Researchers at Cornell University have discovered two new frog species, one of which is arguably the smallest of all known vertebrates.
The species Paedophryne swiftorum and Paedophryne amanuensis were discovered in Papua New Guinea during a field research trip in 2008. The fully grown male P. amanuensis is a tiny 7.7 millimeters in length, breaking the record for world’s smallest vertebrate.
Researchers also found that unlike larger frog species, these tiny frogs develop directly, hatching in adult form and not as tadpoles. They live in leaf litter on the floor of tropical rainforests and could be part of a new ecological guild.
Read more at Cornell University