These miniature frogs have lost the ability to leap straight because they're just too tiny

[Judi Lynn]

Last edited Wed Jun 22, 2022, 05:44 AM - Edit history (1)

18 June 2022
Imma Perfetto




Brachycephalus coloratus. Credit: Ribeiro et al. (2017)

A group of miniaturised frogs known as pumpkin toadlets, or flea toads, have become so small they’re no longer able to maintain their balance during quick manoeuvres like jumping, according to new research in the journal Science Advances.

International researchers have studied four species in the frog genus Brachycephalus – a clade of miniaturised frogs from Brazil – and shown that though they are capable of jumping (when prodded) they’re not very good at it.

The frogs lose control of their trajectory mid-leap, and ungracefully pirouette through the air before coming in for a crash-landing.

“They’re not great jumpers, and they’re not particularly good walkers either. They sort of stomp around in a stilted, peg-like version of walking,” says co-author Edward Stanley, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Digital Discovery and Dissemination Laboratory in the US.

More:
https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/miniature-frogs-lost-ability-to-balance/

[Arkansas Granny]

1. If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump his ass when he hopped.

[SharonClark]

2. Sometimes British English is weird and fascinating.

"Miniaturised frogs" implies that the frogs were made small using modern technology, it should be "miniature frogs".
It reminds me of "Lord X was pressurized to vote" instead of "Lord X was pressured to vote".

Interesting article but the headline is disceptive because the article later claims "These frogs’ heads are just too small".

[Karadeniz]

3. Poor things!!!