SUNDAY TIMES (Perth, Australia) 20 June 08 Ancient frog found in Kalbarri sand dunes
A new species of frog that existed undiscovered near Kalbarri for more than five million years was introduced to the public in Geraldton last night.
The WA Museum said the southern sandhill frog had probably lived in sand dunes near Kalbarri since genetically diverging from its close relative, the northern sandhill frog.
Museum herpetologist Paul Doughty said a PhD researcher discovered the species.
"She got the results and went uh-oh, these northern and southern species seem to diverge by about five to seven million years," he told ABC News.
"I remember her describing the difference in appearance and the said the southern ones had a more squashed in, munted face than the northern one."
The southern sandhill frog displayed in Geraldton last night has now been returned to the Kalbarri sandhills.
Ancient frog found in Kalbarri sand dunes