118 The Frogs That Cannot Hop

Animals come in many sizes, great and small. But all are subject to the laws of physics. In this episode we look at how the tiniest of frogs are too small to elegantly jump. Species of the Bi-week returns for an even fresher, more chocolatey frog.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/herphighlights

Full reference list available here: http://www.herphighlights.podbean.com

Main Paper References:

Essner RL, Pereira REE, Blackburn DC, Singh AL, Stanley EL, Moura MO, Confetti AE, Pie MR. 2022. Semicircular canal size constrains vestibular function in miniaturized frogs. Science Advances 8:eabn1104. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1104.

Species of the Bi-Week:

Chávez G, Thompson ME, Sánchez DA, Chávez-Arribasplata JC, Catenazzi A. 2022. A needle in a haystack: Integrative taxonomy reveals the existence of a new small species of fossorial frog (Anura, Microhylidae, Synapturanus) from the vast lower Putumayo basin, Peru. Evolutionary Systematics 6:9–20. DOI: 10.3897/evolsyst.6.80281.

Other Mentioned Papers/Studies:

Montano Y, Marshall BM, Ward M, Silva I, Artchawakom T, Waengsothorn S, Strine C. 2022. A stable home: Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimated home ranges of the critically endangered Elongated Tortoise. The Herpetological Journal 32:120–129. DOI: 10.33256/32.3.120129.

Other Links/Mentions:

Video of frogs’ poor jumping ability - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-ngnnhcT-s

Music:

Intro/outro – Treehouse by Ed Nelson

Species Bi-week theme – Michael Timothy

Other Music – The Passion HiFi, www.thepassionhifi.com