How did a pumpkin toad become one of the most talked-about species of 2025?

The answer

The pumpkin toad, one of several new Brachycephalus species described in 2025 from Brazil's Atlantic Forest, captivated scientists and the public alike with its vivid orange coloration, miniature size (fitting on a human thumbnail), and the ability to fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Despite their adorable appearance, pumpkin toads carry potent tetrodotoxin in their skin - the same neurotoxin found in pufferfish. Their bright color serves as a warning to predators. These micro-endemic amphibians are found only on isolated mountaintops in southeastern Brazil, where each peak may harbor its own unique species. Habitat destruction and climate change threaten these tiny toads, some of which may go extinct before they're even discovered.