The Smallest Vertebrate

Rittmeyer EN, Allison A, Gründler MC, Thompson DK, Austin CC
The Smallest Vertebrate: Paedophryne amauensis (Paedophryne amauensis )

This species of frog indigenous to Papua New Guinea is not only the smallest species of frog in the world, but also the smallest species of known vertebrate. This means that it is the tiniest organism to have a backbone. They were only discovered when an unknown frog call was detected, causing researchers to scoop up leaf litter and ultimately see the tiny frogs hopping within it. They have an average body size of 7.7 millimeters and surprisingly do not have a tadpole stage of life. Their main food source is small invertebrate species.

Amphibian / Vertebrate

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