They were recently discovered in the mountainous forest regions of Madagascar. Seven species of frogs arborealarboreal hitherto unknown and not quite like the others. These frogs, in fact, do not croak. Their scream would be more reminiscent of sound effects used in science fiction films. More precisely, in Star Trek. It didn’t take much for the researchers at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) who discovered them to name them in honor of characters from the series. Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer, Burnham and Pike: seven of the most iconic captains of Star Trek.
On the frog side, we find B. kirki sp. nov., B. picardi sp. Nov., B. siskoi sp. nov., B. janewayae sp. nov., B. archeri sp. Nov., B. pikei sp. nov. et B. burnhamae sp. nov.
A Star Trek tricorder or… a frog?
In the magazine Vertebrate Zoologyherpetologists explain that these cries which resemble high-pitched whistles could have been acquired in response to the particular sound environment in which these frogs live. To cover, in particular, the sound of water flowing in streams SpeedSpeed rapid along which they have taken up residence.
