All articles tagged with #frogs
Frogs, initially associated with right-wing memes like Pepe, have been transformed into symbols of anti-ICE protests and political resistance in the US, exemplified by a viral incident in Portland where a frog costume was sprayed by immigration agents. This shift highlights how humorous and disarming symbols, used strategically through 'tactical frivolity,' can serve as powerful tools for protest and political messaging across the spectrum.
Scientists observed snakes dragging toxin-containing frogs across the ground before eating them, revealing how some animals have evolved mechanisms like toxin degradation or resistance to survive and even co-opt deadly chemicals, highlighting the complex chemical arms race in nature.
Frogs breathe and drink through their porous, moist skin, which contains blood vessels for gas exchange and water absorption, allowing them to survive underwater and during hibernation, though this makes them vulnerable to pollutants and climate change.
A study led by the University of Oviedo and the Doñana Biological Station-CSIC found that frogs in Chernobyl show no signs of accelerated aging or increased stress hormone levels despite radiation exposure. The research, published in Biology Letters, indicates that current radiation levels are not sufficient to cause chronic damage to these amphibians. This study, which began in 2016, highlights the importance of assessing long-term radiation effects on wildlife, reinforcing the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone's role as a wildlife refuge.
A researcher in Australia observed a rare case of adult-on-adult cannibalism among green and golden bell frogs, where a female frog attempted to eat a male after disliking his mating call. This behavior, previously undocumented in this species, highlights the extreme predatory nature of female frogs when selecting mates.
Research on the tropical clawed frog suggests that the origins of mammalian hair can be traced back to a common ancestor of frogs and mammals, around 375 million years ago. The study found that frogs share genes involved in the production of keratin-like molecules, similar to those responsible for hair and nails in mammals. The regulatory gene Hoxc13, crucial for hair development, was present in the last common ancestor of all jawed vertebrates, indicating its significant role in evolution. The findings suggest that the original function of these molecules in frogs' toe tips was conserved and later modified for the development of hair in mammals, contributing to the evolution of tissue regeneration in adult organisms.
A group of Indian herpetology hobbyists stumbled upon a surprising discovery when they found a mushroom growing out of the side of a Rao’s intermediate golden-backed frog in the Western Ghats. The peculiar sight led to further investigation and the identification of the fungal hitchhiker as a type of bonnet mushroom, typically found on decaying plant matter. This unusual occurrence has sparked interest and discussion among citizen scientists and mycologists.
A study reports a high-quality reference genome sequence for the western clawed frog, Xenopus tropicalis, along with draft chromosome-scale sequences of three distantly related emerging model frog species, revealing that frog chromosomes have remained remarkably stable since the Mesozoic Era with limited translocations and fusions. The study explores the structure of chromosomes across frogs, using a dense meiotic linkage map for X. tropicalis and chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C) data for all species, revealing conserved ancestral anuran chromosomes from which contemporary frog genomes were constructed. The findings provide essential resources for further work to exploit the experimental possibilities of these diverse animals and make anurans ripe for comparative genomic and evolutionary analysis.
Researchers have discovered that a species of mosquito native to Australia, Mimomyia elegans, exclusively targets the noses of frogs for feeding. The mosquitoes land on the snouts of frogs and push their proboscis through the skin to access the blood vessels beneath. This behavior is of interest as mosquitoes can potentially transmit deadly fungi to frogs. The study highlights the need for further research to understand why these mosquitoes specifically target the snout and how it may impact disease transmission and conservation efforts for endangered frog species.
A study of 151 South American frog species has revealed that every single individual exhibited some degree of fluorescence, indicating that biofluorescence is widespread among frogs. The fluorescence is well-matched to frogs' vision and ecology, suggesting it plays a role in communication and possibly predator deterrence. The glow is brightest during twilight, the time when many frogs are most active, and is most visible in the parts of the body involved in signaling to other frogs. The green glow is particularly significant, matching the perception peak of frogs' green rods and differing from background colors during breeding hours. Further research is needed to determine the function of the orange fluorescence.
A new study led by researchers at Penn State found that a new vaccine against the deadly chytrid fungus in frogs can shift the composition of the microbiome, making frogs more resilient to future exposure to the fungus. The study suggests that the microbiome response could be an important, overlooked part of vaccine efficacy. The researchers believe this adaptive shift in the microbiome composition, which they call the "microbiome memory," could play an important role in vaccine efficacy.
A new frog species, Scinax pyroinguinis, has been discovered in the Amazon rainforest in central Peru. The frog has orange patterns on its groins, thighs, and shanks that resemble flames, leading to its name "groins of fire." The species is threatened by wildfires, which are a serious threat to their habitat. The Amazon rainforest had its worst months for fires in more than 10 years in September, destroying 434 square miles of rainforest.
Frogs in Puerto Rico are croaking at a higher pitch due to global heating, causing their calls to change. The heat is also causing the frogs to decrease in size, which could eventually lead to a collapse of the coquí population. The sensitive amphibians are moving up the mountain to escape higher temperatures, but will eventually run out of room.