one of world’s smallest four-legged animals
- Scientists have discovered a new orange toad species, Brachycephalus lulai, in the cloud forests of Brazil's Serra do Quiriri mountain range.
- Measuring less than 14mm, the toad is among the smallest four-legged animals on Earth and can fit on the tip of a pencil.
- The species was named in honour of Brazil’s president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and identified by its unique mating call, CT scans, and DNA analysis.
- The discovery underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, which hosts numerous micro-endemic and vulnerable frog species.
- Researchers are advocating for the establishment of the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre (RVS) Serra do Quiriri to safeguard this new species and its relatives.