Posted 08.25.2009 at 9:32 am
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Hairy Frog
Gustavocarra
In one corner, we have the "hairy" frog, Trichobatrachus robustus, hailing from Cameroon.
In the other corner, meet the Spanish ribbed newt, Pleurodeles waltl, hailing from the Iberian peninsula.
Which skin-busting, bone-poking amphibian will win the PopSci deathmatch?
Our frog contender, when provoked, contracts muscles in its front feet, which causes clawlike bones to cut through its skin. The hairy frog's skin and artery strands that hang off its torso like a beard during mating season (thought to help it absorb more oxygen) are a fright to many humans, although it might not have any effect on hypothetical newt assailants.
Spanish Ribbed Newt: [Via BBC]
Many amphibians naturally have some super healing strength compared to mammals (think: leaving your tail behind and then growing a new one), which probably makes such stunts possible.
So, which would be the victor in the battle? And which one is more deserving of a place in Professor X's band of mutants?
[Via New Scientist and BBC]
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eewwww
random....but...I say the Newt should win :)
Wow, I think the frog would win, because it could get the newt from the front, with it's claws.
What amazing creatures, though! They both win for being amazing.
round and round evolution goes
were it stops, nobody knows
man is trying to play god too much. Before you know it, we'll make one with a bigger brain than us than watch it kill our species off. Now, i'm not saying this technology isn't awfully... Cool. It is.
This article definitely points out some of the similarities between some of these reptiles and the comic book character Wolverine. I wonder if whoever came up with Wolverine knew about these reptilian attributes. If so, why did they name him after a mammal?
Interesting & informative yet quite gross article!
As for the Wolverine charraacter, His claws aren’t a “natural” mutation, they where surgically implanted in him.
neonrobot must be a moron both animals are naturally occurring.
hey blazeeagle wolverine was born with the claws. only the adamantium was surgically implanted.
Blazeagle bigbuckshooter is right Wolverine claws weer natural the adamantium was an add on.