Gardiner's Seychelles Frog

This minuscule amphibian reaches only about 11 millimeters in length, making it one of the smallest frogs in the world. A full-grown adult could easily sit comfortably on the tip of a human finger.

It is entirely endemic to the islands of Mahé and Silhouette in the Seychelles archipelago. They live in the damp leaf litter of high-altitude rainforests, relying on moist conditions to survive.

Unlike many frogs, they lay their eggs on land in the leaf litter rather than in water, and the tadpoles develop directly into miniature frogs inside the eggs. The mother frog is known to actively guard her eggs until they hatch.

Yes, the IUCN lists this species as vulnerable because its tiny range is threatened by habitat degradation and climate change. A decrease in moisture levels in their forest floor habitat could severely impact their ability to reproduce and survive.