
It measures only one centimeter and fits over the tip of a pencil. This is the Brachycephalic lulai either pumpkin toada new species discovered in the mountains of southern Brazil.
As stated in the magazine National geographichas not been discovered until now because it only lives a narrow strip of forest mountainous and very cloudy and usually hides in leaf litter.
The discovery was made in the Sierra de Quiriri, in the state of Santa Catarina, and at more than 750 meters above sea level. It was discovered thanks to particular mating song that males sing, even though females were harder to find, as they revealed to the magazine PLOS One the discoverers of the animal.
After collecting several specimens, they were analyzed in the laboratory, where experts confirmed that it was a new species previously unknown. He was baptized as Brachycephalic lulai in honor of the president of Brazil, Lula da Silva.
The decision to use the politician’s name is due to the researchers’ desire to see the Brazilian government implement conservation initiatives of species like this in the gigantic South American country.
The problem of the pumpkin toad, which must its name to its color, is that the number of specimens is so small that it is already considered a critically endangered species.