By OBAKENG MAJE
A new species of African bullfrog has been discovered in North Eastern of Namibia, Southern Angola, South Western of Zambia and North Western of Botswana. It is the largest frog species discovered in more than 100 years.
The researcher from North West University (NWU), Professor Louis du Preez said, the largest specimen found is 210 millimetres long and weighs 1 kilogram. Preez said they were once three, now they are four.
“We have discovered a new species of African bullfrog, called Pyxicephalus beytelli. This is only the fourth species of bullfrog ever identified in Southern Africa. The species occurs in parts of North Eastern of Namibia, Southern Angola, South Western of Zambia and North Western of Botswana.
“It is named after the late Ben Beytell, the Director of Parks and Wildlife Management in Namibia, who was instrumental in the proclamation of the Khaudum National Park in Namibia, where the species occurs,” he said.
Preez further said the new species is similar to all other species of bullfrogs in its external structure, internal anatomy and general behaviour. However, he added that two of the main distinguishing features of Pyxicephalus beytelli are its bright yellow and lime green colouring, blue spots and a white vertebral line running down its body.
“Then there are its prominent and somewhat ferocious teeth, which are sloped backwards (recurved), and two large bony protrusions on the lower jaw. Their teeth really stand out, and we are excited to learn more about their feeding habits. I can promise you that this frog has a big bite.
“Bullfrogs have a varied diet that includes mice, small birds, snakes, insects and even other frogs. I and a former student, Marleen Byron, first encountered the bullfrog in Okavango 12 years ago,” said Preez.
He said they immediately realised “there was something different about this frog”. Preez said in late 2021, he was commissioned by the Namibian Nature Foundation to conduct a survey of amphibians and reptiles in Khaudum National Park.
“When I saw the bullfrog again, I knew it was the one I had seen a decade earlier. A thorough and painstaking process then began, in which the specimens collected were carefully detailed and compared with existing known species.
“We attribute the belated discovery of Pyxicephalus beytelli to its habitat. Getting to some of the places where Pyxicephalus beytelli can be found is extremely difficult. These places are remote and you have to cross rough terrain to get there,” he said.
Preez said also, people simply did not realise that, it was a different species. He said from a conservation perspective, the identification of new species is of paramount importance to ensure their protection.
“Frogs evolved about 350 million years ago and have diversified from there. Today, they are the most threatened group of vertebrates in the world. A big reason for this is the destruction of their natural habitat.
“The more we know about a species, such as its location and range, the better we can protect it. It is only when we have caused the extinction of a species that we realise what we have lost,” said Preez.
He said there is still a lot to learn about this new species, and the fun will be in finding out.
TaungDailyNews 