資料來源連結
Tiny frog is world's smallest vertebrate
22:00 11 January 2012
They just keep getting smaller. Barely a month after scientists identified the world's smallest species of frog, this little guy has been snapped relaxing on an US dime. At 7.7 millimetres long from snout to tail, it's even teenier than December's "smallest frog ever" - and this time it's the smallest vertebrate, too.
科學家發現最小的脊椎的動物--一種青蛙，他也是目前發現最小的青蛙
Paedophryne amauensis was discovered in Papua New Guinea in 2009 by Christopher Austin of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and colleagues. They have now published an official description.
P. amauensis is slightly smaller than the previous smallest vertebrate, a Sumatran fish called Paedocypris progenetica that was described in 2006. Females of this species grow to 7.9 mm.
路易斯安納州大的科學家在新幾內亞發現一種名為Paedophryne amauensis 的青蛙，是現今最小的蛙類
它的身長只有7.7mm，比2006年發現的一種魚類還要小，此種魚類的雌性只有7.9mm
There is another contender for the title of smallest vertebrate: one kind of male anglerfish is just 6.2 mm long. But this particular male lives his entire life attached to the (much larger) female, and his body is little more than a backbone and a pair of testicles - so many biologists feel he shouldn't count.
有種天使魚的雄性比這兩種動物都還要小，它只有6.2mm
但是它是依附在雌魚上，所以很多科學家不認為此種魚類最小
因為雌魚跟雄魚比例相差太大
Regardless, the new frogs are just the latest in a parade of tiny animals discovered in recent years.
Back in 1996, the title of smallest frog was held by two species from Brazil and Cuba, both just 10 mm long.
在這之前，最小的青蛙生活在巴西跟古巴，都只有10mm而已
In 2001, a tiny gecko was found that's just 16 mm long - giving it the joint record for world's smallest reptile, along with a closely-related species.
2001發現最小的爬蟲類--一種壁虎，他只有16mm長
Then, in 2008, we found out about Leptotyphlops carlae: the world's smallest snake, barely as thick as a strand of spaghetti.
2008年發現一種蛇類，他只有一根通心麵長
And just last month, we were told about two species of frog that measured just 8-9 mm.
上個月，科學家也才剛發現兩種8-9mm的蛙類
Austin thinks that miniature frogs are not just oddities and may be quite common. He points out that 27 of the 29 smallest frogs skip the tadpole phase and hatch straight into adults, and also live in very moist areas. These factors may make it easier for smaller frogs to evolve. For instance, tiny frogs have a large surface area-to-volume ratio, which puts them at risk of losing a lot of water through their skin. The moist environment may help avoid dehydration.
How much smaller can they go? The new miniature frogs have simplified body plans compared to their larger cousins: they have fewer vertebrae in their backbones, and fewer digits on their feet. It's not clear how much more they could lose and still survive as free-living animals, but we're willing to bet the race is on to find one that measures just 6 mm long. Check back here in, oh, about one month's time.
科學家認為小型蛙類並不算是稀有，因為潮濕環境會演化出更多類似的物種
那多小才算是他們的極限？6mm應該是他們可以達到的目標
