In the dense, humid rainforests of Ecuador, a team of scientists made a discovery that defies conventional methods of species identification.
A previously unknown species of tropical ant, Lenomyrmex hoelldobleri, was found in one of the most unexpected places imaginable—inside the regurgitated contents of a small, bright-orange frog ominously known as the diablito or ‘little devil frog.’
This peculiar find sheds light not just on the vast biodiversity still waiting to be uncovered but also on the surprising ways in which nature’s creatures interact.
The discovery, however, brings with it more questions than answers: How did the ant end up in the frog’s stomach?
Is it part of its regular diet? And most intriguingly—are there more undiscovered species hiding within other predators?
A World Still Full of Mysteries
“Sometimes people think that our world is very well-explored,” says Christian Rabeling, the lead researcher from the University of Rochester, in an interview with National Geographic.
“Nothing could be farther from the truth.”
Despite centuries of scientific exploration, vast portions of the planet’s ecosystems remain uncharted, particularly in remote tropical forests.
The discovery of Lenomyrmex hoelldobleri is a perfect example of how much there is still to learn.
The ant itself is an enigma.
Researchers note its elongated mouthparts, which may serve a role in capturing food, yet no living specimen has been observed in its natural habitat.
The challenge now is to locate a thriving colony in the wild—a task easier said than done in the labyrinthine jungle.
Why Extracting Ants From Vomit is a Scientific Method
As unorthodox as it sounds, studying the stomach contents of amphibians has become a valuable method for understanding their diet and surrounding ecology.
Scientists use a gentle process: they fill the frog’s stomach with water until it regurgitates its last meal, then release it back into the wild unharmed.
This method has proven to be a goldmine for biodiversity studies, offering insight into the diet of frogs, the insects they rely on for sustenance, and even how certain amphibians acquire their toxic defenses.
For example, poisonous frogs like the diablito synthesize their potent toxins from the compounds found in the ants they consume—meaning that these tiny insects directly contribute to the frog’s chemical arsenal for self-defense.
A Challenge to Conventional Thinking
Most people assume that the discovery of new species happens through exhaustive fieldwork, careful observation, and meticulous sampling in the environment.
But what if some of the most important discoveries have been hiding inside the digestive tracts of predators all along?
The idea that new species could be lurking in the bellies of other animals isn’t just theoretical.
It has happened before.
In 1932, the snake species Geophis dunni was identified for the first time when a scientist found it inside the stomach of another snake.
This raises an intriguing question: Could other unknown species be waiting to be discovered in the stomachs of birds, reptiles, or even mammals?
And could frog vomit be the unlikely key to unlocking hidden biodiversity?
The Search for a Living Specimen
Despite the breakthrough discovery, one major problem remains: scientists have yet to find a single living specimen of Lenomyrmex hoelldobleri in the wild.
This makes further research incredibly difficult. Without a colony to observe, biologists can only hypothesize about its behaviors, habitat preferences, and role in the ecosystem.
Tracking the feeding habits of the diablito frog may be the best way to locate a thriving population of this elusive ant.
So far, over 45 different types of ants and nine types of mites have been identified in the sampled stomachs of the diablito frog.
That’s an impressive number of tiny creatures swallowed up by this small amphibian—but it also suggests that many more unknown species could still be hiding within its diet.
What This Means for Conservation
The unusual discovery of Lenomyrmex hoelldobleri serves as a reminder of the fragile and complex ecosystems that exist in the world’s tropical rainforests.
Many amphibian species, including the diablito frog, are facing serious threats due to habitat loss, climate change, and disease.
Studying these interactions is crucial because losing a single species can disrupt an entire food web.
If frogs disappear, what happens to the ant species they consume?
And if these ants have unique roles in soil aeration or plant pollination, could their loss have cascading effects throughout the ecosystem?
What’s Next?
Scientists are now focused on tracking down live specimens of the ant and uncovering more about its habitat and behavior.
But this raises a bigger question: How many other undiscovered species are hidden in plain sight, waiting to be found in the stomachs of predators?
While the idea of searching through frog vomit may not sound glamorous, it could lead to groundbreaking discoveries about biodiversity, predator-prey relationships, and even evolutionary adaptations.
And who knows?
The next time a scientist examines the stomach contents of an animal, they might just find something even more remarkable—a creature no one has ever seen before.
