Juvenile Himalayan Frog Spotted in Tibet After 137 Years

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Red wood ants produce formic acid from their venom gland at the rear of their abdomen, creating defense systems that shield forest ecosystems.

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The tiny 22.9mm frog, with bright green skin spotted with black, was accidentally found during a routine forest-pest survey in Yadong County. [Keywords: bright green frog,

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How did scientists confirm this was truly the elusive Amolops himalayanus? DNA analysis revealed just 0.7% genetic difference from the original 1888 specimen.

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The juvenile's advanced toe discs with specialized circummarginal grooves help it cling to wet rocks in fast-flowing mountain streams – an evolutionary marvel of mountain adaptation.

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Scientists documented the frog's exact measurements: head slightly longer than wide (HL/HW 1.08), eye diameter 3.7mm, and tibia almost equal to femoral length (TIB/FEM 1.03).

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Perched on a leaf at night near a crystal-clear mountain stream at 1,860 meters elevation, the juvenile's habitat represents a pristine Himalayan ecosystem.

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The discovery extends the known range of this poorly-studied amphibian approximately 80 kilometers northeast from previous records in India and Nepal.

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This tiny mountain dweller shared its habitat with other specialized high-altitude amphibians including Nanorana blanfordii, N. liebigii, and the recently described Xenophrys pangdaensis.

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With over 40% of amphibian species worldwide facing extinction threats, what does this new population record mean for conservation efforts?

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The researchers propose "喜山湍蛙" (xǐ shān tuān wā) as the Chinese common name to help foster local awareness and conservation of this newfound species.

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Unlike the adults, this juvenile specimen features a smooth dorsum, proportionally longer limbs, and a distinctive black stripe running from its snout tip across the eyes.

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Scientists from the Kunming Institute of Zoology stress the urgent need for additional surveys to assess this species' population status in China.

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