"Indonesian Jungle Reveals World's Tiniest Fanged Frog Species"
Scientists have discovered the world's smallest frog with fangs, Limnonectes phyllofolia, in the Indonesian jungle of Sulawesi. Unlike its larger fanged frog relatives, this newly found species is an egg layer. The frogs were observed guarding their nests on leaves several feet off the ground, a behavior rarely seen in frogs. The male frogs coat their eggs with compounds to keep them moist and free of bacteria and fungi. This tiny frog species weighs only around two grams and has small fangs on its lower jaw. The researchers hypothesize that the smaller fang size is due to the lack of competition for egg-laying spots in waterways. Frog fangs have evolved independently at least four times across different species, with sexual selection playing a role in the size of the fangs.
