Finding frog tadpoles

After many years, scientists first discovered tadpoles of "dancer" frogs buried in sand in the Western Ghats, India.

BBC on March 30 reported, according to research published in the journal Plos One, normal tadpoles do not live in sand or eat sand, but the newly discovered tadpoles possess these special points. They belong to the Indian "dancer" frog family named Micrixalidae.

Indian "dancer" frogs are famous for chi dancing at mating or territorial protection. However, their tadpoles are still a mystery to science.

"This tadpole has not been detected in the past years because it buried itself in the sand, the behavior is very rare in the amphibian world , " said Professor SD Biju, University of Delhi, India.

The new tadpole belongs to the Indian "dancer" frog family named Micrixalidae.(Photo: SD Biju).

The group of scientists from the University of Delhi, India, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and Gettysburg, USA discovered and monitored frog larvae, genetically identified as Micrixalus herrei. They are found in deep hollows of stream beds where they "live in the darkness until they develop into frogs".

Professor Madhava Meegaskumbura from Peradeniya University described the Micrixalidae tadpole "with ribs, thus providing stronger muscle force to help them wriggle in the sand".

"There are only 4 frog families with ribs, but with this study, we have shown that at least some species such as Micrixalidae also have rib structures, even when they are still tadpoles , " he said.

The study found that the tadpole Micrixalidae had no teeth but had a set of jagged teeth, helping them to avoid large sandstones when eating. The characteristics of this tadpole habitat are still unclear.

They are the larvae of frogs "dancers" famous for dancing by chi when mating and protecting the territory.(Photo: SD Biju).

"The observation so far shows that tadpoles live in sand in stream beds covered by trees , " Professor Madhava said.

Western Ghats are mountainous areas in southern India, a biodiversity hotspot. The new finding underscores the uniqueness of the amphibians here.

The characteristics of the mysterious "dancer" tadpole are: "Living in niches in the sand and gravel in the stream in the forest. In the intestine there are sand, sediments like grit, mud, and other organic substances. eel-like, behind with tail helps to move under the sand The ribs protect the internal organs and facilitate the movement under the sand The jagged set prevents large grains of sand from entering the mouth. The skin shields from sand rubbing , " said the study.