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?
Fun | Mr. Bingley | 
February 19, 2008 12:11 pm
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They didn’t call it the Chubb Toad? I’m disappointed.
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.)
I’m sure Ozzie would keep your neighborhood clear of such critters, Sis. So this is merely idle speculation on your part.
“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.
The giant frog killed Nessie!
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.
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…
I’m seeing the possibility of another “Jurassic Park” sequel here.
…or another sequel to “Hell Comes To Frogtown”.
Kinda makes you wonder what happened to the French…
Man, imagine the business you could have making berets for those suckers.
Yum! Them’s some frog legs!