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February 19, 2008

Just One More Reason to Be Glad You're Living

...now.

A frog the size of a bowling ball, with heavy armor and teeth, lived among dinosaurs millions of years ago — intimidating enough that scientists who unearthed its fossils dubbed the beast Beelzebufo, or Devil Toad.

But its size — 10 pounds and 16 inches long — isn't the only curiosity. Researchers discovered the creature's bones in Madagascar. Yet it seems to be a close relative of normal-sized frogs who today live half a world away in South America, challenging assumptions about ancient geography.


I mean, if the frog's that big, what size were the mosquitos?

Posted by tree hugging sister at February 19, 2008 12:11 PM

Comments

They didn't call it the Chubb Toad? I'm disappointed.

Posted by: nightfly at February 19, 2008 01:14 PM

I dunno, I like Beelzebufo. (I checked the calendar just to be sure it wasn't April 1: giant Mascarene toad with teeth, named Beelzebufo sounds like the kind of elaborate prank my friends in grad school would dream up for that day.)

Posted by: ricki at February 19, 2008 02:19 PM

I'm sure Ozzie would keep your neighborhood clear of such critters, Sis. So this is merely idle speculation on your part.

Posted by: The_Real_JeffS at February 19, 2008 03:20 PM

"Chubb" is insensitive, Diptera. He's already suing McDonald's as I write this.

ricki ~ honestly, I see that name and I all can think of is a similarly large, repulsive toad.

True, Jeff. And if Ozzie had an opposable thumb? Sky's the limit, baby. Toad that size'd be a swiss cheesecake.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at February 19, 2008 03:33 PM

The giant frog killed Nessie!

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at February 19, 2008 03:50 PM

Am I the only one who thinks this frog looks like gungan Boss Nass, the king of Jar Jar Binks?

If so, I think this is why it's taken so long to discover it. When I watch episode I of Star Wars, I always fast forward past any scene with either a pod race or a Jar Jar in it. The movie is so much better and lacks nothing with both of those excluded.

So, perhaps the taxonomy of the world is probably just as much better off without knowledge of this frog. It wasn't so much as unknown before as it was ignored because it was probably off the scale for being annoying.

Posted by: Skyler at February 19, 2008 04:43 PM

You may be on to something there, Skyler.

And if my name was "Nightfly" I think I'd take an extra-careful look under the bed tonight...

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at February 19, 2008 04:51 PM

I'm seeing the possibility of another "Jurassic Park" sequel here.

Posted by: Gunslinger at February 19, 2008 05:17 PM

…or another sequel to "Hell Comes To Frogtown".

Posted by: Gunslinger at February 19, 2008 05:18 PM

Kinda makes you wonder what happened to the French...

Posted by: tree hugging sister at February 19, 2008 05:48 PM

Man, imagine the business you could have making berets for those suckers.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at February 19, 2008 06:28 PM

Yum! Them's some frog legs!

Posted by: RebeccaH at February 19, 2008 07:13 PM