Thunder Lizards: They Not Only Can't Swim But Also Can't Hop
The thunder rumbled, and all things grew. Thunder lizards are like marching horns, awakening the dormant warriors. They seemed to still have a trace of sleepiness and a hazy appearance, but they didn't complain at all, rushing in a chaotic manner to gather in the camp. Spring is also a season that stimulates all things to revive and mate, intertwined and intimate like a romantic artist infusing his emotions into it.
Everyone probably knows the most familiar characters in this season are Little Tadpoles and Little Frogs! Every day, they '' in your ears, and it's impossible to forget. It's said that 'art comes from life.' Do you still remember how we used to play with paper frogs when we were young? Do you still know how to 'play' with it? This fierce and cute frog you've probably never seen before – Short-headed Frog Species (Phrynobatrachus pygmaeus)
It's really too ruthless to call it fierce! It should be called fierce and cute! Short-headed Frog Species, also known as Bun Head Frog Species, is a subspecies of the New Frog Order, the Hohle Frog Family, with five genera and about 15 species. Let's call it Bun Head Frog for short, don't think it's putting all its strength into a pompous appearance, it's just trying to roar to drive away invaders. But it's incredibly cute! Like a pull-string toy, it will take off as soon as you pull it, and those amphibians are scared by it, so they regard it as the new favorite toy
Bun Head Frogs are mainly distributed in the south of Africa and the Namibian coastline, with a very long sandy coastline. Here, it's known for its dryness, with little rain, often evaporating before it even hits the ground, forming a dense fog in the air. Such a 'surface world' environment is not suitable for frogs, let alone other animals. However, we can see lush vegetation and small animals living on the ground. This is a common phenomenon of adapting to the environment and survival of the fittest!
In the rhythm of nature, life and evolution are orderly. When the fog brings moisture to the sand, the desert spring. After a long wait, the world of things begins to reproduce, and the Bun Head Frog emerges from the depths of the sand, foraging and 'socializing'.
Bun Head Frogs are generally 5 cm long and weigh about 6 grams. Bun Head Frogs have a pair of large eyes that are not very harmonious with their spherical body, a little silly and cute. Their skin and the desert can be integrated, with a mottled brown with cream white spots. It looks a little like a candy Bun. The skin secretes mucus, so it's covered in sand, making it more hidden. Wearing a layer upon a layer of protective clothing, it's definitely not worried about hunting. The chubby belly is the proof!
No matter how peculiar its appearance is, it's quite tenacious to survive in the desert. Bun Head Frogs are not like most frogs that live on grassy or earthy land, they hide underground and only appear on the ground after rain. This is similar to frogs, they come out after the rain!
During the rain and the following period, Bun Head Frogs are very active. In fact, most of their time is spent sleeping underground. The real reason for waking up from a dormant state is the change in air pressure, which is very surprising. When the air pressure is low and the temperature is above 20 degrees Celsius, they are more active.
However, they can only take a walk and cannot jump. Bun Head Frogs cannot jump, which is a difference from other frogs. Most importantly, Bun Head Frogs cannot swim. If they can't swim, they will be submerged, and the only way to save themselves is to blow themselves up and use their small short hands to pat themselves to the ground, for self-rescue.
Bun Head Frogs will fight for love, whether male or female, they have their own ways to compete for mates. For example, male frogs often try to push each other with their vocal sacs or bite each other. It's a fierce wrestling competition. Male frogs will quietly follow female frogs and try to hug them. It's a 'wife control' scene.
During the breeding season, males will form a chorus and echo each other's calls, and the 'conductor' will stimulate other members to burst into song. The 'choir' is very loud, and female frogs will hold 'beauty contests'. Female frogs will produce about 30 eggs, and then the tadpoles will be in a jelly-like egg sac. Frog eggs are buried in the damp soil and sand, and they will transform completely before hatching. Bun Head Frogs eat worms, ants, insects, and small spiders, and after a full meal, they will croak and call everywhere, both to find mates and digest food, double effort!
However, in recent years, due to frequent diamond mining, Bun Head Frogs have faced a red warning. Their habitat has a large diamond mine, and people conduct systematic sand searches to mine diamonds.
Under this rough and crude excavation, the natural environment is severely damaged, plants are destroyed, the sand is overturned, and Bun Head Frogs' homes are disrupted like relocation houses. Now Bun Head Frogs are classified as vulnerable species. In addition, in recent years, Bun Head Frogs have been caught and sold to collectors around the world. They have adapted to their original environment in the pet box, but they are not accustomed to the room temperature, and some even die on the road. Unlawful capture and trade are wrong!
Some things can only be observed, not touched. Although the World Natural Protection Alliance classifies Bun Head Frogs as the lowest level of protection, in the face of severe ecological destruction, we need to spend more time and energy to restore. No selling, no harm! Let's restore the 'fiercely cute' Bun Head Frog's home together!
