Whilst explore the high mountains in cardinal Vietnam a young coinage of frog was disclose by scientist . The toad frog are around 4 cm long , have a pink and yellow-bellied body , and the backs of the male are embrace in small clean prickle . For this reason the frogs have been named the Thorny Tree Frog ( Gracixalus lumarius ) . The issue have been print in the journalZootaxa .
Lead authorDr Jodi Rowleyand her colleaguesoftenmake expeditions to the mount of Vietnam , and this finical area had been explored back in 2009 and 2010 by amphibious biologists . The team were in a bamboo and evergreen forest in Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve in the Kon Tum Province when they discovered the batrachian . Two other amphibious specie have been discovered here that have so far not been documented elsewhere ; the Orange - belly Leaf - bedding ToadLeptolax croceusand the Misty Moss FrogTheloderma nebulosum , which is probably due to the closing off of this eminent ( > 1800 meter ) forest .
Apart from very beautiful coloring , the frogs had some other interesting characteristics . As mentioned , the backs and head of the male were find to be covered in small blank back , or thorns , but female person were comparatively quiet . This propose to the team that these thorns may serve to facilitate intimate acknowledgment . Furthermore , the manlike frog compile in the breeding time of year had the most telling thorns , whereas the males collected in the non - breeding besotted season had less distinct thorns , indicate that they may serve to indicate to the female that the male is quick to breed . The frogs also possess vivid atomic number 79 irises .
Although no tadpole were observed for this mintage , they receive that the frogs put down eggs within water - filled tree hollow which is probably where the polliwog develop into frogs . This could be a chemical mechanism to ward off predation that may pass in more open streams or pools , or alternatively because the frog are just take advantage of the most abundant weewee generator in the sphere .
Unfortunately the home ground of the Thorny Tree Frog is under threat , so the futurity of this probable endemical species and many others remains unsure . Southeast Asia experience the high charge per unit of disforestation on the planet , andillegal loggingis a particular trouble in Vietnam and neighboring land . These forests are extremely copious in biodiversity ; over the last 15 age alone around 1,700 species have been give away here . Not only that , but the restricted habitat of this frog means that it is in particular susceptible to other menace such as the pet trade and clime modification , allot toRowleyin a web log . " Now that we know the species exists , we hope to ensure its continue survival , " she adds .
