Small frog with a coin

US scientists have discovered a tiny frog in the Andes in Peru. They think this may be the smallest frog on the planet.

Biologists at the University of California (USA) found new frogs while studying chytrid fungi - a fungus that has killed many species of frogs and thunderstorms in recent years. They named it Noblella. The maximum length of female frogs is 12.4 mm while male frogs only reach 11.1 mm. The most surprising thing is that they live in relatively high places (3,000 to 3,190 meters above sea level).

A research team's assistant placed Nobella's frog on her finger. New frogs have some unusual characteristics. For example, females only lay 2 eggs (too small compared to other frogs) and each egg is about one third the size of an adult frog. They live in areas with low shrubs - intermediate habitats between forests and grasslands. The number of Noblella frogs is not much, about 30-75 in a hectare.

Scientists found the poisonous chytrid fungus in Peru, but it seems that the frog is not killed by the fungus because chytrid only attacks frogs that need water in their reproductive activities. A frog Noblella is holding two eggs. It will protect and moisturize eggs until the eggs hatch into frogs.