JAKARTA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian scientists have found a new frog species in a forest situated in mountainous area in western Java Island of western Indonesia, a researcher said on Thursday.
The species with latin name of leptophryne javanica was discovered in Gunung Ceremai mountain, said Amir Hamidy, scientist at the Indonesian institute of science.
The white or yellow new species has a small size of body with length of 22 to 29 centimeters, said the scientist.
After carrying out a research on the frog the scientist concluded that it was a new species, he said.
The scientist said that the new species naturally preys on insects, caterpillars and others species in the Ceremai mountain.
"This frog plays important roles in maintaining ecosystem balance in Ceremai mountain," he said.
The scientist, however, cited that the newly discovered frog is classified as a critically endangered species.
The species population have decreased as its habitat forests have been continuously converted to agricultural lands, bringing them into the brink of extinction, he added.
