Overview
- The species, Brachycephalus lulai, is formally described in a PLOS One paper published this week.
- Males measure 8.9–11.3 mm and females 11.7–13.4 mm, with bright orange coloration mottled by green and brown freckles.
- Researchers located the frogs by their distinctive advertisement call and confirmed their distinct status with DNA sequencing and CT-based anatomy.
- The toadlet is microendemic to high-altitude leaf litter above roughly 750 meters in preserved cloud forest and is preliminarily assessed as Least Concern, with calls for continued monitoring.
- The name honors President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a conservation tribute, and the team notes more Brachycephalus species are likely to be described in coming years.