Tiny Frogs Make a Comeback in New Zealand

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This is an appropriate story, given that it is the international year of the frog or a year of frog awareness. Frog populations are declining fast due to habitat loss and due to a killer fungus. But in New Zealand a tiny frog called Maud Island frog has been breeding in the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. The frogs are normally found only on two islands in the Malborough Sounds region of New Zealand's South Island. Maud Island frogs, one of four native New Zealand frogs, have evolved little over the last 70 million years which has resulted in distinctive features and behaviors. Like: They do not croak, live in water or have webbed feet, and they hatch from the egg as fully formed frogs without going through the tadpole stage. Eggs are laid under rocks or logs and the male sits over the eggs until they hatch as well formed, tailed froglets. Cool Huh?