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A new frog species was discovered in the forests of Ecuador, and its colors and patterns reminded researchers of the mystical creatures that populate J.R.R. Tolkien's books. As a result, the scientists named the new otherworldly frog Hyloscirtus tolkieni after the author.  The scientists announced their discovery in the Scientific journal ZooKeys using an adaptation of the first lines of Tolkien’s book “The Hobbit.” "In a stream in the forest there lived a Hyloscirtus. Not a nasty, dirty stream, with spoor of contamination and a muddy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy stream with nothing in it to perch on or to eat: it was a Hyloscirtus-stream, and that means environmental quality." The 2.6-inch-long frog has a greyish-green and yellow coloration with shades of brown speckling and large, bright pink eyes. It was found in the pristine streams of the Río Negro-Sopladora National Park in Ecuador, situated on the equator, and lives at an elevation of 3190 meters. The researchers note that the frog's unique coloration patterns set it apart from other frogs of the same genus.  Only one specimen has been found, and the scientists hope to learn more about how many exist and in what regions they live. The Andes Mountain regions, where the frog was found, are threatened by deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and other environmental threats. 

"Otherworldly" frog endangered

Approximately 57% of amphibian species in Ecuador are endangered. The discovery of the new species was surprising for the researchers. The frog jumped in their direction as they were making their way through the vegetation near a ravine. The mountainous forest where the stream frog lives is full of fantastic landscapes of moss and rich vegetation, reminiscent of the Fangorn forest in Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings."  The protected area of the Río Negro-Sopladora National Park has allowed scientists to discover a significant number of species since 2020. The reaction to the new frog has been well received by fans, and the scientists personally delivered the news to social media pages and blogs dedicated to the late author and his fantasy worlds. Lead researcher, Juan C. Sánchez-Nivicela, and his colleagues are also fans of Tolkien's books, describing themselves as "dreamers" whose jobs have taken them to places similar to the scenic landscapes represented in books and art. In recent months, several significant scientific discoveries have been named after celebrities, including a powerful compound that kills fungus named after actor Keanu Reeves.