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New frog species named after Star Trek captains because of unique characteristics

BBG News

As a long-time Star Trek enthusiast who has spent countless hours on the USS Enterprise, the Excelsior, and the Voyager, I must say that this latest discovery of frogs named after our beloved captains is simply out of this world! Growing up, I never imagined that one day I’d be able to associate my favorite sci-fi characters with a real-life amphibian.

Frogs and Star Trek are typically thought of as unrelated, but this might alter with the finding of a new frog species from Madagascar. A recent study in Vertebrate Zoology has scientists suggesting that these frogs may be recognizable to Star Trek enthusiasts due to the noises they produce. Rather than the common croak of regular frogs, these frogs whistle sounds reminiscent of a boatswain’s call on the bridge of a starship, and they even resemble the sound of a tricorder. [Based on an article from Independent.co.uk]

Researchers found such a strong resemblance between the croaks of the newly-discovered frog species and certain sound effects from the famous science fiction TV show Star Trek that they decided to name them after the renowned captains of Starfleet: Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer, Burnham, and Pike.

Should you be considering a journey to discover and potentially document the elusive frogs of Madagascar, I wish you the best of luck! It seems these tiny creatures prefer remote habitats, making them somewhat challenging to locate. As scientists have noted, their discovery often involves some degree of hiking or exploration.

We had to undertake major expeditions to remote forest fragments and mountain peaks. There’s a real sense of scientific discovery and exploration here, which we think is in the spirit of Star Trek.

Dr. Miguel Vences

Every distinct group of seven species, each bearing distinctive titles, has its own particular sequence of whistles. That’s why each species was given a separate name. Consequently, scientists can recognize these frogs based on their unique names by listening to their whistles.

Captain Janeway and Lt. Tom Paris missed out on naming their salamander offspring, yet it’s nice that these frogs have been officially recognized. I can’t help but wish I could hear what they would name them in a Star Trek universe!

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2024-10-18 00:23

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