New species discovered in frog's vomit

'People think our world is well explored – nothing could be further from the truth,' says scientist

Poisonous frogs get their toxic properties from the ants they eat (Wikimedia Commons/Juan C. Santos)

Scientists have discovered a new species thanks to a little fiery-coloured “devil frog” in Equador.

The never-before-seen species of tropical ant was discovered in the belly of the bright orange frog, also known by its Spanish name, diablito.

Small ant-eating animals, such as the devil frog, forage for bugs in places inaccessible to humans – meaning they are a useful tool for finding new species.

The scientists capture the wild frogs and flush out their bellies, then search their vomit to see what they can discover.

Christian Rabeling, from the University of Rochester in New York, led a study on the small ant that was found in the frog’s sick.

“Sometimes people think that our world is very well explored," he told National Geographic, "Nothing could be further from the truth".

Since there is only one specimen of the ant, very little is known about it. But it has a long mouth, which Mr Rabeling thinks is used by the ant to catch even smaller animals hiding in crevices.

Several other unknown insects have been found in the devil frog’s vomit, meaning more new species may still be announced.

Poisonous frogs get their toxic properties from organic compounds found in the ants they consume – meaning they are particularly good at catching ants and so useful to researchers.

Yet they are also a near threatened species and must be treated with care when they are examined by researchers.

The frogs are made to vomit by scientists gently filling their mouths with water. Once their stomach contents have flowed out, the frogs are then returned to their natural habitat.

This is not the first time a new species has been found in another animal's stomach. In 1932, a Dunn's earth snake was discovered in the belly of a coral snake.

New types of frog have been discovered recently too. Last Summer, a frog with venom more poisonous than that of a pit viper snake was found in Brazil.

In Russia, frogs with entirely translucent skin were found – although pollution is thought to be to blame for the characteristic.