‘Large’ creature with spines on its belly found at waterfall. It’s a new species
As night settled across northern Vietnam, a “large” creature with spines on its belly sat near a waterfall. Its “dark green” eyes scanned the surrounding forest, but it wasn’t the only one looking around.
Visiting scientists spotted the “stout” animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers hiked into the forests of three provinces in Vietnam several times between 2012 and 2021 to survey wildlife, according to a study published June 5 in the peer-reviewed journal ZooKeys.
During their searches, researchers found several vaguely familiar-looking frogs, the study said. When they took a closer look at the animals and analyzed their DNA, the team noticed several distinctive features and realized they’d discovered a new species: Quasipaa ohlerae, or Ohler’s spiny frog.
Ohler’s spiny frogs are considered “large,” reaching over 4 inches in length, the study said. Their bodies are “very stout” with “rough” skin, “short” arms and “swollen” toes. Their “enlarged” heads have “dark green” eyes and a heart-shaped tongue.
Photos show the new species. Seen from above, the frog is dark brown with pale brown stripes on its limbs. Seen from below, its belly is “immaculate white” with “black spines” on its upper chest, throat and arms, the study said.
Ohler’s spiny frogs were found at night in forests around “the headwaters of rocky streams,” either “in the water or on the ground of stream banks,” researchers said. Female frogs had “yellowish cream eggs.”
Researchers said they named the new species after “colleague and friend” Annemarie Ohler, “in recognition of her great contributions towards a better understanding of the amphibian systematics of the Indochinese region.”
So far, Ohler’s spiny frogs have been found in the three nearby provinces of Nghe An, Son La and Thanh Hoa in northern Vietnam along the border with Laos, the study said. The new species may also live in Laos, Thailand and China.
The new species was identified by its size, skin texture, belly spines, coloring, eyes, toe shape and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least about 3% genetic divergence from other related species.
The research team included Cuong The Pham, Chung Van Hoang, Tien Quang Phan, Anh Van Pham, An Vinh Ong, Vien Hong Thi Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler and Truong Quang Nguyen.
The team also discovered a second new species: Binh’s spiny frog.
This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM with the headline "‘Large’ creature with spines on its belly found at waterfall. It’s a new species."
