World's Smallest Frogs Found In Papua New Guinea

Scientists have discovered the world smallest frogs on the forest floor in Papua New Guinea.

The frogs, which are smaller than a penny, are also the world's tiniest tetrapods (four-legged vertebrates), according to Live Science. The two newly discovered species, now known as Paedophryne dekot and Paedophryne verrucosa, both belong to the Paedophryne genus of miniature frogs.

According to Science Daily, the frogs face several challenges because of their diminutive stature.

• Their "fingers and toes" are too small to attach to anything, so the creatures mostly dwell on leafs and moss on the forest floor.
• Females can only carry up to two eggs, so there are fewer reproduction opportunities.
• They lose moisture easily, so they inhabit the wet, tropical forests.
• Food supply is limited because of their location, so the frogs eat mostly mites.

Earlier this year, scientists discovered 12 new frog species in India and found three others that were previously thought to have been extinct.

According to the group Global Wildlife Conservation, as many as 32 percent of all amphibian species are in danger of becoming extinct.

"Frogs are extremely important indicators not just of climate change, but also pollutants in the environment," biologist Sathyabhama Das Biju of the University of Delhi, told the Associated Press at the time of the India discovery.

For more on the miniature frogs, check out the video below.

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