Three New Frog Species Discovered in Papua New Guinea

Three new species of tiny frogs from Papua New Guinea were recently discovered.

According to lead researcher Dr. Fred Kraus of the University of Michigan, he discusses how three new species from the genus Oreophryneto can be added to the already diverse region.

The three new species include species Oreophryne cameroni, Oreophryneparkopanorum and Oreophryne gagneorumare.  All are small with total body length of only 20 mm. Yet these tiny frogs are substantially larger than the species that claimed the smallest frog prize, according to background information from a press release. Paedophryne dekot and Paedophryne verrucosa are only half the length of the newly discovered frogs, ranging between 8 to 9 mm in size.

Scientists note that the new species' are largely restricted to just New Guinea and satellite islands. At this time, this genus appears to be the largest in the Papuan region.

"Although the description of the new species treated herein now brings to seven the number of Oreophryne species reported from the north-coast region of New Guinea, the presence from these areas of additional specimens of uncertain identity suggests that additional species likely await description," said Dr Kraus about the diversity of the genus within the region., via the release "I have at least a dozen more new Oreophryne species remaining to be described from this region, and large portions of this terrane system remain unsurveyed."

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the latest issue of Zookeys.