Grass frog is found in the wild. Photo: Research team

They together with German and Russian scientists found the “grass frog” (Zhangixalus Thaoae) in Lao Cai province. This species belongs to the genus Zhangixalus and was discovered at an altitude of nearly 1,900 meters above sea level.

The discovery was published in the magazine ZooKeys on April 8, bringing the number of species of this genus recorded in Vietnam to 10.

Earlier, the “brown dwarf frog” (Vietnamophryne aurantifusca) was found by Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thien Tao and his research team in Tuyen Quang. This species is characterized by its orange-brown back with large black spots, and a yellow-orange chest and abdomen.

Both newly-found species highlight the diverse amphibian fauna in Vietnam's hard-to-reach mountains.