Miniature frog species discovered

A frog smaller than some ants has been discovered in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. At 0.27 inches long, it is the second-smallest known vertebrate (animal with a backbone) in the world. Scientists from the University of Campinas in Brazil identified the frog after they heard an unknown sound in audio recordings from the forest. Tests confirmed that it came from a new species—the seventh known type of flea toad, a group of miniature frogs that are smaller than a fingernail. (Despite the name, these creatures are not toads.) They named it Brachycephalus dacnis after Project Dacnis, a nonprofit organization that works to conserve the forest. Further study revealed that B. dacnis’ head is structured like that of a regular-sized frog, but it lacks some fingers and parts of its…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 244

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