Researchers have revealed how paradoxical frogs manage to change their body size by shrinking nearly three times as adults.
Our planet is home to an incredible number of living creatures; Some of them are so unusual that they never cease to amaze scientists. For example, paradoxical frogs are full of surprises; They start their lives as giant tadpoles, but as they get older they turn into tiny frogs three times smaller than their original size, Live Science writes.
This amazing species of paradoxical frog (Pseudis paradoxa), also known as the shrinking frog, is found only in northern South America and Thailand. These creatures were of particular interest to scientists because the adults were often three times smaller than the tadpoles they were before.
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According to scientists, the length of a large tadpole can reach about 22 centimeters, while the size of an adult individual hardly exceeds 8 centimeters. Other members of the Pseudis species are known to exhibit similar unusual size changes, but paradoxical frogs hold the record for the longest tadpoles.
The results of the study show that the growth rate of tadpoles is similar to the growth rate of other species, but the peculiarity is that they continue to grow and develop further. In fact, by the time the tadpoles develop into adults, the males already have the capacity to produce sperm and are “mature.” At the same time, the females’ eggs are currently in development, which usually occurs at the life cycle stage of a young frog in other species.
Another study by scientists showed that tadpoles are actually in an advanced stage of formation or have completed this stage when they turn into frogs. The researchers also note that the tadpole’s enormous size is largely due to their long tails: Before they become adults, the length of their noses is comparable to the length of an adult.
Note that most other frog species follow a different path: They start their lives as small tadpoles, growing up to eventually become larger adult frogs. But because the paradoxical frog’s tadpoles grow longer than other species and develop during metamorphosis, the adult cannot grow much larger. In simple terms, during metamorphosis the tadpole loses its particularly long tail, causing the frogs to “shrink”.
Previously Focus wrote that scientists helped a frog regrow its amputated leg: People are next.
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.