# Are these actual, mature frogs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2013, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619 "2013-06-22T07:59:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/1 "2013-06-22T07:59:01Z")
So I just stumbled over [this picture](http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y150/StephenDaedalus/1005254_10151537811499615_1974086991_n_zps2ac4f794.jpg) of two frogs/toads of a surprisingly rotund form. Are these the mature, normal forms of some frog species? Or are they juvenile, or maybe aberrant forms? Or just photoshop? ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/2 "2013-06-22T08:02:05Z")
I’ve found a [video](http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e4f_1360937602), too. It… makes noises! ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/3 "2013-06-22T08:11:59Z")
So it appears it’s called a [desert rain frog](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_rain_frog), does actually look like that, and actually makes those sounds. How can any of those ‘intelligent design’-folks look at things like that and not go, ‘yeah, no, that doesn’t make any fucking sense whatsoever’. (“On the underside it has a transparent area of skin through which its internal organs can be seen.”; I mean, why?) Anyway, you can ignore this thread, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/4 "2013-06-22T14:06:43Z")
No! I won’t ignore it! Nature is too cool to ignore. Thanks for adding a little slice. ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/5 "2013-06-22T14:15:39Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > So it appears it’s called a [desert rain frog](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_rain_frog), does actually look like that, and actually makes those sounds. How can any of those ‘intelligent design’-folks look at things like that and not go, ‘yeah, no, that doesn’t make any fucking sense whatsoever’. (“On the underside it has a transparent area of skin through which its internal organs can be seen.”; I mean, why?) > > Anyway, you can ignore this thread, I guess. I am not necessarily a proponent of intelligent design (although I’m not necessarily NOT a proponent) but just because you don’t understand/can’t see the purpose or utility of a particular design (biological or otherwise) doesn’t mean that a perfectly good purpose doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/6 "2013-06-22T15:02:44Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > I am not necessarily a proponent of intelligent design (although I’m not necessarily NOT a proponent) but just because you don’t understand/can’t see the purpose or utility of a particular design (biological or otherwise) doesn’t mean that a perfectly good purpose doesn’t exist. I might not have been perfectly serious in that comment. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/7 "2013-06-22T18:43:41Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > I am not necessarily a proponent of intelligent design (although I’m not necessarily NOT a proponent) but just because you don’t understand/can’t see the purpose or utility of a particular design (biological or otherwise) doesn’t mean that a perfectly good purpose doesn’t exist. I’m intrigued, why on earth would you\* not\* take the opportunity to clarify you are\* not \* a proponent of intelligent design. Why make that curious statement? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/8 "2013-06-22T18:50:13Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > I’ve found a [video](http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=e4f_1360937602), too. It… makes noises! My god, it sounds like a balloon throwing a hissy fit. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/9 "2013-06-22T19:48:32Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > (“On the underside it has a transparent area of skin through which its internal organs can be seen.”; I mean, why?) Just guessing here, but that area of skin may be especially thin in order to permit easier absorption of rainwater from the soil surface. Frogs can take up water through the skin, and in fact this is how they “drink.” The transparency may not be adaptive, just a consequence of the thinness (and the fact that since the underside is shielded from sunlight it’s unnecessary for the skin there to be pigmented.) ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/10 "2013-06-22T20:18:58Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > My god, it sounds like a balloon throwing a hissy fit. It looks like a balloon throwing a hissy fit. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/11 "2013-06-22T20:24:05Z")
What a cool little creature! ---
**Author:** ![half-elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/12 "2013-06-22T21:01:11Z")
The wiki article says they’re endangered. Not fair. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/13 "2013-06-23T01:58:56Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > I’m intrigued, why on earth would you\* not\* take the opportunity to clarify you are\* not \* a proponent of intelligent design. Why make that curious statement? I like some elements of the Intelligent Design theory (primarily that there may in fact be a higher power that guides the universe according to rules established by said power), but it seems more often than not that people associated with that viewpoint are anti-science, religious zealots. I don’t identify with that side of it. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/14 "2013-06-23T07:47:53Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > I like some elements of the Intelligent Design theory (primarily that there may in fact be a higher power that guides the universe according to rules established by said power), but it seems more often than not that people associated with that viewpoint are anti-science, religious zealots. I don’t identify with that side of it. Ah, _that_ argument. Well nothing more need be said. In fact nothing more _can_ be said and I suspect that is the attraction of holding that viewpoint. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/15 "2013-06-23T08:07:25Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Just guessing here, but that area of skin may be especially thin in order to permit easier absorption of rainwater from the soil surface. Frogs can take up water through the skin, and in fact this is how they “drink.” The transparency may not be adaptive, just a consequence of the thinness (and the fact that since the underside is shielded from sunlight it’s unnecessary for the skin there to be pigmented.) And something interesting came from this thread after all! Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/16 "2013-06-23T15:35:14Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > And something interesting came from this thread after all! Thank you. Features of animals that at first glance may appear to have no function often may not be adaptive in and of themselves - in this case the transparency of the skin - but be a consequence of adaptation for some other function - the skin is transparent because it needs to be thin to adsorb water. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/17 "2013-06-23T16:04:35Z")
There are several[Breviceps](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breviceps) species similar to _B. macrops_. Some species are actually common as frogs go - in the sense that you’ll hear them if you’re in the woods during rain, or even in gardens. But they live mostly underground and are dreadfully hard to ever see, let alone capture. I’ve seen maybe 10 in my 25 years of casual frogging. But all are vulnerable to habitat destruction and the general decline all amphibians are facing worldwide. The weird squeaking noise is a threat response and _not_ their usual call. All _Breviceps_ make a croaking mating call - some sound like a stick rattling on corrugated surface. Attenborough (of course) did [nice coverage](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6NvnsrBNqw)of a related species, _Breviceps adspersus_. In Afrikaans they are called _blaasops_ (“blow ups”) because their threatened posture is to inflate their whole body like a blowfish. And then go stumping along on their tiny legs. So cute. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/18 "2013-06-23T16:08:38Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > In Afrikaans they are called _blaasops_ (“blow ups”) because their threatened posture is to inflate their whole body like a blowfish. And then go stumping along on their tiny legs. So cute. Ah, so the blown up form is also not their natural ‘look’? (And this seems to be a threat response along the ‘if you can’t scare your predators, baffle them’-line…) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/19 "2013-06-23T16:37:23Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Ah, so the blown up form is also not their natural ‘look’? (And this seems to be a threat response along the ‘if you can’t scare your predators, baffle them’-line…) When [they’re not blown up](http://www.hardaker.co.za/f-namaquarainfrog1.htm) they don’t look quite so ridiculous (but are still pretty funny-looking). Many toads inflate their bodies to make themselves harder to swallow. This is particularly effective with snakes, which have to swallow their prey whole. There is a snake here in Panama that specializes on toads that has special enlarged fangs in the rear of the mouth to “pop” the toad so it can be swallowed. I don’t know if there are snakes with similar adaptations in Africa. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619/20 "2013-06-23T17:03:44Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Ah, so the blown up form is also not their natural ‘look’? Their normal look is still pretty rotund (_Breviceps_ means “short-headed”) much more so than other frogs. They always look particularly grumpy to me - like a “Harumph!” given flesh. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-actual-mature-frogs/661619.md?page=2)