Vietnamese and German scientists have discovered a new species of Megophrys toad in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, according to the Nhan Dan newspaper.
The newly discovered spadefoot toad found in Cao Bang province (Photo: en.nhandan.org.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnameseand German scientists have discovered a new species of Megophrys toadin the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, according to the Nhan Dannewspaper.
Thediscovery of the Cao Bang Spadefoot Toad (Vietnamese name: “Coc mat Cao Bang”)was made by a team of experts from Institute of Ecology and BiologicalResources, Vietnam National Museum of Nature, Hanoi National University ofEducation and Cologne Zoo (Germany).
The finding was announced in theZootaxa scientific journal in January 2020 with standard samples of thisspecies collected in Phia Oac-Phia Den National Park in Cao Bang.
The new species, scientificname Megophrys caobangensis, differsfrom other Megophrys species interms of morphological and genetic differences when comparing mitochondrialgene sequences.
It is also the sixth new species of Megophrys found in Vietnam in the lastfive years. Most of the new species in this genus were discovered in Vietnam'severgreen alpine forest ecosystems, such as the Hoang Lien Mountains, theCentral Highlands and the border areas between Vietnam and China.
The discovery of thenew species is expected to contribute to Vietnam's conservation efforts andbiodiversity research./.
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The newly discovered spadefoot toad found in Cao Bang province (Photo: en.nhandan.org.vn) 
