A Newly-Discovered Rain Frog Named After Greta Thunberg

A new species of rain frog found in Panama is named in honor of climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg. 

The tiny rain frog found in the Panama jungle has been named after Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. The newly-discovered animal is called Pristimantis gretathunbergae, popularly known as the Greta Thunberg Frog. Initially discovered in 2012, the frog was thought to be part of the Pristimantis family. However, a recent DNA study confirmed that the frog is a new species. 

Based on the study published in Zookeys, the pristimantis gretathunbergae has distinctive black eyes exclusive to rain frogs in Central America. The newly-discovered frog is threatened due to climate change and deforestation. 

The frog was discovered by an international team of biologists led by doctors Abel Batista and Konrad Mebert. They found the new species in Cerro Chucantí, a private reserve located in the province of Darién.

The new species was named after Greta Thunberg when The Rainforest Trust held an auction. In that auction, the winner was allowed to name new species. The frog was discovered at a sanctuary established by the conservation organization AdoptaBosque in collaboration with The Rainforest Trust.

“Greta reminds us that the future of every species on Earth depends on what we do right now to combat climate change. We are honored to sponsor the naming of the threatened species,” Rainforest Trust CEO James Deutsch said.

But, this is not the first time a new species has been named after the “School Strike for Climate Action” activist. In 2019, the National History Museum identified a new beetle species after the teenager.

The Greta Thunberg Frog has unique features that help it be recognizable from the rest. The frog has prominent black eyes, a contrasting light upper lip, and a larger head. 

The amphibian’s name is associated with its namesake as climate change threatens its natural habitat. The scientists said that these tiny tree frogs are highly susceptible to slight differences in the environment. They argued that the Pristimantis gretathunbergae should be listed as “vulnerable” in the global Red List of the IUCN.

The researchers explained that Cerro Chucantí and the surrounding Maje Mountains are endangered by rapid deforestation. They further emphasized: “Pristimantis gretathunbergae is endemic to Panama, but it could appear near mountains along the boundary in Colombia.”

“As a new species, this frog can help to preserve the Chucantí forest, including several recently described species endemic only from this isolated area,” they added. Thunberg has been urging global leaders to take conservation seriously.

Meanwhile, Greta Thunberg has not commented on her amphibious namesake as of the publication of this article. 

Who is Greta Thunberg? 

Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg, 19, is a Swedish environmental activist who is famous for urging global leaders to take immediate action to mitigate climate change. Thunberg initially gained attention for her straightforward speaking manner.

Thunberg’s commitment started when she convinced her parents to change into a lifestyle to reduce their carbon footprint. At age 15, she began her strike outside the Swedish Parliament to demand more decisive action on climate change. Later, other students joined similar protests in their communities. 

Since her speech at the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference, student strikes have been organized every week in other places worldwide. 

Thunberg has numerous recognitions and awards. These include honorary Fellowship of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Time’s 100 most influential people, Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women 2019. Additionally, she received Nobel Peace Prize nominations in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

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