New frog species hops into the spotlight in China's Hainan rainforest

Chinese researchers have discovered a brand-new amphibian species hidden in the tropical rainforests of south China's Hainan – a leap forward for science. They named it the Hainan Groove-toed Frog, in a nod to the province it hails from. 

The ribbiting discovery was made by a team from Hainan Normal University, working alongside researchers from Shenyang Normal University and Sun Yat-sen University. The findings have been published in ZooKeys, an international journal specializing in animal taxonomy.

Between 2024 and 2026, the team conducted field surveys across the Diaoluoshan area of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and the Shangxi Provincial Nature Reserve in Wanning.

When they collected specimens, detailed physical comparisons revealed the frogs looked toadally different from all other known relatives.

Further genetic analysis confirmed it: They had found a species completely new to science. 

So far, the frog has only been found in these two protected areas. It thrives in tropical rainforests at elevations between 350 and 950 meters, making its home in lush evergreen forests filled with ferns and shrubs.

The area's rocky streams are croaking with life, as the frogs breed in seasonal pools and calm backwaters.