The Epomis beetle eats its prey, including frogs, from the inside out. These have also been seen eating anything from rats to snakes to other frogs.įor images of frogs dining, click here… if you dare… Other well-known frogs that have quite an appetite are bullfrogs and green tree frogs. It may have even gone after newly hatched baby dinosaurs. Beelzebufo may be the biggest frog fossil ever found, dating to around 70 million years old, and grew to about 16 inches in length. In fact, one of the largest frog fossils ever discovered, a species that scientists call “ Beelzebufo ampinga” or “devil frog,” was a close relative to these guys. These frogs have even been known to eat their mates and go after smaller livestock! Examples of prey include insects, mice, rats, fish, other frogs, reptiles, etc. Also called Pac-man frogs, these large, aggressive, roundish frogs have insatiable appetites and will try to eat almost anything, even if it is bigger than they are. These are ‘horned’ frogs, possessing an elongated flap of skin that resembles a little horn on the upper eyelids. Perhaps some of the most frightening yet fascinating types of frogs are within the Ceratophrys genus. (Photo by Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute) These big-mouthed frogs have been known to eat all kinds of prey, ranging from rats to other frogs. When ready, the babies would crawl out her mouth. Female frogs incubated their eggs and babies developed within their stomachs. The tadpoles grow within these pockets, then eventually emerge as toadlets, as in the photo shown.Īnother creepy reproduction method was unique to the two species of now-extinct gastric-brooding frogs ( Rheobatrachus family), native to eastern Australia. The eggs embed themselves into her skin, which grows to form a type of pocket around each one. The female will lay eggs that the male attaches to her back. Perhaps the most amazingly creepy thing about this animal is the way it reproduces. They live in the Amazon River Basin of South America in moist lowland forests, swamps and freshwater marshes. The Surinam toad is another one of the creepier amphibians you will see-it is also one of the flattest, resembling road kill or plant debris. Tadpoles grow within pockets on the back of female Surinam toads, then eventually emerge as toadlets. Take a listen in this video from the BBC. Nobody knows what the exact purpose of the cry is, but researchers believe it is a defensive mechanism that aims to startle or disorient a predator enough that the frog will be released and it can escape. Head researcher, Jodi Rowley, suspects that they may help the tadpoles anchor themselves underwater or somehow aid in eating.ĭid you know that some species of frogs, like the smoky jungle frog and American bullfrog, scream? When a frog does so, it is considered a distress call, usually a high-pitched noise emitted when a predator snatches them up, or when they are stressed or handled. It is highly unlikely that the tadpoles actually suck blood, and researchers are currently studying these so-called fangs because their function is unknown. The paper highlighting the discovery of the “fangs,” explains that they are not true fangs, but rather “keratinized hooks” on the sides of their mouths. In addition, this species’ tadpole stage is the only one known to have “fangs,” which disappear as they mature. Though not really vampires, the adults are nocturnal and do like to come out at night. Adult flying frogs have webbed fingers and toes, which allow them to jump and glide from tree to tree. Speaking of teeth, there is also the vampire flying frog ( Rhacophorus vampyrus ), native to Vietnam. Most frogs that swallow their prey whole compress their eyeballs down into their heads to push the food down their throats to swallow it! In addition, there are a number of frog species that have bony jaw protrusions that resemble fangs, and they eat anything from rats to snakes to even birds! Scientists believe the “fangs” help the frogs hold onto quickly moving prey. A number of frog species, like the Luzon fanged frog here, have bony jaw protrusions that resemble fangs.
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