Have you ever heard of sapeada? Activity takes visitors to observe amphibians in nature

Have you ever heard of sapeada? Activity takes visitors to observe amphibians in nature Matheus T. Moroti Entering the forest at night to look for toads, tree frogs and toads may seem like an unusual proposition. But this is precisely the objective of the so-called sapeadas: night walks dedicated to observing amphibians and reptiles in their natural environment. ? Also follow Terra da Gente on Instagram Inspired by traditional birdwatching — bird watching — the activity is still little known in Brazil, but it has been winning over tourists, photographers, researchers and nature lovers. More than just a walk, the sapeadas have also become a tool for environmental education, citizen science and biodiversity conservation. "You don't need to be an expert, you just need to have an interest in and respect for the environment", says biologist Gabriela Rodrigues França, co-founder of Una Ecoturismo, a company specializing in wildlife observation tourism in Serra da Mantiqueira. According to her, the exits are open to the public, without profile restrictions. See more news from Terra da Gente, on g1: UNPRECEDENTED: Pied hawk's nest is found for the first time in MT reserve IMPRESSIVE: Rural producer catches crab tree preying on snakes in Maranhão ENVIRONMENT: After 20 years, research shows that the Amazon is recovering from fire, but it doesn't come back the same Different forest Have you ever heard of sapeada? Activity takes visitors to observe amphibians in nature Matheus T. Moroti Anyone who participates in a sapeada quickly discovers that the forest changes completely after the sun sets. Daytime animals retreat, while nocturnal species begin to occupy the environment, either through their presence or through the sounds they produce. It is during this period that most amphibians become more active, especially during reproduction. With flashlights and accompanied by guides, participants walk trails observing the animals without interfering with their behavior. See what's highlighted in g1:

The proposal is precisely to slow down and pay attention to fauna that normally goes unnoticed. Surrounded by myths, frogs and tree frogs still arouse fear in many people. For Marcelo Fonseca, a specialist in biodiversity conservation at PUC-PR and partner at Una Ecoturismo, direct contact with these animals tends to deconstruct this image. "The frog best known to the public is the cane toad, large, with warts and surrounded by myths. But, when people enter the forest, they discover that Brazil has the greatest diversity of amphibians in the world, with species of all colors, sizes and shapes. This makes them completely rethink the idea they had." According to him, this transformation is common. "We have already had cases of scared people who participated and left with a completely transformed vision", he adds. Beyond tourism In addition to attracting tourists and providing an experience of contact with nature, sapeadas are also important for science. During the activities carried out in São Francisco Xavier (SP), participants photographed the animals found and shared the records on citizen science platforms, such as iNaturalist. After being identified by experts, these observations become part of international banks used in biodiversity research. Have you ever heard of sapeada? Activity takes visitors to observe amphibians in nature Matheus T. Moroti Between October 2023 and December 2025, 14 sappings were carried out in the region, bringing together more than 60 participants. During this period, 31 species were recorded — 29 amphibians and two reptiles — in a total of 158 observations. Around 60% of these records reached a scientific level and became part of international databases. For researcher Thiago da Silva Novato, biologist and researcher at Esalq-USP, this is one of the greatest potentials of the activity. "Sapeadas can contribute to the monitoring of species, knowledge of their geographic distribution and natural history, in addition to alerting to changes in reproductive periods, reduction in abundance, emergence of diseases or changes in the environments occupied by amphibians." According to him, the expectation is that the activity will become as consolidated as bird watching, which today already plays an important role in the production of scientific knowledge. Discoveries Since January 2025, the scientific potential of sapeadas has become even more evident. During a night walk, guides and an ecotourist found, for the first time in Serra da Mantiqueira, a small tree frog of the genus *Fritziana*, known as the marsupial tree frog. The registration was the first for the São Francisco Xavier Environmental Protection Area and for the municipality of São José dos Campos. The animal draws attention for an unusual characteristic: the female carries the eggs in a pouch formed by folds of skin on her back, similar to a kangaroo's marsupium. Then, he deposits the tadpoles in bromeliads or bamboo cavities filled with water, where they complete their development. Have you ever heard of sapeada? Activity takes visitors to observe amphibians in nature Matheus T. Moroti According to Matheus T. Moroti, researcher at Unicamp and the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid and one of the precursors of the activity with Una Ecoturismo, the discovery may yet reveal something bigger. "I am currently leading the research that seeks to identify who this species is. It is undergoing molecular sequencing using DNA for comparison with other species of the genus." The first results encourage the team. Initial signs show that it may be a new species. Guidelines and conservation The project's researchers highlight that sapeadas only fulfill their role in conservation because they follow protocols to reduce impacts on animals as much as possible. Recommendations include avoiding handling amphibians, walking in small groups, cleaning shoes between different

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