New Frog Species Identified in Australia Through Citizen Science Project

Researchers have identified a new frog species in Australia, named the Western Laughing Tree Frog (Litoria ridibunda), previously thought to be part of Roth's Tree Frog (Litoria rothii). The discovery was made possible by analyzing over 8,000 recordings submitted to the Australian Museum's FrogID project by citizen scientists across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. Genetic analysis and call pattern examination revealed the two species are not closely related, with the western species having longer vocalizations. The finding highlights how citizen science can advance biological knowledge, with the new species becoming Australia's 248th documented native frog.