‘Horned’ creature with ‘diamond-shaped’ pupils found at park. It’s a new species
As night stretched across a nature reserve in southern China, a “horned” creature with “long” limbs climbed onto a plant near a stream. Its “diamond-shaped” pupils scanned the surrounding forest, but it wasn’t the only one looking around.
Nearby scientists noticed the “smooth” animal — and discovered a new species.
A team of researchers visited Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve in August 2024 to survey wildlife. Situated along the China-Myanmar border, the reserve “harbors a striking diversity of species” but is “yet to be fully documented,” according to a study published Aug. 8 in the peer-reviewed journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.
During their nighttime searches, researchers found five unfamiliar-looking frogs around a stream, the study said. Intrigued, they took a closer look at the animals, analyzed their DNA and realized they’d discovered a new species: Xenophrys tongbiguanensis, or the Tongbiguan horned toad.
Tongbiguan horned toads are considered “medium”-sized, reaching over 2 inches long, the study said. Their skin is “primarily smooth.” Their arms and legs are “long” with “narrow” fingers and “long” toes.
A close-up photo shows the Tongbiguan horned toad’s “large,” “copper-brown” eyes, which have black “diamond-shaped” pupils “outlined in yellowish-brown,” researchers said. The frog’s eyelids have a “small pointed horn-like” bump on the upper edge.
Other photos show the “reddish brown” coloring of the new species. Seen from above, its back has a network-like pattern of black markings. Seen from below, its belly is cream “with dense orange flecking,” the study said.
Tongbiguan horned toads were found on the “forest floor” around a mountain stream, the study said. “The frog usually perches on cardamom leaves at night, but it can be found among piles of dead leaves by the roadside on rainy days.”
Much about the lifestyle and behavior of the new species remains unknown.
Researchers said they named the new species after Tongbiguan Provincial Nature Reserve where it was first discovered and, so far, the only place where it has been found. Because of its proximity to the border, “it is likely that this new species might also be present in northern Myanmar.”
The new species was identified by its coloring, overall size, finger and toe shape, body proportions and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 6% genetic divergence from related species.
The research team included Yun-He Wu, An-Ru Zuo, Shen-Pin Yang, Ding-Can Zhang, Zheng-Pan Duan, Felista Kasyoka Kilunda, Zhong-Bin Yu and Jing Che.
This story was originally published August 15, 2025 at 12:52 PM with the headline "‘Horned’ creature with ‘diamond-shaped’ pupils found at park. It’s a new species."
