I don’t know about all of you but I am getting excited with how fast this week is going. It sure is great knowing that my vacation is just around the corner. Normally, the week before holidays are always busy at work and this week is no exception. Since I have had a long day at work I hope today’s Wild Fact makes sense.
I thought it would be fun to talk about the Fire-Bellied Toad which obviously has a bright coloured belly. It is important for people to understand the way animals speak to other animals. You see animals such as toads are brightly coloured in order to warn everything around them that either:
a) We taste horrible so please don’t bother wasting your time with me. Why don’t you go look for a better tasting animal over that cliff?
b) If you eat me then there is a very good chance that you will die so go ahead and make my day!
Over time the predators will learn not to waste their time with these particular animals. This is why some animals have evolved to mimic brightly coloured, poisonous animals even though they are not poisonous themselves, but that is a whole different Wild Fact!
The fire-bellied toad has mastered a particular “Yoga” move called Unkenreflex in which the toad will arch their back while lifting their front and hind legs. This just emphasizes the bright warning colours. Predators need to heed this warning since the fire-bellied toad will at the very least cause them to be sick with death being a possibility.
I guess the moral of this Wild Fact is to be extremely careful with brightly coloured animals. You are allowed to handle the dull and boring animals. I hope you all listen to this message since I can’t afford to lose any readers 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your day!
“If you eat me then there is a very good chance that you will die so go ahead and make my day!”
Haha! Now that was funny. I’m quite sure that the type of people who eat frogs don’t even care to read blogs, but it’s still nice of you to give out a this precautionary advice. I rarely encounter animals, especially frogs, because I don’t go out anymore. However, I still appreciate the information you are providing. Studying animal behavior is somehow important with the study of the lower states of the human mind, you see. Hence, I give this one two thumbs up. Ribbit! Ribbit!
hahaha!
I don’t know, Ryhen, I think the people that eat frogs may read blogs. How else will they find out where to find the frogs? Or how to make a killer frog and sparrow dinner?
I think you really need to plan a day or two and take a trip outside. Even if it is just to find a nice trail to walk along. It is great getting outdoors and observing all that nature has to offer.
I love animal behaviour. If I could go back in time then I think I would have obtained a degree in Animal behaviour. At least my blog gives me a chance to research the inner workings of the animal mind.
That frog (or is it a toad?) looks really cool! I love the colors!
It is a toad and the colour are spectacular but as I said, they are that awesome for a reason.
I too love the colours! Hope you enjoy next week.
Thanks Aunt Bev!
Have a great night!
That is one very pretty frog!
Pretty but deadly!
Thanks for stopping by, Grace!
I think I would have to be near death to eat this guy – though I do like frog legs!
hahaha!
Yeah, I don’t think the Fire-Bellied Toad would be one of my favourite meals either. I have never tried frog legs though.
This toad is beautiful! My husband loves frogs and toads and finds their voices extremely beautiful (really, not joking)! Will show him this post. BTW, my voice doesn’t resemble at all like toads and frogs and still he likes mine …. thanks God!
hahaha! I have to agree with your husband. Frogs and toads are great singers. I love the sound of a group of Spring Peepers singing on an early spring night.
It is probably a good thing that your voice doesn’t resemble that of a toad. It would be tough to understand you if you were croaking all the time.