New frog that acts like a kangaroo discovered in Peru
Hmm, this tree is not as green as I'd hoped
- Published
Scientists have discovered a brand new species of frog in the Peruvian Amazon.
Gastrotheca mittaliiti is a miniature frog in a bright shade of green similar to that of Minecraft's Creeper.
The amphibian is just 2.5cm long and is known as 'mini marsupial' because, like kanagroos and other marsupials the frog carries its young on its body.
But, unlike a kangaroo that carries their joey - or baby animal - at the front, this frog carries its eggs in a pouch on its back.
The Amazon, home to the marsupial mini frog
The frog was was discovered in the mountains in an area bordering Ecuador.
It's not known how many amphibians exist in the wild but scientists says they could be at "high risk" because their habitat being badly affected by human activity for farming and climate change.
The discovery of the mini marsupial frog was revealed in the New Zealand scientific journal Zootaxa, and was a collaboration between teams at Florida International University and the University of Seville in Spain.
Manuel Oliva, one of the lead researchers, was positive about the discovery saying: "This is further evidence of the enormous natural wealth we possess... If we continue our research, there are many species still waiting to be discovered."
