Chilean scientists recently discovered a frog that has not been discovered for more than 80 years in the Chilean desert, and are calling for people to protect its habitat in the remote Chilean desert.

Hall's water frog discovered by scientists

Scientists relocated this small Hall's water frog to Olag in Chile's Atacama Desert In a small hot spring oasis near Guyana, the water frog is named after American researcher and collector Frank Gregory Hall.

The discovery prompted a frantic rush to confirm that the newly discovered so-called ghost species was indeed the same species Hall discovered decades earlier, scientists told the outlet.

The journal Animal Classification published the story of the discovery.

Cesar Cuevas, a researcher at a Chilean university, said researchers continue to work on establishing taxonomic connections between the frog and other species in the region to determine just how unique the frog is. Different, or rather, how rare it is.

At the same time, protecting its habitat is critical. Cuevas said northern Chile is home to the world's largest copper industry, and mining, tourism development and urban expansion are competing with the frog for habitat and water.

Cuevas said: "These animals are completely aquatic. If they are out of the water for 5 minutes, they will die. Therefore, we must call for the protection of their habitat before it is too late."