What was once identified as the juveniles of other species is now found to be the adults of a newly discovered frog, the tiniest in the world. Being called Microhyla nepenthicola, these very little frogs only grow to the size of a pea and are found in Borneo. They have a harsh cry and live on plants called Nepenthes ampullaria, from which they derive their name.
New but not new
This frog has been around, even cataloged in museums for over 100 years, but never as it's own species. The fact that these diminuitive hoppers were, in fact, adults was discovered by Dr. Indraneil Das of the Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, and Dr. Alexander Hass of the Biozentrum Grindel und Zoologisches Museum of Hamburg.
"Amphibians are the most threatened group of animals, with a third of them in danger of extinction," the press release says. "The search, which is taking place in 20 countries on five continents, will help scientists to understand the recent amphibian extinction crisis."
What is about Utah's amphibians?
Chris Crocket of Utah's Department of Wildlife Resources says Utah is home to 14 native species of frogs and toads, some of which, like the Columbia Spotted Frog, are threatened or endangered.
"These frogs are seldom seen, so instead of trying to count adults, we count the egg masses they deposited during the breeding season. The number of egg masses we count gives us an idea of the total population (one mass equals one female and one male frog). The gelatinous egg masses are about the size of a baseball and can contain up to 1,000 tiny embryos. Typically, less than five percent will grow up to be adult frogs."
With those odds, you might wonder why it is worth it. But it is.
The importance of frogs
""I’m often asked about why amphibians are important." Continues Crocket. "Frogs and toads actually fulfill several roles in the ecosystem. Their diet consists primarily of insects, many of which are considered a nuisance to humans. The amphibians, in turn, are eaten by other species, including fish, birds and otters.
What may be a surprise is the role that amphibians play in protecting and preserving human health. Many of the medicines we rely on today are based upon enzymes found on frogs and toads.
Recently, scientists developed a drug for the treatment of brain tumors based on an enzyme contained within the eggs of Northern Leopard Frogs. These frogs are native to Utah and found in most counties. The cure to cancer may very well be a frog in your backyard!"
They might also be in your own terrarium. Leopard Frogs are common pets in "grow your own tadpole" kits such as Uncle Milton's "Planet Frog" often available at your closest educational toy store, such as Red Balloon in Salt Lake, American Fork, or Sandy.
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