Friday, April 29, 2005

Exploding Toads Theory

One German scientist has a theory on the exploding toads phenomenon. Hungry crows are pecking out their livers. "The crows are clever," said scientist Frank Mutschmann, a Berlin veterinarian who collected and tested specimens at the Hamburg pond. "They learn quickly from watching other crows how to get the livers."

Based on the wounds, Mutschmann said, it appears a bird pecks into the toad with its beak between the toad's chest and abdominal cavity, and the toad puffs itself up as a defense mechanism.

But because the liver is missing and there's a hole in the toad's body, the blood vessels and lungs burst and the other organs ooze out. There have also been reports of exploded toads in a pond near Laasby in central Denmard. I hope you already had breakfast.

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