Tiny pencil tip-sized toadlet with bright orange color discovered in Brazil

A new species of pumpkin toadlet, almost the size of a pencil tip, has been discovered within the damp, shadowy leaf litter of Brazil s Atlantic Forest. The dazzlingly bright orange creature has been named Brachycephalus lulai in honor of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This latest addition brings the total to 43 species in the incredibly diverse Brachycephalus genus. Reportedly, 35 of these miniature toadlets have only come to light since the year 2000.

It s a small-sized specimen, yes, but it carries a surprisingly large message for conservation. “Through this tribute, we seek to encourage the expansion of conservation initiatives focused on the Atlantic Forest as a whole, and on Brazil’s highly endemic miniaturized frogs in particular,” the researchers from the Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP); Mater Natura – Instituto de Estudos Ambientais, Brazil, wrote in the study paper.

The newly described pumpkin toadlet Brachycephalus lulai. Photo: Luiz Fernando Ribeiro New species identification These toadlets are diurnal, which means they are active by day, and their calls, though tiny, are surprisingly loud, often heard before the creatures themselves are spotted.

The journey to identify Brachycephalus lulai was extensive. Researchers collected 32 individuals from the Serra do Quiriri region, a breathtaking landscape of high grasslands and cloud forests in southern Brazil.

Furthermore, the determination was made through three key lines of evidence: genetic sequencing, physical (morphological) differences, and acoustic analysis of their calls. They compared its unique, rounded snout and the absence of a fifth toe with those of known species. Even its distinct two-note advertisement call, with 1-4 pulses per note, played a crucial role. The body s coloration is mainly bright orange, punctuated by small green or brown patches.

Additionally, the species is sexually dimorphic, with females larger than males. High-resolution computed tomography enabled osteological (bone) examination. In terms of size, males measure 8.9–11.3 mm, while females are slightly larger at 11.7–13.4 mm. Species protection This new toadlet shares a close genetic link with B.

auroguttatus and B. quiririensis, all three frog species being found together in the Serra do Quiriri. The concentration of closely related Brachycephalus species in a small region provides important insights into evolutionary processes. Scientists propose that during drier periods in the Quaternary, forests shrank to lower elevations.

When the climate became wetter, the cloud forests grew back upward in isolated spots surrounded by grasslands. These isolated forest patches served as microrefugia, separating frog populations and driving allopatric speciation — the formation of new species through geographic isolation.

“This process continues, with recent observations of Brachycephalus colonizing newly formed cloud forests at high altitudes,” the team noted in the study. Despite its restricted range of approximately 8 square kilometers, the scientists propose classifying Brachycephalus lulaias as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

However, they emphasize the urgent need for protection. To that end, they are advocating for the creation of the Refúgio de Vida Silvestre (RVS) Serra do Quiriri. This proposed wildlife refuge offers a practical solution: it would protect this unique biodiversity without requiring the government to purchase private land.

The findings were published in the journal PLOS One.