The new variety of amphibian, with the scientific name Gastrotheca mittaliiti, measures between 2.7 and 3.3 centimeters and was found in a mountainous ecosystem in the Amazon region, bordering Ecuador.
Bright green in color and with protuberances on the back, the number of specimens in nature remains unknown.
“It is further evidence of the enormous natural wealth that we have (…). If research continues, there are many species still waiting to be discovered,” Manuel Oliva, director of the Research Institute for Sustainable Development of Ceja de Selva, which belongs to the university, told AFP.
The discovery was published in the New Zealand scientific journal Zootaxa and was developed in collaboration with research areas at Florida International University and the University of Seville.
The study indicates that the amphibian lives at “high risk” because its habitat perceives the effects of climate change and the impact of fires started by farmers in the area.