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A new species of flying frog has been discovered near Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

The frog, dubbed Helen's flying frog, was discovered by Jodi Rowley, an amphibian biologist at the Australian Museum in Sydney. Although flying frogs are not new to science, Rowley describes this 9 cm long frog as one of the best suited for flight, using its large webbed feet to parachute between trees. Females even have flappy skin on their forearms to aid flight, allowing them to soar over the forest floor for small amounts of time.

It is strange to discover a new species so close to a large city, and Rowley and her team are now working to establish whether the frog is endangered. Its lowland forest habitat may soon be under threat by development.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/01/130114-new-species-flying-frog-vietnam-science-animals-weird/
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/15/new-species-of-flying-frog-discovered-in-vietnam/

Image credit: Jodi Rowley and National Geographic

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