Frogs that lay eggs on land – new WA genus named after teacher whose lab was a campervan

Marion Anstis worked as a high school music teacher for 31 years before cataloguing virtually all the known frog species in Australia. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

Four frog species in Western Australia that lay their eggs on land have been identified as a new genus and named after a retired high school music teacher-turned-scientist.

Researchers have classified the frogs into the distinct biological group Anstisia. Their tadpoles develop entirely on land and never contact the water of a creek or pond before becoming adults. Instead, they swim around in a jelly-like pool created by laid eggs and are nourished by yolk reserves.