{"id":38149,"date":"2024-04-29T14:42:27","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T12:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/38bf4f21-ba63-4fb9-b121-1d6ab6089582"},"modified":"2024-04-29T15:35:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T13:35:38","slug":"hairy-frog-why-does-the-weird-trichobatrachus-robustus-frog-develop-hair","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/hairy-frog-why-does-the-weird-trichobatrachus-robustus-frog-develop-hair\/","title":{"rendered":"Hairy frog: Why does the weird Trichobatrachus robustus frog develop hair?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did you know there’s a hairy frog with sharp claws? Meet the hairy Trichobatrachus robustus<\/em> <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Monday, 29 April 2024 at 12:42 PM<\/p>

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A hairy frog with fur? And sharp, cat-like claws? Either might sound improbable, and Africa\u2019s hairy frog Trichobatrachus robustus<\/em> is certainly stranger than fiction.<\/p>

Why is the hairy frog hairy?<\/h2>

This 11cm-long frog is hairy during the mating season, when the male develops a thick bristle-like fringe along his flanks and thighs. This is actually a mass of thin strands of skin replete with blood vessels, and is a temporary organ that may boost breathing ability in times of need \u2013 the male guards his mate\u2019s eggs and may remain underwater for days without coming up for air.<\/p>

And its claws?<\/h2>

But this frog has another clever survival trick. With the flex of a foot muscle, it can produce an arsenal of sharp, curved claws that snap out of its toes like switchblades. These thorn-shaped toe bones rapidly pivot when triggered, sending the pointed tip slicing through the frog\u2019s skin and transforming its feet into formidable weapons. A few violent kicks can lacerate a foe and draw blood from an unsuspecting biologist. People in Cameroon, who hunt these frogs for food, use spears and machetes to avoid handling them.<\/p>

The triggered claw bones eventually move back into place and the toe wounds heal over \u2013 until the next time the frog needs to pull out its blades.<\/p>

More fascinating frog facts<\/h4>