Top Ten Strange Frogs in the World (Have you ever seen a flying frog?)

As one of the most familiar amphibians, frogs usually give people a simple and honest green image. But among the many species of frogs, there are also some extremely bizarre species. Today, let’s explore the top ten strange frogs in the world, including: glass frog, Beibu Gulf leatherbark tree frog, Darwin’s frog, black palm tree frog, Madagascar rainbow frog, vampire flying frog, pitcher plant frog, etc. Let’s take a look at their uniqueness!

1. Glass frog (transparent)

Glass frogs are one of the most amazing frogs. They are mainly distributed in Central and South America. There are more than 100 different species of glass frogs around the world. The skin of many glass frogs is transparent, and some even have transparent bellies, allowing organs, bones and blood vessels to be clearly observed. The bones of some glass frogs even appear green, and some even have other organs that are transparent. Scientists still know very little about the reasons why glass frogs are transparent.

However, many species of glass frogs have been listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List as activities such as logging and farmland clearing destroy their rainforest habitats.

2. Beibu Bay Leatherback Tree Frog (skin looks like moss growing on stones)

The Beibu Gulf leatherback tree frog, also known as the Vietnamese moss frog, is also one of the most bizarre frogs in the world. In addition to Vietnam, the main production area, China may also be one of the habitats of this peculiar frog. They primarily inhabit subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, intermittent freshwater swamps, and rocky areas.

The name "moss frog" comes from their skin, which is covered with green, purple and black spots, bumps, spines and nodules, just like moss growing on stones. During the day, they hide under the dead branches and leaves that have accumulated water all year round. Because their body color is very similar to that of the natural environment, they are very difficult to detect. They can be said to be masters of camouflage in the frog family.

3. Darwin's Frog ("Male Wet Nurse")

Darwin's frog, one of the ten most bizarre frogs in the world, is not famous for its weird appearance, but for its unique and unique habits. Found mainly in much of South America, this species is most different from other frogs in the way it raises its offspring. Male Darwin's frogs place fertilized eggs into their vocal sacs, where they hatch into tadpoles about eight days later. When the male frog feels the newly hatched tadpoles wriggling in their vocal sacs, he releases them into streams and lets them find food and grow on their own. This behavior of male frogs raising young frogs is very rare in the animal kingdom and is one of the unique reproductive strategies of Darwin's frogs.

4. Black palm tree frog (flying frog)

The black-palmed tree frog, also known as Wallace's flying frog, is native to the tropical rainforests of Malaysia and Indonesia in Asia. They are known for their large paws and highly developed webbed feet, features that allow them to glide through the air. In addition, black-palmed tree frogs have skin folds on the anus and the outside of the front and rear limbs, which increase their body surface area. When they glide from high to low, the webs will open, thereby slowing down their descent.

This tree frog is nocturnal and becomes very active when night falls. It is worth mentioning that the black palm tree frog has excellent environmental adaptability and can change its color according to changes in the surrounding environment. This allows them to evade detection by predators and provide better access to prey.

5. Madagascar rainbow frog (bright colors)

The Madagascar rainbow frog is a strange-looking frog that is known as the "master of disguise" in nature. The body is colorful, as colorful as a beautiful rainbow, so it has become the most gorgeous species of frogs in Madagascar. The frog has been called one of the "rarest and most unusual amphibians" on Earth, an honor it earned in 2008.

After a long period of evolution, the rainbow frog has developed a very high climbing ability, can adapt well to the surrounding rocky environment, and can even conquer vertical surfaces. When threatened, the frog triggers a defense mechanism by inflating its body to scare away predators. This unique defensive behavior allows them to better protect themselves in the face of danger.

6. Vampire flying frog (tusked frog)

According to a report on the National Geographic website, a blood-sucking flying tree frog was first discovered in the mountainous jungles of Vietnam in 2008. They have become one of the top 10 weirdest frogs because of their unique characteristics. The tadpole larvae of these blood-sucking flying tree frogs have curved "fangs," the first time scientists have discovered such structures in a frog species. Normally, tadpoles have beak-like mouthparts, but this vampire tree frog tadpole has a pair of harder black hook-like structures extending from the bottom of its mouth. Until now, scientists have not known the true purpose of these frog fangs, which has become a mystery.

7. Nepenthes frog(the smallest frog in the world)

The pitcher plant frog, one of the world's top ten weirdest frogs, is one of the smallest frogs in the world. The adult male is only about the size of a pea. Their tiny size makes them extremely difficult to detect in nature. Fortunately for scientists, however, these frogs love to chirp so loudly that their presence is noticed.

Worryingly, however, the frog's habitat is being severely damaged due to deforestation and the development of palm oil plantations. It is unclear whether the survival of this species is threatened, but sufficient attention must be paid to protect this unique and precious species.

8. African giant frog (the largest frog in the world)

The African Giant Frog is one of the top ten strange frogs, the "Big Mac" among frogs. Their body length is usually between 17 and 32 centimeters, their weight is between 600 and 3250 grams, and their eyes can be up to 2.5 centimeters in diameter. These frogs have triangular heads and flat, broad bodies. The skin on their backs is covered with granular warts that give them a greenish-brown color. The adults are perfectly camouflaged when basking on moist moss-covered rocks.

The African giant frog can live up to 15 years. They feed mainly on scorpions, insects and small frogs. Although they have no vocal sacs, the frogs have very sensitive hearing and can respond quickly to surrounding sounds. This gives them a significant advantage when hunting and avoiding predators.

9. Clown frog (eyes too small)

The clown frog, also known as the cat-eyed pearl frog, is beloved for its weird appearance and tiny eyes, and is considered one of the weirdest frog species. Today, many people are keeping clown frogs as pets. This frog specializes in surprise tactics. When hunting, they may seem careless, but in fact they are already planning how to attack and how to defeat the enemy. Moreover, they have a very large appetite and will never stop eating until they are full. The temperament of the clown frog is relatively violent among pet frogs. Due to their pure carnivorous nature and huge appetite, raising them is not easy. For clown frogs, the diet must be broad, otherwise long-term picky eating will lead to health problems. The ideal diet ratio is 40% insects, 30% fish, 20% amphibians, and the last 10% are rodents or birds.

10. Purple frog (strange appearance/bright color)

The Purple Frog, also known as the Western Ghats Nosed Frog, is one of the strangest frogs and is considered a living fossil in nature. Their body surface is bright purple, and their mouth is shaped like a pig, looking like a plump plum. Scientists' analysis shows that this frog belongs to a branch of special frogs from the ancient dinosaur period.

They were not discovered by humans until 2003. This is because they live underground and only appear for two weeks during the rainy season. They live a hidden life the rest of the time. This species has evolved over millions of years with virtually no changes, allowing them to maintain largely their original characteristics.

The top ten weird frogs in the world are mainly recommended based on frog characteristics/rareness/famousness and comprehensive reference to relevant Internet rankings/lists. The data is as of November 16, 2023. If you have any questions, please leave comments/criticisms at the end.

animal tags： frog