Flower-Friendly Frogs: Fruitarian Amphibians May Serve as Allies to Blooms.

“This is a very exciting and intriguing first observation,” said Ruth Cozien, an expert on plant-animal interactions at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa who was not involved in the study. She said more observations were needed to confirm pollination, but added that the team’s preliminary evidence was “incredible” and “extremely valuable for emphasizing what we can still find if we just look.”

Most frogs are carnivorous, only accidentally snacking on vegetation when it gets in the way while they’re hunting for more critters. But earlier this century, scientists noticed traces of plants in the guts of specimens of Xenohyla truncata, known also as Izecksohn’s Brazilian tree frog. Their examinations suggested the species intentionally and often eats fruits, leaves and flowers, and only seldom preys on insects.

But this behavior was never documented in the wild.

Image

Nibbling on the Brazilian milk fruit.Credit…Carlos Henrique de-Oliveira-Nogueira

Image

Emerging from the Brazilian milk fruit flower with pollen grains on its back.Credit…Carlos Henrique de-Oliveira-Nogueira

Enter Dr. Toledo’s team, which was performing research in the Restinga forests of eastern Brazil when, at dusk, they stumbled upon plant-loving frogs in action. Much to their surprise, two frogs were spending five to 15 minutes lapping up nectar from inside the bell-shaped flowers.

Related Posts

Easy Ways to Use Organic Fertilizer at Home to Grow Cucumber Plants

  It’s a satisfying experience to grow cucumbers at home because you may harvest fresh food straight from your balcony or garden. Even in small spaces, cucumbers…

Lemon, Garlic, Honey Magic: Clean the intestines and blood vessels in two weeks

In our quest for vitality, we often overlook the simplest ingredients that have been staples in our kitchens for generations. Lemon, garlic, and honey are not just…

Uncovering the Enchantment of Harmony: Composing Stunning Pebble Ensembles

Iп the гealm of aгtistic expгessioп, aгtificial iпtelligeпce has emeгged as a poweгful medium, uпlockiпg the poteпtial to maпifest beauty iп the foгm of meticulously aггaпged pebbles….

The Mystery “Crop Circle” Forest in Japan Is the Outcome of an Experiment That Began 50 Years Ago

The unique shape of this forest in Japan has been drawing attention from around the world. Photo: FNN In the Miyazaki Prefecture of southern Japan on an…

With his 19-inch ears at birth, young goat Simba may go into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Just like in the movie Dumbo, some animals are born with extraordinarily big ears – and what makes them different also makes them very special. Big-eared animals…

Is the presence of clouds in the sky a possible indication of extraterrestrial life? This is an amazing phenomena that provokes curiosity and poses fascinating questions regarding the secrets of the cosmos.

The sky shrouded in clouds creates an ominous atmosphere, casting a gloomy shadow over the earth below. The once vibrant blue sky now appears gray and lifeless,…