MANAUS, BRAZIL – July 31, 2025 – In a stunning discovery that has sent waves of excitement through the international scientific community, a team of researchers has confirmed the rediscovery of the Painted Tree Frog (Boana picta), a vibrant amphibian species believed to have been extinct for two decades. The finding, which occurred in a remote, previously unexplored tributary of the Juruá River in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, offers a dramatic new chapter in the ongoing story of Amazonian biodiversity and underscores the urgent need to protect the world’s largest rainforest.
A joint expedition by the University of São Paulo and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) made the discovery last month, with their peer-reviewed findings published today in the scientific journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation. The frog, last officially recorded in 2005, had been declared “Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct)” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) after years of failed searches in its original known habitat.
A Glimmer of Hope in a Threatened Ecosystem
The Painted Tree Frog is renowned for its breathtaking coloration—a jewel-like mosaic of sapphire blue and fiery orange markings against a lime-green body—which tragically made it a prime target for the illegal pet trade in the late 1990s. Its sudden disappearance was attributed to a devastating combination of habitat destruction and the global spread of chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease that has decimated amphibian populations worldwide.
For the researchers on the ground, the moment of rediscovery was nothing short of miraculous. The team was conducting a broad biodiversity survey, using a combination of modern technology and traditional survey methods, when they detected an unfamiliar sound.
“We were deploying our acoustic sensors for a routine nighttime survey when we picked up a call that didn’t match any known species in our database,” said Dr. Isabella Rossi, the lead herpetologist on the expedition from the University of São Paulo. “There were descriptions of its unique, three-note call in old field notes from the early 2000s. To hear it echo through the forest after 20 years of absolute silence was electrifying. For a biologist, it’s like finding a ghost—a moment you dream of but never truly expect to experience.”
The team was able to locate a small but seemingly healthy population of the frogs clinging to bromeliads in the high canopy, roughly 300 kilometers west of their last known location. The find provides a powerful symbol of resilience and highlights the vast mysteries still hidden within the Amazon’s immense, untracked wilderness.
The Expedition: Deep into Uncharted Territory
The success of the expedition was not a matter of pure luck but the result of a meticulously planned, multi-faceted approach. The region along the Juruá River tributary is exceptionally remote, accessible only by a multi-day boat journey, which has historically insulated it from large-scale agricultural and logging pressures.
Initial hints of the frog’s existence came from a novel and increasingly vital tool in conservation science: environmental DNA (eDNA). By analyzing water samples collected from the tributary, the lab team at the University of São Paulo detected fragmented DNA sequences that closely matched those of the Boana genus but could not be identified as any known living species. This tantalizing clue prompted the field team to focus their search efforts in the area.
“The eDNA results gave us the first indication that something special was here,” Dr. Rossi explained. “It’s a non-invasive way to ‘listen’ for the genetic footprints of species in an ecosystem. In this case, it led us directly to a population that has been hiding in plain sight for a generation.”
The expedition also relied heavily on the expertise of local guides from the Kanamarí indigenous community, whose ancestral lands overlap with the study area. Their deep knowledge of the forest’s subtle patterns was indispensable.
“My grandfather told stories of the ‘sapo de muitas cores’—the frog of many colors,” said Carlos Silva, a Kanamarí guide who assisted the research team. “These stories are not just tales; they are knowledge passed down through generations. We knew the forest kept its secrets. It is good that scientists are now listening to these stories and working with us to protect the sources of our culture and life.”
Why Did the Painted Tree Frog Vanish?
To understand the significance of the rediscovery, it is crucial to understand the forces that nearly wiped out Boana picta. The species became a case study in the multifaceted threats facing rare species in the Amazon during the early 21st century.
First was rapid habitat loss. Its only known habitat in the early 2000s was a small, unprotected forest fragment that was quickly cleared for cattle ranching. The destruction was so swift and total that conservationists feared no individuals had survived.
Second, the global pandemic of chytridiomycosis wreaked havoc on amphibians. The waterborne fungus attacks keratin in a frog’s skin, disrupting its ability to breathe and absorb water, and is often fatal. Scientists presumed that any surviving frogs would have eventually succumbed to the disease.
Finally, the frog’s extraordinary beauty was a curse. Its vibrant patterns made it highly sought after in the international illegal pet trade, and poachers collected individuals in unsustainable numbers before the habitat was lost.
“The story of Boana picta is a classic, tragic cocktail of modern threats: habitat fragmentation, invasive disease, and illegal wildlife trafficking,” commented Dr. David Chen, an amphibian specialist at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) who was not involved in the study but reviewed the findings. “The fact that it survived is a testament to the resilience of nature, but it’s also a stroke of pure luck. It found a refuge we didn’t know existed, likely an area that has so far remained free of the chytrid fungus and isolated from human encroachment.”
A Fragile Rediscovery: The Path to Conservation
The celebration of the frog’s return is tempered by the sober reality of its precarious situation. The research team has so far identified a population within a remarkably small range, estimated at just 10 square kilometers. This extremely localized distribution makes the species highly vulnerable to any new threats, such as droughts, fires, or the future arrival of disease.
The immediate priority is to secure a future for the surviving population. “Finding the frog is step one,” Dr. Rossi emphasized. “Step two, which is far more complex, is ensuring it doesn’t vanish again. We collected minute tissue samples for genetic analysis, which will tell us about the population’s genetic diversity. Low diversity could be a major hurdle for its long-term survival.”
The research team is already working with IBAMA and Kanamarí leaders to draft a proposal for the creation of a formally protected reserve around the newly discovered habitat. This collaborative effort aims to prohibit any commercial activity in the area and establish a monitoring program managed jointly by scientists and the indigenous community.
“Protection must be immediate and robust,” stated Dr. Rossi. “We have been given a second chance, an incredibly rare opportunity in conservation. We cannot afford to waste it.”
Broader Implications: The Amazon as a ‘Fortress of Biodiversity’
The rediscovery of the Painted Tree Frog is more than just a single species success story; it carries profound implications for our understanding of the Amazon. It serves as powerful evidence that the vast, underexplored portions of the rainforest may still harbor undiscovered species or populations of animals long thought to be lost.
This finding bolsters the argument for the preservation of large, intact forest landscapes. These areas can act as “refugia”—natural sanctuaries where species can persist, shielded from threats like disease and climate fluctuations that affect other parts of their range. The isolated location where Boana picta was found may represent just such a refugium, possibly an area free from the chytrid fungus.
Dr. Lena Petrova, head of Amazon programs for the non-profit Conservation International, sees this discovery as a crucial piece of evidence in the fight against deforestation.
“Each rediscovery like this is a powerful argument against unsustainable development,” Dr. Petrova stated. “It proves that the Amazon is not just a collection of trees; it’s a living library of biological, genetic, and cultural information that we have barely begun to read. When we clear-cut a forest, we are destroying books we haven’t even opened yet. The return of the Painted Tree Frog reminds us that there is still so much left to discover and even more to protect.”
The event highlights a critical race against time. As scientific tools like eDNA and satellite mapping become more advanced, our ability to explore the Amazon’s secrets is growing. Yet, at the same time, the threats of deforestation, illegal mining, and climate change are accelerating, potentially wiping out species before they are ever known to science.
For now, the return of the little Painted Tree Frog is a celebrated victory. It is a vibrant, living beacon of hope from the heart of the Amazon, a testament to the resilience of life, and an urgent call to action to protect the world’s last great wildernesses before more species vanish into silence.
