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Native Australian animals are a joy to behold and the discovery of a new species usually calls for celebration. Unless it's already endangered that is.

Australian scientists have discovered a new species of frog in south-east Queensland and it's already classified as endangered.

The new mountain frog's only known habitat is the world heritage-listed Gondwana rainforests which were extensively burned during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

Dubbed Philoria knowlesi, after Sydney environmentalist Ross Knowles, the frog was discovered thanks to extensive genetic testing.

Queensland's environment department said it was already moving to protect the habitat of the newly-identified species.

Amphibians weren't the only animals to catch scientists off guard. A miniature snail was spotted for the first time in 120 years.

The tiny snail roughly three times the size of a grain of sand and once feared to be extinct was discovered living in a Tasmanian lake.

The Beddomeia tumida, a freshwater snail measuring around 4mm, had not been seen or recorded for more than 120 years.

Found only in Tasmania's yingina /Great Lake, researchers feared the minuscule mollusc was lost before the exciting find in the Central Plateau lake.

Meanwhile, veggie dodgers can rejoice after ACM revealed that chicken nuggets are now cheaper than buying an iceberg lettuce.

As inflation reaches a 20-year high, the cost of groceries has skyrocketed.

A head of iceberg lettuce at Coles has risen to $5.50 while a pack of 10 chicken nuggets at Hungry Jacks is $4.95.

A recent study found the price of food in Coles and Woolworths increased by 2.6 per cent from February 2021 to 2022.

Despite this, there are still ways to save your money with the increasing prices. Check out these 10 tips to save on groceries.

This cost increase isn't limited to the grocery store, with the price of rural land meaning farmers are finding it difficult to go out on their own.

For the past five years Mitch Highett has looked on as the cost of rural land around central western NSW soars and his dream of owning his own farm remains just that.

The 33-year-old helps manage around 300,000 hectares across dozens of properties owned by others stretching into Queensland, while he and his team additionally lease several hundred hectares.

It's a picture mirrored across Australia. Elders data shows rural land has increased on average more than 18 per cent in the 12 months to December with the median Australian rate $7060 per hectare.

*This edition of The Informer was written by ACM journalist Hannah Neale. If you'd like to show your support for the team behind The Informer, why not forward us to a friend?

Hannah is a general reporter with The Canberra Times. She is currently covering the early breaking news shift and is ready to chase your morning headlines. Hannah started as a journalist with The Southern Highland News and The Goulburn Post before moving to the ACT. Twitter: @neale_hannah

Hannah is a general reporter with The Canberra Times. She is currently covering the early breaking news shift and is ready to chase your morning headlines. Hannah started as a journalist with The Southern Highland News and The Goulburn Post before moving to the ACT. Twitter: @neale_hannah

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