CURRENT WORK IN HERPETOLOGY:

Researchers discover six new African frog species, uncover far more diversity

via: McMaster University

Researchers have discovered half a dozen new species of the African clawed frog, and added back another to the list of known species, in the process uncovering striking new characteristics of one of the most widely studied amphibians in the world.

The discovery increases the number of known clawed frog species from 22 to 29—a 30 percent increase. Each of the new species is documented online today in the journal PLOS ONE.

These clawed frogs, found in west and central sub-Saharan Africa, live in slow moving or stagnant water and are characterized by flattened bodies, vocal organs which can produce sound underwater, and claws on its first three toes…

(read more: Phys.Org)

photograph by Vacute, Gvocaron