No croaking: New frog species groans, coughs

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- Scientists have discovered a new frog species in southern New Jersey that makes some un-froglike sounds.

The Atlantic Coast leopard frog groans and makes coughing noises rather than croaking sounds. The unfamiliar call attracted the notice of wildlife experts several years ago in Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris County.

They photographed the frog and concluded it wasn't the northern leopard frog or southern leopard frog.

The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill reported a Rutgers University-led team recently identified the species in an online scientific journal. Experts say it shows that the state's marshes and swamps are valuable to wildlife, even in urban or suburban areas.

The frog has been found along the Delaware River and bay, the Atlantic Ocean coastline, in the Meadowlands and New York's Staten Island.

-- Associated Press