Paedophryne amauensis
Paedophryne amauensis | |
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Paratype of Paedophryne amauensis (LSUMZ 95004) on a US dime | |
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Species: | P. amauensis
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Binomial name | |
Paedophryne amauensis |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/X-ray_of_paratype_of_Paedophryne_amauensis_%28LSUMZ_95002%29.png/220px-X-ray_of_paratype_of_Paedophryne_amauensis_%28LSUMZ_95002%29.png)
Paedophryne amauensis is a recently discovered species of frog from Papua New Guinea. At 7.7 millimetres (0.30 in) in length, it is possibly the world's smallest vertebrate.[2][1]
Discovery
The frog species was discovered in August of 2009 by Christopher Austin when on an exploration of the diversity of Papua New Guinea, near Amau Village in the Central Province.[1] The National Science Foundation sponsored the exploration that led to the discovery.[3]
Characteristics
The frog is a millimeter smaller than the previous record holder for being the world's smallest vertebrae - a species of carp (Paedocypris progenetica) from Indonesia.[3][4] The frog predominantly lives on land. According to the discoverers, the life cycle of the frog does not include a tadpole stage.[3] The call of the frog resembles more of insects than of frogs and are capable of leaping 30 times their own body length.[3] P. amauensis are crepuscular. Males call for mates with a series of very high pitched 8400–9400 Hz peeps.[1]
Habitat
Like all species of Paedophryne known so far, Paedophryne amauensis lives in the leaf litter on the floors of tropical forests.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Rittmeyer, Eric N.; Allison, Allen; Gründler, Michael C.; Thompson, Derrick K.; Austin, Christopher C. (2012). "Ecological guild evolution and the discovery of the world's smallest vertebrate". PLoS ONE. 7 (1). doi:doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0029797. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
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value (help) - ^ "World's tiniest frogs found in Papua New Guinea". The Australian. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ a b c d "World's smallest creature with a vertebrate named". The Telegraph. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ^ "Hallan en Papúa Nueva Guinea a las ranas más pequeñas del mundo" (in Spanish). eluniverso.com. Retrieved 2012-01-12.