New species of Leopard Frog discovered...in New York City

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17367664

Jeremy Feinberg of Rutgers University in New Jersey noticed the frogs there had a call he had never heard before.

They look identical to other species, but genetic analysis showed they are a new species of leopard frog that probably once lived in Manhattan.

While studying leopard frogs Mr Feinberg noticed that instead of the long "snore" he was expecting, he heard a short, repetitive croak.

"When I first heard these frogs calling, it was so different, I knew something was very off," Feinberg said.

The frogs are currently found in Staten Island, mainland New York, and New Jersey, sometimes in sight of the Statue of Liberty.

"For a new species to go unrecognised for all this time in this area is amazing," said Professor Brad Shaffer, one of the authors from the University of California Los Angeles. "Many amphibians are secretive and can be very hard to find, but these frogs are pretty obvious, out-there animals," he said. "This shows that even in the largest city in the US there are still new and important species waiting to be discovered that could be lost without conservation."

obviously proof of creationism

EDIT: how else would they have been so specialized for New York? srsly?

Originally posted by inimalist
obviously proof of creationism

Originally posted by Omega Vision
Frogs...created...probably rained...God is mad at New York for not stoning gays.

now way that this is a coincidence

sorry for the OT

actually really interesting story, to think that there could be a huge section of biodiversity around us that is totally unknown, even in big cities.

Originally posted by inimalist
now way that this is a coincidence

sorry for the OT

actually really interesting story, to think that there could be a huge section of biodiversity around us that is totally unknown, even in big cities.

That's a cool image, actually. Puts into perspective how far off track many Americans are from their "hero".

I appreciate that, but totally didn't want to go that far OT...

in terms of the biology, I think this story is awesome without that kind of cynicism

Omega this be cool...

I wonder how long it will take to get animals that really are specialized to living in cities. Not just a population boom but physical adaptation.

They should call it the Freedom Frog. *facepalm*

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
I wonder how long it will take to get animals that really are specialized to living in cities. Not just a population boom but physical adaptation.

I think he meant animals who can ride public transit.

Originally posted by Zampanó
What do you imagine this will look like, exactly? Bears' (and raccoons'!) paws are already pretty effective at dealing with garbage cans, for example.

Predicting the path of evolution is hard. I really can't say. Cities are a new environment, however, so if they last long enough they would have to place evolutionary pressures on things living there.

Originally posted by Zampanó
What do you imagine this will look like, exactly? Bears' (and raccoons'!) paws are already pretty effective at dealing with garbage cans, for example.

History Channel did a series called "Life After People", which proposed a premise of what would happen to the Earth and animals if humans just vanished.

Plant covered skyscrapers could/would become their own ecosystem with animals adapting to a life high above the surface. IIRC, cats could develop skin flaps like flying squirrels.

Just fantasy, but it was a decent series at times.

Could this be some kind of quick evolution?

Originally posted by Robtard
History Channel did a series called "Life After People", which proposed a premise of what would happen to the Earth and animals if humans just vanished.

Plant covered skyscrapers could/would become their own ecosystem with animals adapting to a life high above the surface. IIRC, cats could develop skin flaps like flying squirrels.

Just fantasy, but it was a decent series at times.

That sounds fun and interesting.

Cats would develop "skin flaps"? So they would be cat flaps?

Another word for cat?

BAM!

that is totally unknown, even in big cities

Originally posted by Lord Lucien
I think he meant animals who can ride public transit.

Originally posted by Robtard
History Channel did a series called "Life After People", which proposed a premise of what would happen to the Earth and animals if humans just vanished.

Plant covered skyscrapers could/would become their own ecosystem with animals adapting to a life high above the surface. IIRC, cats could develop skin flaps like flying squirrels.

Just fantasy, but it was a decent series at times.

I've seen a few of those episodes, including the one you've referenced. I thought it was amazing how nature could just 'overwrite' us if we weren't here to look out for our buildings, terrorities or accomplishments. Even more interesting was the fact that the animals or 'pests' that rely and live of our waste or are drawn to our warm buildings would have to go back to fending for themselves.

I liked how they said the Hoover Dam (I think) could manage for a long time without maintenance although their underwater pipes or something would eventually get clogged up and then it would fail.

Originally posted by red g jacks
Stray Dogs Master Complex Moscow Subway System

Epic