Newly Described Tiger’s Treefrog Is Striped and Stunning

Habitat: Colombia, Ecuador
Status: Endangered

This awesome frog is the Tiger’s Treefrog (Hyloscirtus tigrinus) and I’m sure you can see how it got its common name. If a tiger and a frog hooked up… well, you’d get this guy.

This species was only recently described in 2008 in the jungles of Colombia and Ecuador. Its been named one of the most beautiful species in the world and is exceedingly rare. A population size estimate only puts fewer than 250 mature individuals in the wild. The project in 2008, lead by the Fundación para la Investigación en biodiversidad Amazónica (FIBA), was undertaken in order to capture data on this elusive treefrog which would then be used in preparation for designing a conservation plan.

The species is only know from 6 localities and only 12 individuals (1 to 5 in each locality) were found. It would be such a shame if this incredible species were to disappear forever! Now we have to work on saving tigers and tiger’s treefrogs. Oy.