Bouncing Pebble Toad

 

The Pebble Toad of Venezuela is one bizarre animal. This animal has one of the most abnormal defense mechanisms in the animal kingdom.  To learn more on the Pebble Toad you can visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Oreophrynella_nigra.

The pebble toad is one of the most peculiar animals that I for one have ever seen. Furthermore, this tiny amphibian like every animal was born with specific instincts in order to survive on their own. Venezuela is home to many animals, but in the mountains is where you can find the pebble toad. The pebble toad’s survival aspects are crucial to its survival because of their tiny size. Sense they are so small they are the prey for many predators in the area. These toads move at rate that is not fast enough to avoid or escape their predators, so in a bizarre manor when they feel they are in danger they just let go. In other words they literally let go of the side of the mountain and go into free fall. The pebble toad is also known as the bouncing toad because it literally bounces down the mountain until it reaches the bottom or flat ground.  It does so by tucking in its arms and legs; this gives the toad a round shape almost like a bouncy ball.  The toad’s rubber like skin allows the toad to bounce off the rough mountain without causing it physical harm. You can see this process in slow motion at the video posted on the bottom of the page.  Life is a movie about all animals and they are the ones who captured the pebble toads amazing escape route in the face of danger. This survival technique is beyond bizarre and one of the most interesting, which is why this animal is classified as a bizarre but amazing animal.