New Costa Rica tree frog found in coffee plantations, flagged for pesticide risk

A tiny greenish nocturnal tree frog that lives in coffee plantations has been identified as a new species endemic to Costa Rica's central Pacific region, AFP reported via phys.org. Measuring less than 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) and known as the spring frog, the dark green-spotted amphibians were observed by AFP reporters in San Lorenzo de Tarrazu. Researcher Wagner Chaves-Acuna told AFP it is a new tree frog species for science, citing work by colleagues at the University of Costa Rica and Argentina's National Council for Scientific and Technical Research. Males have a translucent throat that inflates with a short, high-pitched call. Chaves-Acuna said the frogs sing at night while perched on coffee shrubs, seeking shade, moisture, and small insects rather than coffee berries. He warned that plantation pesticides can move through air and soil into aquatic systems where tadpoles develop.