On August 8, 2026, a small, greenish, nocturnal frog was discovered thriving in the coffee plantations of Costa Rica’s central Pacific region. This newly identified species, measuring less than 4 centimeters, is known as the “spring frog.” It was observed by AFP reporters in San Lorenzo de Tarrazu.

Wagner Chaves-Acuna, a researcher, explained, “It’s a new species of tree frog for science and endemic to Costa Rica.” This discovery emerged from the collaborative efforts of the University of Costa Rica and Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research.

View of a “Rana de las nacientes” in San Jose, Costa Rica. Photo taken on August 6, 2026. Courtesy of Ezequiel Becerra / AFP via Getty Images.

The species, previously observed in the 1960s, was mistakenly identified as another. Costa Rica’s National Alliance for the Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles (ANCAR) reported that it was rediscovered in 2021 through genetic and morphological studies. Colloquially known as the “coffee frog,” this species has a distinguishing feature: males exhibit a translucent throat that inflates during their short, high-pitched call.

Chaves-Acuna stated, “At night, when they are most active, you can hear them singing and perched on coffee shrubs.” This habitat provides the shade, moisture, and food sources frogs need, although they do not consume coffee berries. Instead, they feed on small insects found there.

Photo of “Rana de las nacientes” by Costa Rican scientists from the International Institute for Wildlife Conservation and Management at the National University of Costa Rica. Courtesy of Ezequiel Becerra / AFP via Getty Images.

However, Chaves-Acuna cautioned about the dangers posed by pesticides used in coffee plantations. He noted that these chemicals could enter aquatic systems where tadpoles develop, posing significant risks to the species. “These poisons travel through the air … they seep through the soil,” he warned.

Besides pesticides, ANCAR identified other threats to the species, such as waste dumping, increased tourism, and vegetation loss due to the encroachment of protected areas.