[7][8][9] The frog species was discovered in August 2009 by Louisiana State University herpetologist Christopher Austin and his PhD student Eric Rittmeyer while on an expedition to explore the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea.

[3] Because the frogs have calls that resemble those made by insects and are camouflaged among leaves on the forest floor, Paedophryne amauensis had been difficult to detect.

[1] P. amauensis, attaining an average body size of only 7.7 millimetres (0.30 in),[3] is slightly shorter than fish such as Paedocypris progenetica and Schindleria brevipinguis.

[3] New Guinea Amau frog occurs in tropical wet lowland and hill forest at elevations of 177–800 m (581–2,625 ft) above sea level.

[2] Due to having a high surface to volume ratio, the 'New Guinea Amau frog are subject to water-loss and dependent on the high-moisture content of leaf litter.