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July 6, 2012 
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Prince Charles turns into a frog
By QMI Agency


Hyloscirtus Princecharlesi, or Prince Charles Stream Tree Frog, was named after the prince in recognition of HRH's work though the Prince's Rainforest Project. (FILE)

The Prince of Wales is now also the frog prince after a newly discovered species of amphibian was officially named for him Thursday.

Dr. Luis A. Coloma identified the Ecuadorian stream frog as a unique species in 2008, after he found it among preserved museum specimens, according to Amphibian Ark, the environmental group that organized the honorary event. The scientist later found a few living specimens in a rainforest in Ecuador.

The brown frog with bright orange spots is extremely rare and will only survive with the help of scientific and conservation efforts.

Coloma decided to name the frog Hyloscirtus Princecharlesi, or Prince Charles Stream Tree Frog, in recognition of the royal's work with the Prince's Rainforest Project.

The prince was presented with a replica of his namesake and a commemorative medal at a children's environmental workshop he hosted Thursday at his private residence, Highgrove House, in Gloucestershire, England.

Amphibians — a group that includes frogs, toads, salamanders and newts — are important to the global ecosystem, as indicators of environmental health and contributors to human health, but almost half of them are threatened with extinction due to loss of habitat, according to Amphibian Ark.