Tiny Frog Found in Papua New Guinea    [30-12-2011] New species of plants and animals are constantly being discovered. Experts say that there are many more other species that have yet to be found. Recently, a new species of frog has been discovered in Papua New Guinea. The newly found amphibian is amazingly tiny. It is actually smaller than an M&M candy! Paedophryne dekot is about 8 to 9 millimeters long on average. Dekot means “very small” in the local Daga language. The frog has bumpy skin and a brown tone. Before this discovery, the smallest frog known to man was about 10 millimeters long. The tiniest frog in the world also holds the title of smallest tetrapod in the world. A tetrapod is a vertebrate with four legs. Fred Kraus, a vertebrate zoologist, found the new species during an expedition to a remote mountain in the southeastern part of Papua New Guinea. Paedophyrnes live on and near leaves on the rainforest floor. Kraus noted that the frogs evolved to be as small as they are to adapt to and exploit certain parts of the environment. For example, the tiny creatures are able to eat even tinier creatures like mites and other bugs. Larger frogs would not be able to sustain their bodies with this kind of diet. This discovery interests many scientists and zoologists. They confidently say that many other frog species have yet to be discovered.     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)