Page 36 - World of Animals - Issue #29

50 fabulous frogs

39. This extinct frog had

unorthodox child births

The gastric-brooding frog would enter the world in
a rather unusual way – through its mother’s mouth!
After laying her eggs, she would gobble them up
in order for them to develop in the relative safety
of her stomach. Around 20–25 tadpoles could be
accommodated at one time and they avoided
being digested by secreting a substance that
deactivated production of hydrochloric acid.
After around six weeks, the fully formed froglets
would emerge.
But its unconventional child-rearing
techniques are not the only notable thing about
this amphibian. Although both species in its genus
are believed to have vanished in the 1980s, in 2013,
Australian scientists managed to create gastric-
brooding frog embryos by combining frozen tissue
samples with eggs from the related great-barred frog.
The embryos only survived a few days, but the cloning
experiment was deemed a huge leap in the field of de-

extinction. So when it comes to the gastric-brooding
frog, who knows what the future will throw up?

GASTRIC-BROODING
FROG
Rheobatrachus
Class Amphibia

Territory Australia
Diet Small insects
Lifespan Unknown
Adult weight 25-45g (0.8-
1.5oz)
Conservation Status

EXTINCT

40. Some frogs use 41. Southeast Asia is home
natural umbrellas to a salty sea frog

Although most frogs are water-lovers, even Almost all amphibians are unable to tolerate seawater
amphibians need to take shelter in torrential as they have no way of preventing their bodies from
downpours. For this, they’ll o en take advantage absorbing lethal levels of salt. However, the crab-

of local flora, such as overhanging leaves or even eating frog (Fejervarya cancrivora) has adapted to

mushrooms, like this European common frog not just survive near the ocean but to thrive there.
(Rana temporaria), patiently waiting out the storm Predominantly found in coastal mangrove forests,
beneath a toadstool. swamps and sea marshes, it’s as comfortable in fresh
Common frogs, like many other amphibian water as it is brackish and, for short periods, salt water.
species, hibernate through the winter to avoid the It’s able to hop between these various salinities by
harsh, cold weather. They settle down in damp regulating the levels of urea in its blood and thanks to
refuges, such as compost heaps, or can even wait specially adapted glands in its skin. Even tadpoles are
out the winter at the bottom of ponds, as they are able to survive in salt water, although they will head to
able to take in oxygen through their skin. fresh water to complete their metamorphosis.

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