BOGOTA: A new species of terrestrial frog with yellow eyebrows has been found in Colombia’s East Andes, researchers announced on Tuesday.

The Pristimantis macrummendozai was discovered in the Iguaque Merchan paramos, an Alpine ecosystem, north of the town of Arcabuco in the central department of Boyaca, according to the Humboldt Institute, which worked on the study in collaboration with the Environment Ministry.

The discovery “places Colombia among the five most biodiverse countries in the world”, said Andres Acosta, curator of the Humboldt Institute’s biological collections.

Researchers said the frog has a skin with folds that retain humidity, and that its dark colour helps it blend well with the rocky soil of this mountainous region.

“Unlike other species, the Pristimantis macrummendozai reproduces well in the humidity of the paramos region, laying its eggs in the ground,” the Humboldt Institute said in a statement.

The frog’s front legs have sticky pads similar to velcro that allow the male to keep its grip on the female during reproduction.

The Humboldt Institute noted that with this latest discovery, there are now 10 known species of high-altitude frogs in the East Andes, home to 16 paramos regions such as the Chingaza, Santurban, Almorzadero and Cundinamarca.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2016