Al Qaida's New Weapon: Exploding Toads

[Inigo_Montoya]

Mystery

"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’

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…

[ZebraShaSha]

From aliens to JFK’s murder, from orbs to exploding toads, swamp gas explains it all.

[lee]

Is anyone else reminded of the ballons in Shreck?

[Inigo_Montoya]

Ah yes. And cotton candy. Um…sorta.

[Ponder_Stibbons]

@Inigo Montoya

Aye, laddie. Nares.

… and they’re really that strong? My, oh, my. This is the stuff of might nares.

[carnivorousplant]

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.

[Wile_E]

“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.

[Polycarp]

@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 :::

[Suburban_Plankton]

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]

[yBeayf]

Lo, do I mourn for my toadly brethren.

–yBeayf, who is theToad

[danceswithcats]

Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy!

Let’s see how many Dopers recognize that line.

[Morgyn]

@danceswithcats

Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy!

Let’s see how many Dopers recognize that line.

I thought it was “Plunk your magic twanger”?

[Tripler]

@carnivorousplant

“The Exploding Toad.”

BAND NAME!
Tripler
Their first top-40 hit: 'It’s not easy being green . . ."

[Monstre]

@Tuckerfan

Gotta wonder what’s causing it.

Warts of Mass Destruction

[Guinastasia]

Anyone notice two adolescent boys wearing heavy metal rock band teeshirts giggling incessantly hanging out near the pond?

[lee]

Myster solved: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/28/exploding_german_toads/

[Inigo_Montoya]

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.

[Skywatcher]

I wonder if Dave Barry knows about this. He likes exploding animal stories.

[CWN]

@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

[CWN]

Or Pop your magic twanger- whatever I am getting old! give me a break and some prune juice