“Micro Majesty: Brazilian Flea Toad Claims Titles for World’s Tiniest Amphibian and Vertebrate”
The Brazilian flea toad, despite its misleading name, carries an impressive distinction: holding titles for the world’s smallest amphibian and vertebrate. Measuring just under 6.5 millimeters from snout to rump, the diminutive Brachycephalus pulex outshines its predecessors in miniature stature. Herpetologist Mirco Solé and his team at the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz in Ilhéus,
Brazilian Flea Toad
Brazil, made this remarkable discovery among 46 adult Brazilian flea toads, with males averaging around 7 millimeters and females around 8 millimeters. The male Paedophryne amauensis frogs from Papua New Guinea, the former record holders, measure about 8 millimeters on average.
These ultra-small frogs exhibit unique adaptations compared to larger counterparts, such as having only two toes on their feet instead of the typical five. Some Brachycephalus frogs also display peculiar inner ear tube shapes, affecting their jumping abilities. While the Brazilian flea toad’s ears remain untested, Solé notes that they appear to be adept hoppers.
Solé suggests that the vast unexplored regions of Earth might harbor even tinier vertebrates yet to be discovered. Speculating that anything smaller than six millimeters could pose challenges to morphology and physics, he emphasizes the exciting potential for further revelations in the natural world.
