Full Breakdown
New “Coffee Frog” Discovered in Costa Rica’s Coffee Plantations
8/9/2026, 12:25:45 AM
Discovery and Description
Researchers identified a tiny nocturnal tree frog in the central Pacific region of Costa Rica, near San Lorenzo de Tarrazu. Measuring less than 4 centimeters, the dark-green-spotted amphibian—nicknamed the “spring frog” and the “coffee frog”—belongs to the species *Isthmohyla nacientes*. Males possess a translucent throat that inflates during a short, high-pitched call. The frog was first observed in the 1960s but was misidentified until genetic and morphological analyses confirmed it as a distinct species in 2021, according to the National Alliance for the Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles (ANCAR).
Habitat and Threats
The frog thrives in shaded coffee shrubs, feeding on insects rather than coffee berries. Its reliance on the micro-habitat of coffee plantations makes it vulnerable to agricultural practices. Researchers warn that pesticide applications can drift through the air, infiltrate soil, and reach the aquatic environments where tadpoles develop, posing a direct risk to the species. ANCAR also cites waste dumping, rising tourism, and vegetation loss from protected-area encroachment as additional pressures.
Scientific Confirmation
The discovery resulted from collaboration among the University of Costa Rica, Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, and the International Institute for Wildlife Conservation and Management at the National University of Costa Rica. The joint effort combined field observations with laboratory analyses to differentiate the frog from previously known taxa.
Official Comments
Researcher Wagner Chaves-Acuna emphasized that the frog’s nocturnal chorus can be heard perched on coffee shrubs and highlighted the potential impact of agrochemicals on its life cycle. Conservation officials stress the need for pesticide management and habitat protection to safeguard the newly documented amphibian.
Verbatim Quotes
- “At night, when they are most active, you can hear them singing and perched on coffee shrubs,” — Wagner Chaves-Acuna, researcher
- “These poisons travel through the air ... they seep through the soil and that's where they enter the aquatic systems where the tadpoles develop,” — Wagner Chaves-Acuna, researcher
