A bug-eyed salamander that looks like ET and a see-through frog are among the weirder species that were discovered by conservation biologists in a far-flung corner of Ecuador.
They were discovered in the Cordillera del Cóndor, an outlier of the main Andean chain which rises to a maximum elevation of about 2900 metres and marks part of the international border between Ecuador and Peru. Because of its geographical seclusion from the rest of the Andes, the Cordillera is thought to be home to many unique species that have evolved in isolation.Peru and Ecuador fought over the region for more than 160 years and only agreed on the exact location of their border in 1998.
Hoping to encourage the Ecuadorian government to increase the protection of flora and fauna in the area, Conservation International, Fundación Arcoiris and the Catholic University of Ecuador sent teams of biologists to the cordillera to survey its wildlife.
They discovered a number of species which they believe are new to science, including a bug-eyed salamander, a tiny, endangered poison arrow frog, a colourful, polka-dotted lizard and a number of bizarre-looking crickets (More photos on the New Scientist website).
They also found a number of endangered species including Hyalinobatrachium pellucidum, a glass or crystal frog that has translucent skin.