New York City is one of the most populated areas in the world, but scientists have discovered a new species of wild animal there. After several years of study, a team of researchers from several institutions has announced the conclusive discovery of a new species of leopard frog.
New York City is one of the most populated areas in the world, but scientists have still discovered a new species of wild animal there.
After several years of study, a team of researchers from a number of institutions has announced the conclusive discovery of a new species of leopard frog.
Experts had argued over whether or not there are two or three separate species of leopard frogs around the area of New York City since 1936.
Back in 2008, researchers found a specimen belonging to the third species on Staten Island, about ten miles from the Statue of Liberty.
Jeremy Feinberg, an ecologist from Rutgers University who worked on the study is quoted as saying: "There's one population in Staten Island where all it would take is filling in one pond, and it would be gone."
This is reportedly the first new species of amphibian to be identified in the United States over the past thirty years.
A genetic analysis confirmed that the new species is distinct from the other two found in the same area.
The study also describes the various differences between the new species and the other two related leopard frogs, which includes its mating call along with distinctive spot patterns.
