And again another discovery, Ranitomeya aetherea

In the same geographical region—the basin of the Rio Juruá River in Brazil—where the recently discovered Ranitomeya aquamarina was found, the same research team has now uncovered yet another new species: Ranitomeya aetherea! Two additions to the Ranitomeya family in just a matter of weeks.

Ranitomeya aetherea - Photographs A.T. Mônico.

These frogs were observed to be most active during the early morning and late afternoon. However, during rainfall, they may remain active throughout the day. Ranitomeya aetherea was encountered in areas of open forest with palm trees, most commonly associated with the ‘banananeira brava’ plant (Phenakospermum guyannense, family Strelitziaceae) or among fallen palm leaves. In the early morning, prior to the onset of calling activity, individual frogs were spotted as high as four metres above the ground.

With the latest addition of Ranitomeya aetherea, the Ranitomeya family has grown again into 19 recognized species:

1. Ranitomeya aetherea

2. Ranitomeya amazonica

3. Ranitomeya aquamarina

4. Ranitomeya benedicta

5. Ranitomeya fantastica

6. Ranitomeya imitator

7. Ranitomeya reticulata

8. Ranitomeya sirensis

9. Ranitomeya summersi

10. Ranitomeya uakarii

11. Ranitomeya variabilis

12. Ranitomeya ventrimaculata

13. Ranitomeya flavovittata

14. Ranitomeya vanzolinii

15. Ranitomeya cyanovittata

16. Ranitomeya defleri

17. Ranitomeya rubrocephala

18. Ranitomeya toraro

19. Ranitomeya yavaricola

Read the full scientific description here:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0321748

Ranitomeya aetherea dorsal and ventral view - Photographs: A. T. Mônico.

All credits:

Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published in Plos One A remarkable new blue Ranitomeya species (Anura: Dendrobatidae) with copper metallic legs from open forests of Juruá River Basin, Amazonia