Up next in 10
Hairy Frog (Horror Frog)
0 views
Jul 16, 2025
All about the different types of animals in the world. Marine Life, African animals, land creatures, sea creatures, mammals, ocean. animals, insects, snakes, lions, elephants, spiders, whales, sharks, dolphins, octopus, reef, fish, dangerous creatures, poisonous creatures, ants, animal habitat, birds, cheetah, leopard, jaquar, predators, killer whales
View Video Transcript
0:00
Meet the weirdest frog you have never
0:02
heard about, the hairy frog. It's also
0:04
known as the Wolverine frog or the
0:05
horror frog. And believe me, this one is
0:08
scarier than the last two. This is wild
0:11
but true with Malcolm Walker. This frog
0:14
has been named so because of the hairs
0:15
that grow on its body. But why does it
0:18
grow these hairs? What is the use of
0:20
these hairs? We will talk about that
0:22
later in the video. So do watch the
0:24
video till the end. Also, we will be
0:27
talking about its bone claws, which is
0:29
definitely terrifying. So, let's dive
0:32
in. When threatened, this frog
0:34
intentionally breaks the bones in its
0:36
toes, which sounds crazy, right?
0:38
Literally breaks its own toes. And then
0:41
what happens is that it forces the sharp
0:43
broken bones through the skin of its
0:45
feet, turning them into makeshift claws
0:47
to slash at the predator. Imagine a tiny
0:49
frog slashing at you with its claws.
0:51
Isn't that scary? And no, these are not
0:54
like the claws of a cat or a wolverine.
0:55
Those are made of keratin. Whereas these
0:57
are actual bones that pierce out of the
0:59
topads. So that is one reason why it is
1:02
called the wolverine claw. Now let's
1:04
move on to the second reason for its
1:06
name. The hairy frog. During the
1:09
breeding season, males develop hairlike
1:11
structures on the sides of their bodies
1:12
and thighs. Oh,
1:14
but these are not actually hairs. They
1:17
are actually dermal papi, which are skin
1:19
protrusions found in many amphibians.
1:22
These hairs increase the surface area of
1:24
the skin, allowing for more oxygen to be
1:26
absorbed through the skin. This
1:29
adaptation is crucial for the frog
1:31
survival since it allows them to stay
1:34
underwater for longer periods of time
1:36
without needing to surface to breathe.
1:38
This is especially important when they
1:40
are guarding their eggs since they need
1:42
to keep the eggs moist and protected
1:44
from predators until they hatch. But
1:47
only males grow these hairs and that too
1:50
only during the breeding season. So if
1:52
you see a hairy frog, just know that it
1:54
is a male and that it is probably trying
1:56
to protect its young. As for where they
1:58
get their name, the horror frog, well,
2:01
it's because of their toe slashing claws
2:04
and the fact that they can scream. Yes,
2:06
they can scream. When they are taken out
2:09
of water and exposed to air, they make a
2:12
high-pitched squealing sound that has
2:14
been compared to a human scream. So, you
2:17
can imagine why people have given it
2:19
this name. Next, let's talk about its
2:21
habitat. The hairy frog is native to the
2:24
tropical rainforests of central Africa,
2:27
especially Cameroon. It prefers to live
2:30
in dense vegetation near fast flowing
2:32
streams and rivers where it can stay
2:34
submerged for extended periods. And now
2:37
finally, let's talk about how this frog
2:39
heals itself after breaking its own
2:42
bones. Scientists are still not sure how
2:45
the frog is able to heal itself after
2:46
breaking its own bones. Some believe
2:49
that after the danger has passed, the
2:51
bones retract back in. However,
2:54
scientists are still unsure about this
2:56
and are continuing to study the frog to
2:58
try to figure out how it is able to do
3:00
this. Now, finally, let's discuss its
3:03
conservation status. Despite its
3:06
somewhat terrifying appearance and
3:07
behavior, the hairy frog is not
3:09
currently considered to be an endangered
3:11
species. However, like many other
3:13
species of frogs, it faces threats due
3:16
to habitat loss and water pollution.
3:19
Because the frog is so elusive and
3:21
rarely seen in the wild, it is difficult
3:23
to study, and there is still much that
3:25
we do and know about its life cycle and
3:27
behavior.
3:29
What we do know is that it is an amazing
3:31
example of how animals have adapted to
3:33
their environment. and continue to
3:36
surprise us with their unique abilities.
3:38
So, what do you think about this frog?
3:41
Would you want to see one in your
3:42
nightmares, or would you rather leave it
3:44
to the wilds of Africa? Let us know in
3:47
the comment section below.
#Biological Sciences
#Ecology & Environment
#Wildlife