Rare Glass Frog Found in Bolivia

Glass Frog image

Three Bolivian Cochran frogs (Nymphargus bejaranoi), a tiny species of so-called “glass frogs” were spotted by conservationists in 2020 in Carrasco National Park in Bolivia.  The conservationists were on a mission to rescue reptiles and amphibians whose habitat was threatened by a hydroelectric project.

It was the first time in 18 years that this rare frog species with translucent skin has been seen.  The skin of this frog is so translucent that their internal organs can be sees through their bellies.   They are green in color over most of their bodies, except for the skin along the lower surface of the body and legs, which are translucent.  Eyes of the glass frog face forward.  Nymphargus bejaranoi live in wet montane forest, including cloud forest and Yungas forest, at elevations of 5,200–7,900 ft above sea level. It is an arboreal species found in vegetation close to streams and small waterfalls. 

“The rediscovery of this species fills us with a ray of hope for the future of glass frogs – one of the most charismatic amphibians in the world – but also for other species,” members of the team told Agence France-Presse news agency