JMAG

Photo credit: John Lyakurwa.

These toads look absolutely crazy. Like, look at the new species Nectophrynoides uhehe:

Photo credit: Michele Menegon

Or the closely related Nectophrynoides viviparus, which was described in 1905 but which we revised in this paper.

Photo credit: Michele Menegon

These are unlike most toads you might know. They live in trees and bushes of the rainforest, crawling and leaping about!

But neither ecology nor apperance are nearly the craziest part: These toads are live bearing! Females carry huge litters, sometimes >100 young, until they complete their development, and give birth to these tiny, fully formed toadlets.

CW: Preserved specimen of a pregnant toad below the cut.

Caterpillar jumping spider, Uroballus carlei, Salticidae

Found in Hong Kong

The scientific name of this species is Naryciodes posticalis. It belongs to the Limacodidae family of moths, which are commonly known as slug moths, thanks to the gelatinous, slug-like appearance of their larvae. That name seems a little ironic in this case, because Naryciodes posticalis actually mimics a snail.

Above: Naryciodes posticalis caterpillar

The caterpillar has a bulge in the center of its body, with colorful markings that form three concentric layers. These features mimic the appearance of a snail's shell, which may help to deter predators. It also has a pair of short, stubby appendages that resemble eyestalks, but they're located at the back of the caterpillar's body.

Above: this photo shows the underside of the caterpillar's body, with its mouth slightly visible on the right

This species is found only in Japan.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn't find any other information about these strange little creatures, and I get the sense that the entire genus is poorly studied.

Above: close-up of the caterpillar's head

Sources & More Info:

iNaturalist: Naryciodes posticalis

Zootaxa: A New Species of Naryciodes from Korea