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IT'S NOT EASY TO BE ONE CENTIMETER LONG,
66 MILLION YEARS OLD & 100 DECIBELS LOUD
Metamorph Sooglossus sechellensis balanced on a 10 pence coin.Credit: Dr. Jim Labisko |
- April 11, 2019 University of Kent
- Research scientists have uncovered hidden diversity within a type of frog found only in the Seychelles, showing that those on each island have their own distinct lineage.
They are living ancestors of those frogs that survived the meteor strike on earth approximately 66 million years ago, making them a highly evolutionarily distinct group.
Although tiny, the sound they emit can be around 100 decibels, equivalent to the sound volume of a power lawnmower'. - Dr Labisko said: 'Amphibians play a vital role in the ecosystem as predators, munching on invertebrates like mites and mosquitos, so they contribute to keeping diseases like malaria and dengue in check... Dr Labisko and his colleagues are carrying out intensive monitoring to assess the level of risk from climate change, making a local impact in the Seychelles.
NO SCIENCE JOURNALISTS WERE KILLED OR INJURED IN PREPARING THIS SCIENCE DAILY ARTICLE
