New Glass Frog Species Discovered in Ecuador, Named After Nation’s First Female Olympic Gold Medalist

Scientists have identified a previously unknown species of glass frog in the cloud forests of Ecuador, naming it in honor of Neisi Dajomes, the weightlifter who became the first Ecuadorian woman to win an Olympic gold medal. The discovery adds to the remarkable biodiversity of a country already recognized as one of the most species-rich nations on Earth, while also highlighting the growing scientific tradition of using species names to celebrate national heroes and raise conservation awareness.

Glass frogs are among the most visually striking amphibians on the planet. Members of the family Centrolenidae, they are primarily found in Central and South America and are distinguished by their remarkable translucent ventral skin, which allows observers to see the heart, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and even eggs in gravid females. This transparency is believed to serve as a form of camouflage known as “edge diffusion,” helping the frogs blend into the leaves on which they rest by softening their visible outline. Scientists have described roughly 160 species of glass frogs to date, but researchers believe many more remain undocumented in the remote montane forests of the Andes and the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. Ecuador, despite its relatively small geographic footprint — roughly the size of the U.S. state of Colorado — harbors an outsized share of this diversity, with its dramatic altitudinal gradients from sea level to over 6,000 meters creating a patchwork of microhabitats ideal for amphibian speciation.

The decision to name the new species after Neisi Dajomes follows a well-established and increasingly popular tradition in taxonomy known as “honorific naming.” Scientists frequently name newly discovered species after prominent cultural, scientific, or athletic figures to draw public attention to biodiversity and conservation. In recent years, species have been named after figures ranging from former presidents to musicians and environmental activists. Dajomes, who was born in the coastal province of Esmeraldas and won Ecuador’s historic gold medal at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in August 2021, has become a symbol of perseverance and national pride. Her achievement was particularly significant in a country where women’s athletics has historically received limited funding and visibility. By linking her name permanently to a species found only in Ecuador, the researchers are both honoring her contributions and drawing a symbolic connection between national identity and the country’s extraordinary natural heritage.

The discovery underscores the critical importance of continued field research in tropical ecosystems where biodiversity remains vastly under-documented. Herpetologists estimate that hundreds of amphibian species worldwide still await formal scientific description, many of them in the Andean cloud forests that stretch across Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. Each new species identification carries practical conservation implications: without a formal taxonomic description and name, a species cannot be assessed by the IUCN, listed under national or international protection frameworks, or targeted for habitat preservation. Researchers involved in the study are expected to push for a conservation assessment of the new glass frog, which could help inform land-use decisions in the region where it was found. As Ecuador continues to balance economic development — particularly in mining and agriculture — with preservation of its unparalleled biodiversity, discoveries like this serve as powerful reminders of what stands to be lost if critical habitats are not protected.

Looking ahead, the research team has indicated that additional fieldwork is planned in the surrounding region, where conditions suggest other undescribed species may be present. The naming of the frog after Dajomes has already generated significant attention in Ecuador and across Latin America, potentially amplifying public interest in conservation at a moment when the country’s environmental policies face increasing scrutiny from both domestic stakeholders and international organizations.