Stay Away From Me! - Defence Mechanisms of Animals
What if every time you felt threatened, your first and only method of defense was to break your own bones and use them for weapons? Meet the hairy frog, a Central African species. When breeding, the male frogs develop thin strands of skin along the sides of their bodies that resemble hair. In theory, these strands also allow the frogs to take in more oxygen while they watch over their eggs. But what's really compelling about this frog is its ability to crack its own toe bones and push them through their skin to form sharp claws , which are great for warding off would-be attackers. While it's not completely clear what happens to the bones after the threat of attack subsides, researchers believe the bones slide back under the skin when the frog’s muscles relax. My summary: Firstly, it breaks its own bones to use them for weapons. Secondly, the sides of their bodies resemble hair. Thirdly, it allows the frogs to take in more oxygen. The hairy frog isn't the only amphibian tha