The smallest frog in the world is Cuban

The Monte Iberia tree frog is a tiny treasure that measures just one centimeter long, fitting within the length of a human nail.


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The Monte Iberia frog is the smallest amphibian found in the northern hemisphere of the planet and is endemic to Cuba.

Monte Iberia little frog, the smallest amphibian in the world

This tiny treasure measures just one centimeter, and sometimes it doesn't even reach that size, as specimens of eight millimeters have been found. It fits within the length of a human fingernail.

Monte Iberia Frog / Thomas Brown on Wikimedia

The colors of its skin are striking, which is a clear indicator of its toxicity. It is poisonous as it feeds on arachnids from which it acquires the toxins that it then secretes through its skin.

This species is endangered due to the vulnerability of its habitat, which is limited to 100 km2. It is believed that its population is declining as a result of inadequate management of the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park.

The home of the Monte Iberia little frog is a Natural Heritage of Humanity

The Monte Iberia frog inhabits a restricted area of just 100 km², at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level, in a region of the eastern province of Holguín.

This region belongs to the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, recognized by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage Site. It is one of the most significant sites of endemism in the world.

Ranita Monte Iberia / Pierre Fidenci -wikimedia.org

It is said that this national park contains animal and plant species that have not yet been thoroughly described by scientists. It is the largest Biosphere Reserve in the Antilles and the most important protected area in Cuba.

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Gretchen Sánchez

Branded Content Writer at CiberCuba. Doctorate in Sciences from the University of Alicante and Bachelor's degree in Sociocultural Studies.