Northwest Nazarene University is now home to some of the rarest treefrogs in the world.
Dr. John Cossel, Chair of NNU's Department of Biology, received the treefrogs after they were confiscated from a black market shipment originating in Mexico.
The Fringe-Limbed and Crowned Treefrogs have already laid eggs, making NNU one of the only institutions in the world to have bred the frogs in captivity.
"We set up in their quarantine. Thanks these simulated trees, they laid eggs in there, so we've confirmed that they don't necessarily need a stream to lay their eggs," Cossel said.
Cossel's extensive work in Costa Rica combined with NNU's ability to house neotropical amphibians made the university a perfect choice to receive custody of the frogs.
"It's kind of like Star Trek, or The Final Frontier, or the last unknown," NNU student Austin Reich said. "This is that same kind of giddiness except for, maybe, a little bit more nerdy that it's behaviors of a frog."
The two species will be on display at the "Creepy Crawlies" open house. The event takes place in the Thomas Family Health & Science Building on Friday, November 3. The event is free and open to the public from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
