Ranitomeya discoveries keep coming: Ranitomeya hwata, a Bamboo-dwelling species

A new species of Ranitomeya has been discovered in the lowland forests of western Brazil and south-eastern Peru. Named Ranitomeya hwata, it is closely related to R. aetherea, R. aquamarina, R. cyanovittata, R. flavovittata and R. yavaricola. This species can be distinguished from its relatives by its striking colour pattern, featuring yellow stripes along the back and a finely spotted belly.

Ranitomeya hwata - Photographs Paulo R. Melo-Sampaio

Ranitomeya hwata is closely associated with bamboo forests dominated by native Guadua bamboo. It uses the hollow bamboo stems as breeding sites.

Ranitomeya hwata in Guadua Bamboo - Photographs Paulo R. Melo-Sampaio

With this latest addition of Ranitomeya hwata, the Ranitomeya family has grown again into 20 recognized species:

1. Ranitomeya aetherea

2. Ranitomeya aquamarina

3. Ranitomeya amazonica

4. Ranitomeya benedicta

5. Ranitomeya cyanovittata

6. Ranitomeya defleri

7. Ranitomeya fantastica

8. Ranitomeya flavovittata

9. Ranitomeya hwata

10. Ranitomeya imitator

11. Ranitomeya reticulata

12. Ranitomeya rubrocephala

13. Ranitomeya sirensis

14. Ranitomeya summersi

15. Ranitomeya toraro

16. Ranitomeya uakarii

17. Ranitomeya vanzolinii

18. Ranitomeya variabilis

19. Ranitomeya ventrimaculata

20. Ranitomeya yavaricola

Read the full scientific description here: https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5701.4.2

All credits:

Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published in ZOOTAXA A new species of bamboo-dwelling Ranitomeya (Anura: Dendrobatidae) from the

Upper Purus River Basin of Brazil and Peru