‘Giant’ creature found lurking near stream in Madagascar. It’s a new species
As night settled across southern Madagascar, a “giant” creature with a “blunt” snout sat near a stream. Its brown-tinged eyes scanned the surrounding forest, but it wasn’t the only one looking around.
Visiting scientists noticed the “stout” animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited several forest sites in southeastern Madagascar in 2004 and 2023 to survey reptiles and amphibians, according to a study published Sept. 1 in the peer-reviewed journal SPIXIANA.
During the surveys, researchers found several vaguely familiar-looking frogs, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals, analyzed their DNA and eventually realized they’d discovered a new species: Mantidactylus lovei, or Love’s giant stream frog.
Love’s giant stream frogs are considered “large,” measuring about 3 inches long, the study said. They have “stout” bodies with slightly textured skin. Their snouts are “blunt,” and their mouths have “small and sharp tooth serrations.”
Photos show the brown coloring of the new species. Its back has a scattering of darker brown-black spots. Its limbs and lips have several line-like markings. Seen from below, its stomach is pinkish-white, researchers said.
Love’s giant stream frogs have “exclusively been found in clear forest streams in intact or degraded low-elevation rainforest,” the study said. The frogs were “observed at night, sitting in or next to the water.”
Much about the new species’ lifestyle and behavior remains unknown.
Researchers said they named the new species after Bill Love, a “reptile enthusiast, photographer and author,” for “his contributions to the knowledge of natural history and herpetoculture of Madagascar’s amphibians and reptiles.”
Love’s giant stream frogs have been found at a few sites in the “extreme” southeastern part of Madagascar, the study said. A video from Domaine de la Cascade Plantation Lansargues, a nature reserve, shows one of these sites.
The new species was identified by its DNA, glands, body size, coloring, body proportions and other subtle physical features, the study said.
Researchers also encouraged further efforts to find, analyze and classify giant stream frogs.
The research team included Miguel Vences, Jean-Baptiste Ramanamanjato, Aurélien Miralles and Frank Glaw.
This story was originally published September 1, 2025 at 12:44 PM with the headline "‘Giant’ creature found lurking near stream in Madagascar. It’s a new species."
