The hairy frog, aka the wolverine frog or horror frog, hails from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Gabon, and potentially in Angola. It’s preferred habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, plantations, arable land, and heavily degraded former forest areas. What makes this frog really unique is not only that it’s hairy, but that it has a secret weapon. These frogs are abundant enough to earn the listing of Least Concern by the IUCN. Their populations are decreasing though. This article is on special request from my friend Andrew.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Trichobatrachus robustus
Weight: Up to 5+ ounces
Length: Up to 4+ inches
Lifespan: Up to 15 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These frogs are terrestrial (spend most or all of their lives on the ground).
2.) This species has small lungs, and the hairlike strands of skin give the male a better ability breathe while mating.
3.) These frogs are presumably decreasing because of declining water quality.
4.) Like all amphibians, the wolverine frog breathes, in part, through their skin. They also don’t drink standing water, but rather absorb water through their skin.
5.) These frogs prefer to flee when faced with a threat. However, if just the right situation presents itself, they have a secret weapon.
But wait, there’s more on the hairy frog!
6.) If the hairy frog is cornered, they have the ability to break the cartilage connection at the near tip of their toe bones which reveals a sharp bone spur, via muscle contraction, like the comic book hero, that can then be used as a weapon.
7.) Prey items consist of insects and arachnids. This food is swallowed whole with the help of their hands and pushed down the throat, in part, by their eyeballs.
Did you know…?
Once the claws are no longer needed, they retract their new claws and the cartilage heals to hold the bone back in place.
8.) This species is cooked and eaten in Cameroon. They are hunted with spears and/or machetes. The Bakossi people believe that these frogs fall from the sky and, when eaten, help couples become fertile.
9.) Hairy frogs are nocturnal (active at night).
10.) It is not known if they feel pain when their bones are broken, but it’s gotta hurt a little.
Now a Short Hairy Frog Video!
Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel. Videos added frequently!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
