A new species of frog was discovered in the rainforests of Costa Rica, and while the discovery was made a couple months back, it’s only now that the frog is getting a lot of attention from the press.
A new species of frog was discovered in the rainforests of Costa Rica, and while the discovery was made a couple months back, it’s only now that the frog is getting a lot of attention from the press. And it’s no wonder why – this new species of glass frog looks incredibly like Muppets mainstay Kermit the Frog.
The glass frog was given the Latin name Hyalinobatrachum dianae , as a nod to senior researcher Brian Kubicki’s mother Diane. Like most other glass frogs, H. dianae has a translucent belly, allowing one to see its internal organs from underneath. However, scientists have pointed out that the real-life Kermit equivalent isn’t as friendly and warm as the Muppet is on television. Instead, the frog has been described as being territorial, and not afraid to fight other males of its species if it feels they’re encroaching on its territory.
It’s also interesting that H. dianae is the first glass frog spotted in Costa Rica since 1973. But since Costa Rica is considered a “hot spot” for amphibians, it’s not surprising that that’s where the new species was discovered. However, scientists have warned that Costa Rica’s frog population has been on the decline, due to the presence of the chytrid fungus.
On a lighter note, Disney had an “interview” of sorts with Kermit the Frog, focusing on Kubicki’s discovery and how he and the real-life H. dianae look very similar to each other. His advice for his newly-discovered counterpart? “Shorten your name if you want to make it in show business,” said Kermit in the new Disney Q&A. “Maybe something catchy like Diane Glass or Kermina Kardashian.”