Credit: Sean ReillyThe males of these tiny frogs secure their eggs, which are laid on leaves.Generally, frogs teeth arent anything special– they appear as tiny, pointed spikes along the upper jaw. The existence of all these various habitats indicates that the magnitude of biodiversity across lots of plants and animals we find there is unreal– equaling places like the Amazon,” states Frederick.While trekking through the jungle, members of the joint US-Indonesia amphibian and reptile research study team noticed something unanticipated on the leaves of tree saplings and moss-covered stones: nests of frog eggs.The brand-new types of frogs eggs, laid on a leaf. “Male egg-guarding behavior isnt totally unidentified across all frogs, but its rather uncommon,” says Frederick.Frederick and his coworkers hypothesize that the frogs uncommon reproductive habits may likewise relate to their smaller-than-usual fangs.
A brand-new research study has determined the smallest types of fanged frogs in Southeast Asia, with unique characteristics such as terrestrial egg-laying and male egg guarding. Credit: Sean ReillyThe males of these small frogs guard their eggs, which are laid on leaves.Generally, frogs teeth arent anything unique– they appear as tiny, pointed spikes along the upper jaw. The existence of all these various environments suggests that the magnitude of biodiversity throughout many plants and animals we discover there is unreal– equaling locations like the Amazon,” says Frederick.While trekking through the jungle, members of the joint US-Indonesia amphibian and reptile research team saw something unexpected on the leaves of tree saplings and moss-covered stones: nests of frog eggs.The new types of frogs eggs, laid on a leaf. This close contact with their eggs enables the frog moms and dads to coat the eggs with compounds that keep them wet and totally free from bacterial and fungal contamination.Link Between Reproductive Behavior and Fang SizeCloser evaluation of the amphibian moms and dads exposed not just that they were tiny members of the fanged frog household, complete with barely-visible fangs, but that the frogs caring for the clutches of eggs were all male. “Male egg-guarding behavior isnt completely unidentified across all frogs, however its rather uncommon,” states Frederick.Frederick and his coworkers assume that the frogs unusual reproductive habits may likewise relate to their smaller-than-usual fangs.