High in the mountains of southern China, a "flat" headed creature sat on the bank of a stream. His multicolored eyes watched the rapidly flowing water pass by.
But something (or rather someone) was watching him.
Scientists ventured into the mountains of yunnan provincea biodiversity hotspot, to study wildlife in 2021 and 2022, according to a study published April 4 in the peer-reviewed journal Vertebrate Zoology.
During their studies, the researchers found several unknown-looking frogs, according to the study. They captured three of these animals and, upon closer inspection, realized that they had discovered a new species: Amolops yangi, or Yang's torrent frog.
Yang's torrent frog is considered "medium" in size, measuring about 2 inches long, according to the study. It has a “flat” head, “short” snout and “smooth” texture. Its "big" eyes are multicolored, part "golden yellow" and part "reddish brown."
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The photos show the lime green color of a Yang Stream frog. Black bands crisscross on its limbs and greenish-yellow spots on its back.
Yang's torrent frogs were found on “the banks of rocky, fast-flowing streams” or perched on nearby plants, according to the study. The new species lives in the mountains between elevations of 8,200 and 11,500 feet.
The researchers said they named the new species after Da-Tong Yang because of "his great contributions to herpetological research in southwest China."
So far, Yang's burrowing frogs have only been seen at two sites in the Gaoligong Mountains in Yunnan province, according to the study. This province is in southern China and borders Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.
The new species was identified by its size, body shape, eyes, teeth, coloration and DNA, according to the study.
The research team included Yun-He Wu, Zhong-Bin Yu, Chen-Qi Lu, Yin-Peng Zhang, Wen-Jie Dong, Xiao-Long Liu, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Yun Xiong, Yun-Fang Jiang, Hong Ouyang , Zhong-Xiong Fu, Yun-Biao He, Zhi-Yong Yuan and Jing Che.
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