First amphibian pollinator

The first known amphibian pollinator is Izecksohn's Brazilian tree frog (Xenohyla truncata). Specimens of this rust-coloured species were observed jumping headfirst into the large, bell-shaped creamy-white flowers of the Brazilian milk fruit tree, where they lapped up the sweet nectar. When they re-emerged, their bodies were covered in pollen grains, which were duly dispersed as the frogs hopped from flower to flower in the forest, thereby facilitating pollination of this tree species. This is the first time that pollination behaviour has ever been recorded with an amphibian. The findings were set out in the scientific journal Food Webs in June 2023.

Whether all frogs belonging to this species behave like this, or whether such activity is specific to those particular individuals that were observed by the researchers, is as yet unknown; the latter specimens do appear to fulfil the definition of a pollinator, but more studies are needed to determine whether the entire species does.