Six-legged Frog

[tspuckler]

I was walking the Ohio Erie Canal towpath yesterday evening near my home, when I spotted this young American Bullfrog at the edge of the path. Since there were a number of cyclists out, I decided to move the frog across the path, so it wouldn't get hit. When I picked up the little amphibian, I noticed that it held out its front leg in an awkward way. I thought maybe it had been injured. But then I noticed that it had extra legs.

 

[Jdog3131]

Hmm how weird but interesting.

 

[dave partington]

Trematodes (flatworms) , a parasite, which cause deformities in frogs, increase in numbers when the broad leaf herbicide Atrazine is present. .

You remember Atrazine, the active ingredient in Agent Orange.

 

[Aiwass]

amphibians today have many strange mutations, like extra legs, eyelessness, and missing legs. Researchers think that its from a high mutation rate due to exposure to higher levels of ultraviolet light.
As long as that little guy can survive as well as a typical bullfrog, he'll be just fine

 

[lumene]

I think he's kind of cute.

 

[AliCat37]

How sad. Amphibians are indicator species about the health of their environment. That just goes to show you how much pollutants are in the area you found him