Some coinage are found once , reported , and then seem to have the ability toremain hidden , only to be rediscover many years later . Fromgolden molestobirds of prey , these species persist despite small populations and tiny distributions . Now , joining this leaning of rediscovered species is a toad frog from Chile that was think to be lose for more than 100 years .
French entomologist Philibert Germain discovered the frog in question in Chile in 1893 . Using the specimens Germain had collected , German naturalist Rodulfo Amando Philippi then officially name the new species in 1902 asAlsodes vittatus . After that , however , it went missing .
There had been endeavor to find it ; between 1995 and 2002 , investigator look for the species but had no chance . Later expeditions in 2015 and 2016 were also unsuccessful , though they did find a metal money belonging to the same genus .
A femaleAlsodes vittatuswithout the stripe.Image credit: Edvin Riveros (CC BY)
“ The chief challenge in locating it was the lack of precision in the description of its type locality , ” enjoin the late squad to depend for the frog – Claudio Correa , Edvin Riveros - Riffo , and Juan Pablo Donoso – in astatement . “ In Germain ’s time , the Hacienda San Ignacio de Pemehue was an estate of tremendous size , and the naturalist did not specify the exact place where he collected the specimens . ”
To detect the batrachian , the squad retrace the steps of Philibert Germain , search inside the Hacienda San Ignacio de Pemehue in 2023 and 2024 . This prove a successful idea , as the team uncovered three localisation withA. vittatus , marking the first time it had been seen in 130 years . In two extra locations , the squad determine otherfrogsbelonging to the same genus , A. igneus . deoxyribonucleic acid was collected from specimen at these locations and used to sustain which species were found .
A. vittatuscan also have a classifiable perpendicular crease down its back , which Philippi cite in the original verbal description . However , this stripe is not present in all the specimens get hold , so it can not be desire as a knockout and immobile rule for name the specie .
“ The rediscovery ofA. vittatusallowed us to prevail , more than a century after its description , the first biologic and ecologic data on the specie . Field watching also indicate that this amphibian faces several significant threat and that it could be considered endangered , ” the researchers warn .
The IUCN currently classifiesA. vittatusasData Deficient ; the researchers strongly suggest a brushup to valuate its conservation condition now that the anuran has been rediscovered .
