NEW FROG SPECIES FOUND BY UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE BIOLOGIST

A University of Newcastle biologist has discovered a new frog species near Newcastle Airport.

Mahony’s Toadlet (Uperoleia mahonyi), was discovered by Dr Simon Clulow at Oyster Cove in Port Stephens and has a highly restricted distribution, occurring in select coastal sand swamps in Myall Lakes, Port Stephens and on the Central Coast.

The name honours Dr Clulow’s supervisor and mentor, Professor Michael Mahony, a renowned frog expert and conservationist.

The discovery has been detailed by Dr Clulow along with coauthors Dr Marion Anstis (University of Newcastle), Prof Scott Keogh (Australian National University) and Dr Renee Catullo (University of Western Sydney) in the journal Zootaxa, published today.