World's Cutest Frog
Feb 19, 2013 22:22:29 GMT -5
Post by PrisonerOfHope on Feb 19, 2013 22:22:29 GMT -5
Tiny frog with a strange squealing cry takes Internet by storm
Now starring wildly on the Internet is a tiny frog with the ability to puff up its body and produce a squealing cry that is intended to either advertise for mates or ward off potential predators. However, for people, the sound is more likely to inspire smiles and laughter, or be regarded as highly annoying.
This footage of the desert rain frog was captured recently in South Africa by Dean Boshoff, a wildlife photographer in Durban. He describes the sound, jokingly, as a "mighty war cry." The clip has garnered more than 1.3 million views on YouTube.
The burrowing sand frog has been widely described in media reports as a Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis), but an expert told News24 that it's actually a desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops), which is similar.
Professor Alan Channing, an author of three books on African frogs, also said that the sound the frog was making is a distress call and implied that it might have been bothered by the close presence of the photographer, which it perceived as a predator.
Channing explained that all frogs call out in the same manner: by pushing air from their lungs over vocal chords.
Whatever this particular critter was trying to say, it sure seemed to be getting its point across.
Now starring wildly on the Internet is a tiny frog with the ability to puff up its body and produce a squealing cry that is intended to either advertise for mates or ward off potential predators. However, for people, the sound is more likely to inspire smiles and laughter, or be regarded as highly annoying.
This footage of the desert rain frog was captured recently in South Africa by Dean Boshoff, a wildlife photographer in Durban. He describes the sound, jokingly, as a "mighty war cry." The clip has garnered more than 1.3 million views on YouTube.
The burrowing sand frog has been widely described in media reports as a Namaqua rain frog (Breviceps namaquensis), but an expert told News24 that it's actually a desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops), which is similar.
Professor Alan Channing, an author of three books on African frogs, also said that the sound the frog was making is a distress call and implied that it might have been bothered by the close presence of the photographer, which it perceived as a predator.
Channing explained that all frogs call out in the same manner: by pushing air from their lungs over vocal chords.
Whatever this particular critter was trying to say, it sure seemed to be getting its point across.
