Brazilian tree frogs could be the 1st example of amphibians pollinating flowers, study finds


Izecksohn’s Brazilian tree frogs (Xenohyla truncata) dunk themselves like doughnuts in espresso to entry a flower’s candy nectar.  (Picture credit score: Carlos Henrique de-Oliveira-Nogueira)

Whereas most frogs eat a food plan wealthy in bugs, one species in Brazil has its personal methodology of nourishment: dunking itself headfirst right into a flower’s bulb to slurp up its candy nectar. When the frog comes up for air, pollen grains caught to its rust-colored physique get dispersed because it hops from flower to flower within the forest.

Scientists suppose this might be the primary time an amphibian has been noticed pollinating flowering vegetation, in keeping with a examine revealed within the June difficulty of the journal Meals Webs (opens in new tab).