Latest news with #Quasipaa
Miami Herald
11-06-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Large' creature with spines on its belly found at waterfall. It's a new species
As night settled across northern Vietnam, a 'large' creature with spines on its belly sat near a waterfall. Its 'dark green' eyes scanned the surrounding forest, but it wasn't the only one looking around. Visiting scientists spotted the 'stout' animal — and discovered a new species. A team of researchers hiked into the forests of three provinces in Vietnam several times between 2012 and 2021 to survey wildlife, according to a study published June 5 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys. During their searches, researchers found several vaguely familiar-looking frogs, the study said. When they took a closer look at the animals and analyzed their DNA, the team noticed several distinctive features and realized they'd discovered a new species: Quasipaa ohlerae, or Ohler's spiny frog. Ohler's spiny frogs are considered 'large,' reaching over 4 inches in length, the study said. Their bodies are 'very stout' with 'rough' skin, 'short' arms and 'swollen' toes. Their 'enlarged' heads have 'dark green' eyes and a heart-shaped tongue. Photos show the new species. Seen from above, the frog is dark brown with pale brown stripes on its limbs. Seen from below, its belly is 'immaculate white' with 'black spines' on its upper chest, throat and arms, the study said. Ohler's spiny frogs were found at night in forests around 'the headwaters of rocky streams,' either 'in the water or on the ground of stream banks,' researchers said. Female frogs had 'yellowish cream eggs.' Researchers said they named the new species after 'colleague and friend' Annemarie Ohler, 'in recognition of her great contributions towards a better understanding of the amphibian systematics of the Indochinese region.' So far, Ohler's spiny frogs have been found in the three nearby provinces of Nghe An, Son La and Thanh Hoa in northern Vietnam along the border with Laos, the study said. The new species may also live in Laos, Thailand and China. The new species was identified by its size, skin texture, belly spines, coloring, eyes, toe shape and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least about 3% genetic divergence from other related species. The research team included Cuong The Pham, Chung Van Hoang, Tien Quang Phan, Anh Van Pham, An Vinh Ong, Vien Hong Thi Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler and Truong Quang Nguyen. The team also discovered a second new species: Binh's spiny frog.
Miami Herald
02-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Spiny' creatures get stomachs ‘flushed' to reveal their mystery diets in Vietnam
In northeastern Vietnam, researchers spent nearly a decade scouring mountain forests and nature reserves for a little-known endangered species of frog. Quasipaa acanthophora, or the Mau Son spiny frog, was discovered in 2009 on Mau Son Mountain and has now been reported in a new location, bringing the number of known populations to three, according to an April 29 study published in Biodiversity Data Journal. Researchers said recent fieldwork led to the discovery of a Mau Son spiny frog population in Dong Son–Ky Thuong Nature Reserve in Quang Ninh Province, about a 120-mile drive east from Hanoi. Experts have also begun to unlock mysteries about the diet of the Mau Son spiny frog, which was previously unknown, according to the study. Staked out along rocky streams in evergreen forests — the species' natural habitat — researchers caught 38 spiny frogs by hand and 'flushed' their stomachs to analyze the contents. The process, which caused no harm to the frogs, revealed '446 prey items,' giving researchers insights into the types and size of prey, as well as possible differences in consumption habits between males and females and adults and young, according to the study. Researchers found 27 different categories of prey, 21 of which were insects, in the stomachs of the Mau Son spiny frogs. Cockroaches and beetles are the most prominent or 'important' food source to the opportunistic feeders, according to the study. Crustaceans and whip scorpions were found only in the stomachs of female frogs, while crane flies and centipedes were found only in the stomachs of males, according to researchers. The spiny frogs are described as being 'large' and 'robust' with warty skin, 'pale copper' irises and 'immaculate white' bellies, according to the study. Mau Son spiny frogs are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and endangered in Vietnam's Red Data Book, according to researchers. The research team included Vien Hong Thi Nguyen, Anh Van Pham, Truong Quang Nguyen, Tung Thanh Tran, Thomas Ziegler and Cuong The Pham.
