Unusual Creatures in the Animal Kingdom
Nature is full of fascinating and bizarre creatures. Many animals have developed extraordinary abilities to survive and thrive in their environments. For example, the star-nosed mole can detect smells underwater, while certain species of flying snakes can glide through the air to catch prey. The platypus is unique as the only mammal that lays eggs. There are also animals with unusual appearances, such as sun bears that resemble humans wearing bear suits. Pink dolphins, pink mantises, and pink armadillos further highlight the diversity of nature.
A Frog with Eyes in Its Mouth
One of the most unusual creatures is a frog with eyes in its mouth. Strange photographs have circulated online showing a frog with its mouth open, revealing two large, bulbous eyes. The top of its head is flat and lacks fur. While some images of this phenomenon are difficult to verify, one was confirmed to be real. It was captured by photographer Scott Gardner in 1992.
The unusual toad was discovered in a garden by a high school student named Deidre in Ontario, Canada. Initially, she thought the toad had swallowed another toad’s eyes. However, she soon realized they were attached to its palate. When she tried feeding it worms, the creature only ate if the food was placed directly into its mouth. Biologists suggested that the strange feature could result from a macromutation caused by accumulated genetic changes or specific adaptations.
The Story Behind the Photos
According to Snopes, Gardner wrote an article titled “The Toad and I,” detailing the event. He was photographing a girls’ baseball game when he received a call about a toad found in the area. “A toad had been found. Not your ordinary toad, mind you, but one with eyes inside its mouth… I had to wait for it to open its mouth to look around so I could photograph the eyes. A quirky little photo, I thought.”
The team used insects to entice Gollum, the toad, to open its mouth. After the photoshoot, Deidre took Gollum to Professor Bogart, a herpetologist at the University of Guelph. Despite his experience with amphibian deformities, he had never encountered anything like this. He was surprised that a nearly blind toad had survived in the wild for at least two years.
Causes of the Mutation
Some researchers believe the mutation resulted from a parasitic infection by a trematode worm called Ribeiroia ondatrae. These parasites have been linked to limb malformations in frogs, including missing, extra, or twisted hind legs. High parasite exposure in tadpoles increases the risk of deformities if they survive the infection. In rare cases, front leg deformities can occur as well.
Interestingly, the eyes in the frog’s mouth aren’t entirely out of place. Natural historian Sir David Attenborough explained in his documentary “Fabulous Frogs” that some frogs retract their eyes while eating. They pull their eyes downward as they swallow to help force prey down their throats. Although unsettling, having eyes in the mouth isn’t entirely unnatural. Professor Bogart theorized that Gollum’s eyes had developed upside down since it lacked eyelids on the top of its head, which is typically seen in amphibians that rotate their eyes to swallow.
Environmental Concerns
Severely malformed amphibians are becoming more common. Since 1995, reports of mutations have appeared in at least 44 states and over 50 frog and toad species. Common deformities include multiple limbs, missing limbs, and facial abnormalities. While these frogs may seem intriguing, they can signal environmental changes. Amphibians breathe partially through their skin, making them highly sensitive to pollutants, diseases, UV radiation, and pesticides.
“The worldwide occurrences of amphibian declines and deformities could be an early warning that some of our ecosystems, even seemingly pristine ones, are seriously out of balance,” warns the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Conclusion
The discovery of a frog with eyes in its mouth highlights the strange and unpredictable nature of evolution. While such mutations may seem unusual, they often reflect deeper ecological issues. As scientists continue to study these phenomena, they gain valuable insights into the health of our planet and the need for environmental conservation.
