Most Wanted Toad Found

A colorful toad that has been missing for 87 years is discovered in Malaysia.

Written byJef Akst

| 1 min read

Listen with Speechify

0:00

1:00

INDRANEIL DAS / CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

The Borneo rainbow toad (also known as the Sambas stream toad) was spotted in the Malaysian state of Sarawak—87 years since its last documented appearance, Wired Science reports. The discovery was no coincidence. Last summer, Indraneil Das of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and his team searched the Gunung Penrissen mountains for months before finally finding the elusive amphibian. It was only after the researchers moved up to a higher elevation that graduate student Pui Yong Min spotted the toad partway up a tree.

When it was last seen in 1924 in Borneo, its European discoverers had drawn simple black-and-white sketches of the colorful toad. Then, after 10 years missing in action, the toad was added to Conservation International's World’s Top 10 Most Wanted Lost Frogs list. ...

Interested in reading more?

The Scientist ARCHIVES

Become a Member of

Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!

Join for free today

Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Jef Akst
Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
View Full Profile