6 of The Strangest Frogs On The Planet

Frogs. You either like them or you hate them. As one of the most diverse animal species in the planet, you can find frogs in all corners of the world. With over 4,700 species, and more being discovered, these amphibians have evolved with some strange features.

Here are 6 of the strangest frogs on the planet.

Diane's bare-hearted glass frog

This new species of frog got a lot of attention because of its resemblance to the character Kermit the frog. with its bright green skin and big eyes, it looks very close to the puppet. found in Costa Rica’s slopes, it also has a unique call that sets it apart from the rest. This tiny frog grows to about an inch long and has a translucent underbelly that lets you see its organs. It was discovered by Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center Brian Kubicki and named it after his mother.

Paedophryne amauensis

What makes this specific frog interesting is that it’s smaller than a dime. Because of this, it was recorded as the smallest vertebrate on earth. Growing to an average of 0.3 inches, it has also mastered the art of camouflage. Found in the forests of Papua New Guinea, researchers had to find a way to capture these tiny frogs since they became near to invisible on the forest floor. They’d scoop up leaf litters into plastic bags and listen for the ones who made sound.

Desert Rain Frog

Although frogs commonly croak, the desert rain frog makes a squeaking sound. found in South Africa and Namibia along a 6.2 mile wide coastal habitat. This specie is mainly seen in the tropical dry, coastal, and subtropical areas that have a lot of sand. It digs a hole and buries itself 4 to 8 inches underground to stay away from the sun and keep itself moist and cool. It then comes out at night to hunt larvae and insects.

Ornate Horned Frog

This frog is known by its nickname, the Pacman frog, because of its huge mouth. it can pretty much swallow prey that’s as big as it is, ranging from small rodents, insects, and even other frogs. it’s insatiable appetite fits it fairly big size, usually growing to about 6 inches in length. its colorful, red, green, and yellow skin makes it stand out even more. A native to the grasslands of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, its conservation status is tagged by the IUCN as near threatened. It’s also gaining popularity as an exotic pet.

Hairy Frog

You’d think that frogs are always wet and slimy with smooth skins, but the Hairy frog has features that’s just plain odd, and even scary. Also known as the Wolverine or horror frog, it has the ability to break a part of its toe bone and use it as a defense when threatened. male specimen also have a hair-like growth found on their sides which it uses to absorb more oxygen.

Golden poison dart frog

One of the most poisonous animals in the planet, these colorful, but deadly, frogs were used by native tribes to poison their darts, hence their name. the Golden poison dart frog grows to about 2 inches long and has enough toxins to kill about 10 to 20 people. found in the forest of south America, they’re living proof that brightly colored animals should be approached with caution.