This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Scientists from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador officially described Pristimantis milpe, an abundant and widely distributed species that had been confused with another species for more than a century. To solve the mystery, researchers reviewed historical specimens collected in Ecuador during the 19th century and preserved at the Natural History Museum in London.
The finding is exceptional because, unlike many recently described species—which are usually rare or restricted to small geographic areas—Pristimantis milpe is a common frog, widely distributed and easy to detect by its nocturnal call. The species inhabits the Chocó forests of western Ecuador and southern Colombia, in a range exceeding 67,000 square kilometers, from sea level up to 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) in altitude. The scientific description was published in the journal ZooKeys.
To resolve a taxonomic confusion that lasted more than a century, Santiago Ron, a researcher at PUCE and lead author of the study, traveled to England to examine the original specimens—known as "types"—collected in Ecuador during the 19th century and preserved ever since. The analysis allowed these historical specimens to be compared with current frog populations in the Ecuadorian Chocó. The researchers determined that the specimens had been erroneously associated with another species.
This confusion caused a species that had been present and observed for decades to remain without a scientific name of its own. "That such a common species has gone unnoticed under the wrong name for decades highlights the importance of correctly connecting scientific names with living populations in nature," notes Jhael Ortega, a Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech and one of the study authors. The Milpe robber frog (Cutín de Milpe) is a nocturnal species.
Males usually call from the leaves of shrubs and bromeliads several meters high in the forest. Their vocalization is characterized by a loud, distinct sound similar to a "click." One of its most striking features is the dimorphism between females and males. Females have a distinctive color pattern on the groin and thighs, with orange or light blue tones accompanied by black spots.
Males, on the other hand, have more uniform shades. The species is found in the forests of the Ecuadorian Chocó and southern Colombia, one of the most important regions for biodiversity conservation. The study demonstrates the scientific value of natural history collections.
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