New South Wales: Small frog found in Australia

New South Wales
Small frog found in Australia

In the newly discovered frog species in Australia, male birds carry frogs on their bodies.

Researchers have found a 16-millimeter small animal on a mountain in Wollongong National Park. It is only four of the 4,000 known frog species worldwide, the New South Wales Ministry of Environment quoted university scientist Michael Mahoney in Newcastle as saying.

Genetic analyzes by the University and the South Australian Museum show that it is a separate species closely related to the “ass darlingtoni” (pie or hip pocket frog). The small waterfalls in Mount Warning, which cover only about 2000 hectares (called Mount Volampin by the natives), were named “Asa Volampin” after their location.

Immediate action was taken to protect the livestock

Regional Environment Minister Matt Keane said the New South Wales government had taken immediate action to protect small populations. “This incredible discovery shows how little we know about the world around us,” he said.

According to Keane, its small population makes the frog highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. “In order to ensure the survival of this spectacular frog species that lives at high altitudes in the cold forest, a nature conservation action plan is being developed.”

Wollamba National Park is located in the Gondwana Rainforest on the border of New South Wales and Queensland. Rainforests have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

dpa