Researchers at Griffith University in Australia and the Queensland Museum have discovered a “chocolate frog” in New Guinea. Litoria Mira Baptized amphibians can provide useful information about the ancient relationship between Australia and the island to its north, writes MTI.
“Litoria myra’s closest relative is the blue tree frog, also known as the Australian tree frog. The two species look the same, except that one of them is usually green in color, while the newly identified species are usually a charming chocolate brown. Paul OliverOne of the university’s faculty members.
“We called Mira, a strange or surprising name in Latin, and not this new species of Litoria because we were surprised to discover a hitherto unknown relative of the blue-leaf frog, well known and common in Australia, in the lowland rainforests of New Guinea,” the specialist added.
Steve Richards, A staffer at the South Australian Museum, says that Litoria mira is supposed to be a common species in New Guinea, but it prefers warm, marshy and crocodile-rich areas where people don’t take too much risk.
“While New Guinea is not a well-known place to most Australians, we have many animal groups in common. Understanding the biodiversity of New Guinea will help to better understand the history and origins of the unique fauna in Australia,” Richards noted, Australian Journal of Zoology Co-author of a study published in the journal.
