# Al Qaida's New Weapon: Exploding Toads **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014 "2005-04-25T13:08:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2005, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/21 "2005-04-25T21:31:10Z")
[Mystery](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1370116.html) > [@](#): > > "It could be an unknown virus, or a fungus that has infected the water or a defence mechanism against aggressive crows which have appeared in the area recently. Seems to be highly localized [‘behavior’](http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/other_news/&articleid=236258) > [@](#): > > So bad has the death toll been that the lake in the Altona district of Hamburg has been dubbed “the pond of death”. Access to it has been sealed off, and every night a biologist visits it between 2am and 3am, which appears to be peak time for batrachians to go bang. > > Explanations include an unknown virus, a fungus that has infected the water, or crows, which in an echo of the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds attack the toads, literally scaring them to death. – AFP I wonder if it’s a “baking soda & vinegar” kind of reaction going on inside of 'em? Like maybe they’re constipated & then this reaction kicks in forming a big pocket of methane… ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2005, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/22 "2005-04-25T21:33:32Z")
From aliens to JFK’s murder, from orbs to exploding toads, swamp gas explains it all. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2005, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/23 "2005-04-25T21:46:51Z")
Is anyone else reminded of the ballons in Shreck? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/24 "2005-04-25T21:50:06Z")
Ah yes. And cotton candy. Um…sorta. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2005, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/25 "2005-04-25T21:51:37Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > Aye, laddie. _[Nares](http://www.flushing.k12.mi.us/srhigh/tippettl/biology/frog/externalnares.html)._ … and they’re really that strong? My, oh, my. This is the stuff of **might nares**. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/26 "2005-04-25T23:31:01Z")
I asked why goldfish have nares once, what with living underwater and all. I got beat up in the thread. It got pretty ugly. I mean, fighting ignorance and all, right? But back to the OP; I will not be led to distraction. This may be a [clew](http://asms.k12.ar.us/armem/ferguson/). ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/27 "2005-04-26T00:04:54Z")
> [@](#): > > “It could be an unknown virus, or a fungus that has infected the water or a defence mechanism against aggressive crows which have appeared in the area recently.” I love nature but you just have to wonder why the hell an animal would have a _defense mechanism_ that kills the animal it’s meant to defend. With defending like that who needs enemies? Someone already used this punchline but not in the same way I intended so here goes… If you’re walking along and see one of these unexploded toads and it’s looking a little like it’s gonna blow you can pick it up and throw it far away from you, just be sure to yell “toad in the hole!” to warn anyone else who might be around, then hit the dirt. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/28 "2005-04-26T00:36:24Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > > [@lee](#): > > > > What mechanism would actually make toads explode? > > The Acme Toad Exploder. Duh. > [@Wile E](#): > > I love nature but you just have to wonder why the hell an animal would have a _defense mechanism_ that kills the animal it’s meant to defend. With defending like that who needs enemies? > > Someone already used this punchline but not in the same way I intended so here goes… > > If you’re walking along and see one of these unexploded toads and it’s looking a little like it’s gonna blow you can pick it up and throw it far away from you, just be sure to yell “toad in the hole!” to warn anyone else who might be around, then hit the dirt. I think we should all do well to listen to **Wile E** ; clearly from **PunditLisa** ’s answer he’s the acknowledged expert on exploding toads! This post was **not** submitted over RoadRunner DSL. 😃 ::: beep beep ::: ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/29 "2005-04-26T00:58:53Z")
> [@](#): > > So bad has the death toll been that the lake in the Altona district of Hamburg has been dubbed “the pond of death”. [Eddie Izzard] Room With a View…of HELL! Staircase of Satan! Pond of Death! [/Eddie] ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/30 "2005-04-26T01:58:48Z")
Lo, do I mourn for my toadly brethren. ☹ –yBeayf, who is theToad ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/31 "2005-04-26T04:15:51Z")
Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy! Let’s see how many Dopers recognize that line. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/32 "2005-04-26T04:32:13Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy! > > Let’s see how many Dopers recognize that line. 😉 I thought it was “ **Plunk** your magic twanger”? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/33 "2005-04-26T04:37:16Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > “The Exploding Toad.” BAND NAME! Tripler Their first top-40 hit: 'It’s not easy being green . . ." ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/34 "2005-04-26T06:31:04Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Gotta wonder what’s causing it. Warts of Mass Destruction ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/35 "2005-04-27T04:59:11Z")
Anyone notice two adolescent boys wearing heavy metal rock band teeshirts giggling incessantly hanging out near the pond? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/36 "2005-04-28T18:26:10Z")
Myster solved: [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/28/exploding\_german\_toads/](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/28/exploding_german_toads/) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/37 "2005-04-28T21:07:48Z")
OK. Time for someone to explain frog physiology to Inigo. Do they have a substantially different breathing mechanism from our own that would allow them to force THAT much air into their body cavity? I’m still not convinced this isn’t some sick ‘frog-baseball’ stunt as **Guinastasia** suggests. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/38 "2005-04-28T21:44:27Z")
I wonder if Dave Barry knows about this. He likes exploding animal stories. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/39 "2005-04-28T22:24:02Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy! > > Let’s see how many Dopers recognize that line. 😉 I think it was Pluck your magic twanter Andy Devine show Geez my age is showing ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014/40 "2005-04-28T22:26:42Z")
Or Pop your magic twanger- whatever I am getting old! give me a break and some prune juice [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-qaidas-new-weapon-exploding-toads/301014.md?page=1)