Discover new frogs at the border with China - Vietnam

Scientists have discovered a new rock-clad frog (belonging to Amolops, frog class) in the southern mountains of China's Yunnan province, which borders the northern border of Vietnam.

Scientists have published a new rock-clad frog - Amolops caelumnoctis sp. nov. Rao & Wilkinson, 2007 in the popular magazine Copeia, USA in December 2007. The frog's natural distribution is in the mountainous region of southern Yunnan Province, China, adjacent to the border. North Vietnam.

New rock-clad frog (Amolops, frog class) in the southern mountains of China, Yunnan province, borders the northern border of Vietnam (Photo: Copeia)

This frog species belongs to the non-tail, frog class. This is the only amphibian species with a dark purple back, with many small yellow spots interspersed evenly throughout the body that look like sparkling stars in the night sky.

This new clinging frog also has another distinguishing feature when compared to other Amolops: they have a smooth skin (no nodules) and no any wrinkles on the side . In addition, this new rock-clad frog does not have horizontal muscle bars in the legs.

Through the study of standard samples and comparative samples, scientists found that the newly discovered species had many different characteristics compared to previously known species.

New clinging frogs have long, flattened bodies; the width of the head is smaller than the body but larger than the width of the body; flat head; The anterior limb expands a bit smaller and lasts longer. Long, small lower leg. This new amphibian species lives along the waterfall streams in the mountains with large tree density, and high altitude.

According to the research of scientists, most of the frog-like frogs - Amolops live in mountainous areas in India, Southeast Asia and southern China.

Currently, of about 40 known Amolops clover frog species in the world, more than half are found in mainland China (DF Frost, World of Amphibians [Flower Museum of Natural History Period, August 17, 2006]).

Local people in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, Van Nam, China - adjacent to Vietnam when they joined the research team of the Kunming Institute of Zoology while surveying the black ape In the spring of 2002 these organisms were discovered and their photos taken. Next, a research team obtained many specimens of this new amphibian.

Newly clinging frogs have long, flattened bodies.
(Photo: Copeia)