In August 2026, a scientific team from Costa Rica and Argentina announced the discovery of a new species of tree frog that lives directly in coffee plantations. The species has been given the scientific name Isthmohyla nacientes and is informally known as the "coffee frog" or "spring frog." This discovery confirms that even in agricultural landscapes, there may be undescribed species.
The frog is very small. Adult individuals measure less than four centimeters. It has a greenish coloration with irregular dark green spots on its back. Its limbs have a yellowish-orange tint. Males are characterized by a semi-transparent throat that inflates when calling. They emit short, high-pitched sounds that can be heard mainly at night, when they are most active.
Researchers observed them in the San Lorenzo de Tarrazú area in the central Pacific region of Costa Rica. The frogs sit on coffee bush shrubs and seek shade, moisture, and food. They do not eat coffee fruits. They feed on small insects that are found in the plantations. According to biologist Wagner Chaves-Acuña from the University of Costa Rica, it is an endemic species known only from this region.
The discovery was the result of collaboration between biologists from the University of Costa Rica and the Argentine National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). The scientists emphasize that the frogs use the structure of coffee plantations – the shade of the trees, the moisture in the soil, and the presence of insects – as a surrogate habitat. In tropical areas, it is common for some amphibian species to survive even in agricultural landscapes if the conditions are sufficiently humid and the chemical load is not too high.
The chemical load represents a potential risk. Chaves-Acuña points out that pesticides used to protect coffee plants can spread through the air, penetrate into the soil, and subsequently into waterways, where tadpoles develop. There is currently no specific data on the decline of this new species' population because it has only recently been described. However, general experience with amphibians shows that they are sensitive to changes in water quality and the presence of pesticides.
Costa Rica is one of the countries with high biodiversity. A large number of endemic species are found in a relatively small area. The discovery of a new frog in coffee plantations shows that even intensively used agricultural areas can host previously undescribed organisms. At the same time, it reminds us that the protection of biodiversity is not limited to national parks and reserves. Agricultural practices, especially the way chemical products are used, can have a direct impact on the survival of small species.
The scientists are continuing to map the distribution of the species and study its ecology. They are particularly interested in its moisture requirements, temperature preferences, and sensitivity to different types of pesticides. Further research should show whether Isthmohyla nacientes is also found in other coffee-growing areas of Costa Rica or whether its range is limited to a narrow region.
The discovery of the new frog is not a dramatic event on a global scale. Nevertheless, it has value. It reminds us that even in well-explored tropical regions, there are still species that have escaped attention. And it shows that the boundary between natural and agricultural landscapes does not always have to be sharp. For the coffee frog, the plantations have become home. Whether it can survive long-term will depend on how carefully chemical substances are handled in these areas.
Prokop Stach
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