scientist summiting Mount Po Ma Lung in Vietnam were endue a surprisal amphibious vehicle on their way back down the mountain . They were really looking for Sterling ’s toothedtoadduring a grueling eight - day survey of the lot – but instead stumbled upon a newfangled species with a insect bite all of its own .
It ’s been given the usual name Mount Po Ma Lung toothed batrachian , for obvious reasons , with the scientific nameOreolalax adelphos . It ’s the secondOreolalaxamphibian to be found in Vietnam – with the first being the Sterling ’s jaggy batrachian – and “ adelphos ” is Greek for brother , as a nod to the two toad frog ’ relationship .
“ The discovery ofOreolalax adelphosis a surprising finding and the result of a truly unforgettable solar day of searching , wax to the mountain ’s highest summit , ” say ZSL EDGE Fellow and lead investigator on the paper Luan Thanh Nguyen , of Indo - Myanmar Conservation , in a insistence release station to IFLScience . “ Our initial goal on this slip was to find a Sterling ’s jagged frog , but while surveying Mount Po Ma Lung under very thought-provoking weather condition condition , we came across what we ’re thrilled to have uncovered a mintage that is new to science : the Mount Po Ma Lung toothed toad . "
“We’re thrilled to have uncovered a species that is new to science.“Image credit: ZSL
“ This of import discovery in our Hoàng Liên Range amphibian inquiry brings us one step closer to better knowledge of the true diversity of amphibians in Vietnam ’s high mess reach . ”
While it ’s closely relate to Sterling ’s toothed toad , the scientists could separate they were look at something else because it had unfamiliar marker . It ’s spot with black , emollient , and grey , and has other strange trait include a faithful of hide behind its eyes , a mottled belly , and two - tone irises .
If the concept of serrated toads has you stumped , now ’s a good time to state you that yes , some toads andfrogs have teeth . They can be maxillary tooth , like the sabre - toothed frogs ; or vomerine tooth , which is what our Mount Po Ma Lung toothed toad has .
The surprisal discovery of the Mount Po Ma Lung toothed toad is a win for a region nicknamed Vietnam ’s “ froggy hotspot , ” and an important whole step towards better conserve wild animals – let in those species we do n’t even know about yet .
“ This is a very exciting new discovery , and one that highlights the motive to protect the forests of the Hoàng Liên Range and their remarkable biodiversity , ” added Dr Ben Tapley , London Zoo ’s Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians . “ Over the preceding 10 class , we have describe 6 frogs and a snake in the grass as new coinage to skill ; now we have the authoritative job of work with our partners to conserve them . ”
The subject field is published in the journalZootaxa .
