From above, this tiny green-spotted frog appears quite ordinary. Turn it over to reveal its transparent ventral skin and exposed beating heart, and it emerges as anything but.
A new species of glassfrog inhabiting Amazonian Ecuador has been described in the open access journal ZooKeys by a research team at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador.
While there is an entire group of glassfrogs from the Neotropics – the tropical regions of the Americas – who sport impressive transparent skin and exposed bellies, this new species, Hyalinobatrachium yaku, stands out for the extent of its translucent exterior, stretching right across the abdomen to lay bare the body’s inner workings.
Originally published by Cosmos as Glassfrog has nothing to hide
Jessica Snir
Jessica Snir is a clinical trial coordinator at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and Cosmos contributor.
Read science facts, not fiction...
There’s never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.