Wild Facts

Credit: Gustavocarra for Wikimedia Commons

Thanks for sticking with me for another week of Wild Facts.  This weekend I plan on writing up a few posts since I will be in Vancouver for most of next week. For some reason when I am away I like to have a themed week of Wild Facts.  Next week you will see five of the most bizarre animal defense mechanisms that have evolved. Just to get you all jacked up for next weeks Wild Facts, I have decided to give you a bit of a taste of what to expect.

Today is Froggy Friday (I am feeling overtired so I will blame “Froggy Friday” on that) but this is no ordinary frog.  First of all the hairy frog looks gross with the hair covering its body.  This frog lives the majority of their life on land only returning to the water to breed. They like to feed on spiders, slugs, grasshoppers and beetles. But what happens when something tries to feed on them?

The hairy frog has evolved a defense mechanism that sounds painful to me. Basically, they will break their bones when attacked or threatened. You would think that breaking your bones would work by irritating the would be predator, but this is not the case. I know my dad hates it when I crack my knuckles so I thought for sure this was their defense strategy.  Actually, they break their bones to release powerful claws.  Think Wolverine but in frog form!  While at rest, these claws are protected in a mass of connective tissue.  Once the frog feels threatened it will contract the connecting muscle which forces the claw through the toe pad. Just like that the defenseless little frog now has a set of blades and is ready to do some damage. So what happens after the threat is over? Well, scientists believe that the claws will retract progressively and the wounds will heal over but this has yet to proven. Personally, I think it would be easier if the frog just carried a knife in a sheath like everyone else.

Make sure you tune in next week to catch the five part mini-series titled Wild Facts – The Best Offense is a Good Defense.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Credit: Gustavocarra for Wikimedia Commons

Thanks for sticking with me for another week of Wild Facts.  This weekend I plan on writing up a few posts since I will be in Vancouver for most of next week. For some reason when I am away I like to have a themed week of Wild Facts.  Next week you will see five of the most bizarre animal defense mechanisms that have evolved. Just to get you all jacked up for next weeks Wild Facts, I have decided to give you a bit of a taste of what to expect.

Today is Froggy Friday (I am feeling overtired so I will blame “Froggy Friday” on that) but this is no ordinary frog.  First of all the hairy frog looks gross with the hair covering its body.  This frog lives the majority of their life on land only returning to the water to breed. They like to feed on spiders, slugs, grasshoppers and beetles. But what happens when something tries to feed on them?

The hairy frog has evolved a defense mechanism that sounds painful to me. Basically, they will break their bones when attacked or threatened. You would think that breaking your bones would work by irritating the would be predator, but this is not the case. I know my dad hates it when I crack my knuckles so I thought for sure this was their defense strategy.  Actually, they break their bones to release powerful claws.  Think Wolverine but in frog form!  While at rest, these claws are protected in a mass of connective tissue.  Once the frog feels threatened it will contract the connecting muscle which forces the claw through the toe pad. Just like that the defenseless little frog now has a set of blades and is ready to do some damage. So what happens after the threat is over? Well, scientists believe that the claws will retract progressively and the wounds will heal over but this has yet to proven. Personally, I think it would be easier if the frog just carried a knife in a sheath like everyone else.

Make sure you tune in next week to catch the five part mini-series titled Wild Facts – The Best Offense is a Good Defense.

Have a great weekend, everyone!