China
June-24th-2008, 11:33 AM
So does this mean that Wolverine is a mutant with frog genes?
Frog species sprout claws on demand (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080624/sc_nm/frogs_claws_dc_2)
Tue Jun 24, 6:02 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least 11 species of African frogs carry a built-in concealed weapon -- they can sprout claws on demand to fight off attackers, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
When threatened, the frogs can puncture their own skin with sharp bones in their toes that they then use to claw their attackers, David Blackburn and colleagues at Harvard University reported.
"It's surprising enough to find a frog with claws," Blackburn, a graduate student, said in a statement.
"The fact that those claws work by cutting through the skin of the frogs' feet is even more astonishing. These are the only vertebrate claws known to pierce their way to functionality."
Blackburn became aware of the frogs when one scratched him in Cameroon.
Click on the link for the full article
Frog species sprout claws on demand (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080624/sc_nm/frogs_claws_dc_2)
Tue Jun 24, 6:02 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least 11 species of African frogs carry a built-in concealed weapon -- they can sprout claws on demand to fight off attackers, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
When threatened, the frogs can puncture their own skin with sharp bones in their toes that they then use to claw their attackers, David Blackburn and colleagues at Harvard University reported.
"It's surprising enough to find a frog with claws," Blackburn, a graduate student, said in a statement.
"The fact that those claws work by cutting through the skin of the frogs' feet is even more astonishing. These are the only vertebrate claws known to pierce their way to functionality."
Blackburn became aware of the frogs when one scratched him in Cameroon.
Click on the link for the full article