Hairy Frog
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hairy Frog | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 male, showing hair-like papillae
|
||||||||||||||
| Conservation status | ||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Trichobatrachus robustus Boulenger, 1900 |
The Hairy Frog (Trichobatrachus robustus) is a species of frog in the Astylosternidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Trichobatrachus.
Contents |
[edit] Description
The species is about 11 cm long from snout to length. The large head is broader than long, with a short rounded snout. Males are much larger than females. The former have a paired internal vocal sac and three short ridges of small black spines along the inner surface of the first manual digit. They also have dermal papillae that extend along the lateral surfaces of the body and the proximal hindlimbs. These contain arteries and are thought to increase the surface for the purpose of respiration, due to the small lungs and robust body of the species. These papillae look somewhat like hairs, leading to the common name of the species.
[edit] Biology
The species is terrestrial, but returns to the water for breeding, where egg masses are laid onto rocks in streams. The quite muscular tadpoles are carnivorous and feature several rows of horned teeth. Adults feed on slugs, myriapods, spiders, beetles and grasshoppers.
When it is threatened, the hairy frog actively breaks its own bones to produce claws that puncture they way out of their toe pads. This is probably a defense behavior. Although a retraction mechanism is not known, it has been hypothesized that the claws later retract passively, while the damaged tissue is regenerated.
[edit] Distribution
It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, possibly Angola, and possibly Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, arable land, plantations , and heavily degraded former forest.
[edit] Endangered status
T. robustus is threatened by habitat loss, but is not considered endangered.
[edit] Human use
This species is roasted and eaten in Cameroon. They are hunted with long spears or machetes, apparently to avoid being hurt by their claws.
[edit] References
- AmphibiaWeb: Trichobatrachus robustus
- Amiet, J.-L. & Burger, M. (2004): Trichobatrachus robustus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved on July 21, 2007.
- NewScientist news service: 'Horror frog' breaks own bones to produce claws Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
- Blackburn, David C.; Hanken, James & Jenkins, Farish A. Jr. (2008): Concealed weapons: erectile claws in African frogs. biology letters (published online). doi:10.1098/rsbl.2008.0219 — PDF
