Scientists
from Drexel University and the University of Equatorial Guinea May Have
Discovered Four New Frog Species
MALABO, Equatorial
Guinea – July 5, 2012 –Researchers in Equatorial Guinea
may have discovered up to four
new species of amphibians on Bioko Island. They believe that the
island may be a kind of “ark” for amphibians where species have developed
immunities to at least some of the diseases that are currently affecting
amphibian populations worldwide.
The
researchers, Patrick
McLaughlin and Professor Gail Hearn, both from Drexel University, are part of the Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program
(BBPP), a joint research effort by Drexel and the National University of
Equatorial Guinea, with funding from the Exxon-Mobil Foundation. Ph.D.
candidate McLaughlin and Professor Hearn began their research together in 2009,
studying the distribution and abundance of frog species on Bioko Island for
insight into specialization and analysis of potential threats
to the habitat of vital importance and to the populations.
On June 28, 2012, they issued the results of their study,
which confirmed the initial estimates of high diversity of amphibians on the
island. The results included four or more new species and the presence of two
others that were thought to only exist in the Continental Region and are in
danger of extinction.
Overall, the
study reveals a broad diversity that includes more than 35 species of
amphibians divided into eight families. The results also confirm the presence
on the island of chytridiomycosis, a disease that is fatal to amphibians
elsewhere. The disease is widely extended on Bioko but not fatal, which
suggests that the amphibians of Bioko have developed resistance to it.
The future
analysis will assess in detail the most endangered species and develop specific
plans for the preservation of each. This study also revealed that Bioko
contains many rare and endangered species, along with a host of other endemic
species, and could be considered a kind of "amphibian ark" for the
conservation of West Africa.
“We generally thought if there were substantial
morphological differences from any other known frog species, it might well be a
new species,” said Professor Hearn. “In one case, the frog had been
photographed and collected back in the 1960’s, but the only specimen was lost
in transit back in Europe, so it was never described to science.”
According to Professor Hearn, the new species that
McLaughlin discovered were vetted by other West African amphibian experts at a
recent international workshop in Italy, which gave her reason to believe in
their authenticity despite the morphological variability often found in these
frogs. “We will be collaborating
on the final species descriptions and will be including the still-pending DNA
analysis,” she said.
Bioko Island
is located just off the coast of west central Africa, 20 miles from Cameroon.
It is home to Africa’s greatest concentration of endangered primates and over
fifty unique species of plants. In addition, Bioko now has over 35 species of
amphibians accounted for thanks to the work of McLaughlin and Dr. Hearn.