Five Legged Frog

A five legged frog was found in the Salmon Creek area.  The left rear leg has another leg growing over the top of it.  You can see the three black toes of the upper leg curling around the knee of the frog’s lower leg.

According to the Journal of Experimental Zoology,

The occasional occurrence of high frequencies of limb abnormalities, including extra limbs, in natural populations of amphibians has long been a puzzle. In this paper we report the discovery of a population in which such limb abnormalities appear to be caused by a parasitic flatworm (trematode) that uses amphibians as intermediate hosts. The cercarial larval stage of the trematode attacks amphibians, penetrating the skin to form cysts (metacercariae). The cysts are preferentially localized in the cloacal region, including the developing hind limb regions in larvae of both frogs (Hyla regilla) and salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum). A wide range of limb abnormalities are seen, including duplicated limb structures ranging from extra digits to several extra whole limbs. We hypothesize that these limb abnormalities result from localized regulatory responses of developing and regenerating limb tissues to mechanical disruption caused by the trematode cysts. We have tested this idea by implanting inert resin beads into developing limb buds of frogs and salamanders. Since this treatment can cause supernumerary limb structures, our hypothesis is sufficient to explain the naturally occurring extra limbs.

Or in plainer English, a parasite sometimes forms cysts on the butts of  tadpoles and this stimulates the “regenerating limb tissues”  to grow another leg.

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13 Comments
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Kitty
Guest
13 years ago

I would have missed that. Even after taking a photo, I’d have still missed it.

t
Guest
t
13 years ago

That is absolutely wild!

t
Guest
t
13 years ago

That is absolutely wild!

Randy
Guest
13 years ago

A little extra hip for the hop!

Randy
Guest
13 years ago

A little extra hip for the hop!

tj
Guest
tj
13 years ago

I love your explanation!

tj
Guest
tj
13 years ago

I love your explanation!

Kato
Guest
Kato
13 years ago

I love the google ad for advanced orthopedic treatments right below the story.

The freaky little fellow was released at the school’s creek and hopped happily away, for anyone concerned about its fate.

Kato
Guest
Kato
13 years ago

I love the google ad for advanced orthopedic treatments right below the story.

The freaky little fellow was released at the school’s creek and hopped happily away, for anyone concerned about its fate.

Carol
Guest
13 years ago

Do you think this anomaly had anything to do with the Salmon Creek diesel spill?

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Carol

Probably not. It wasn’t found directly downstream. Hacker Creek and the unnamed streamlet that the frog was found in both feed Salmon Creek. But Hacker Creek doesn’t feed the streamlet.

Carol
Guest
13 years ago

Do you think this anomaly had anything to do with the Salmon Creek diesel spill?

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Carol

Probably not. It wasn’t found directly downstream. Hacker Creek and the unnamed streamlet that the frog was found in both feed Salmon Creek. But Hacker Creek doesn’t feed the streamlet.