Smallest Frogs Found—Each Tinier Than an M&M
Two new species discovered in Papua New Guinea forest.
The previous tiny titleholders, also frogs in the Paedophyrne genus, were about ten millimeters long.
(See related pictures: "Pea-Size Frog Found—Among World's Smallest.")
Not only are the newfound frogs the smallest known in the world, they're also the smallest tetrapods, or vertebrates with four legs. The planet's tiniest known vertebrate is the Southeast Asian fish species Paedocypris progenetica, with mature females measuring just 7.9 millimeters.
"I'm always amazed by the size of these small frogs you find—it's really pushing the limit of what's possible," said Robin Moore, an amphibian expert with Conservation International (CI) who was not involved in the study.
Vertebrate zoologist Fred Kraus
