Cameroon's giant frogs are more varied than anyone knew — and that hidden variety is a map for saving them

The goliath frog of Cameroon is the largest frog on Earth — and, it turns out, not one uniform species story but a family of distinct populations that look, sound and differ genetically from one another. Researchers studying Conraua frogs across Cameroon and western Africa combined genetics, body measurements, recorded calls and detailed body scans, and found far more hidden diversity than field guides suggest. That matters practically: a frog that exists in only one river system needs protecting in that river system. What looked like one widespread species is really several narrower ones — each now visible, countable, and defendable.

SDG 15 · Life on land