BY CHARLOTTE LLOYD
A new frog species has been discovered from research led by the University of Newcastle and the South Australian Museum.
Found in Wollumbin National Park in Northern NSW, the 'hip pocket' or 'pouched frog is only four of the 4000 species to store their tadpoles on their bodies.
The species has been named Assa wollumbin sp.nov. which nods to the traditional custodians of the National Park region, the Aboriginal Elders of the Wollumbin Consultative Group.
Minister for Environment Matt Keane said the frogs were quickly seeing the effects of climate change and their habitat was immediately declared an Asset of Intergenerational Significance under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
"A conservation action plan will be developed to ensure the survival of this fascinating frog species, which has been living undiscovered high in the cool forest." says Kean
University of Newcastle's Dr Michael Mahony said this is an exciting find and shows us about how much we don't know about the world around us with the frog having evolved for the last 10 million years.
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| 'Hip Pocket' Frog |
