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New frog species discovered in Australia – and it’s already endangered

Mountain frog lives in Queensland’s Gondwana rainforests which were extensively burned in black summer bushfires

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Mountain frog lives in Queensland’s Gondwana rainforests which were extensively burned in black summer bushfires

Highlights

  • Australian scientists have discovered a new species of frog in south-east Queensland.
  • The new mountain frog’s only known habitat is the world heritage-listed Gondwana rainforests which were extensively burned during the 2019-20 black summer bushfires.
  • The frog was discovered thanks to extensive genetic testing.
  • Scientists have been gathering and analysing the DNA of the mountain frogs in the rainforest since 2006.
  • The discovery is part of a joint effort from the Queensland government ecologists, the University of Newcastle, South Cross University, CSIRO and the South Australian Museum.
  • It breeds in spring and early summer in small bogs and along the banks of mountain streams.