Exploding Toads Baffle Scientists (this is a real story)

[paula777]

You know how scientist say that you can tell what human diseases are on the horizon based on the health of frogs and toads. Well .. UH OH


http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4427285/detail.html

Exploding Toads Baffle Scientists
Scientists Stumped
It's a scene straight out of a science-fiction movie: Toads are literally exploding at several ponds in Europe.


Toads Explode In European Ponds

In recent days, thousands of toads have died in two ponds, one in Germany and another in Denmark.

Scientists are stumped and have no idea why the amphibians swell to the bursting point -- up to 3½ times their normal size.

A scientist with the Hamburg-based Institute for Hygiene and the Environment calls it "absolutely strange" -- saying it doesn't appear to have happened anywhere before.

The toads fill up like balloons until their stomachs suddenly burst.

You can also google search toads combusting ... many news stories on this.

[Submariner]

1. They found out

it was ravens or blackbirds selectively eating the livers out of the frogs that gave it that exploded look. I can't recall the link now, but that is apparently what happened. The distended look was from decomposition bloating.

[paula777]

2. OMG are you kidding me. This was a news story posted TODAY

I wonder why they didn't mention that they found out for sure what was causing it. In a google search I found a news story that said it 'may be' cause by birds but nothing definate.

[Kellanved]

7. well

The crow-explanation was part of most German articles about the incident. Even those over a week old.
Some news agancy decided to make the story more interesting for the American readers by ommiting the detail.

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,354001,00.html

And: as someone made the Bush-firecracker joke, this thread is complete and can sink like its precedessors :D .

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Link here

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

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/29/AR2005042901422.html

[Ian David]

3. See prior threads: The German toads, They are Explodin'

Crunchy frog? No, Exploding Toads!

Mystery of German exploding toads
Topic started by Colorado Blue on Apr-27-05 02:19 AM (14 replies)
Last modified by Colorado Blue on Apr-27-05 02:35 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1425873

Is this fricking sick or what?
Topic started by Deep N RedLand on Apr-28-05 08:07 PM (1 replies)
Last modified by thoughtanarchist on Apr-28-05 08:09 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=122182

Exploding Toads Baffle Scientists (this is a real story)
Topic started by paula777 on Apr-29-05 05:15 PM (2 replies)
Last modified by paula777 on Apr-29-05 05:37 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3570407

Birds May Be Behind Exploding German Toads
Topic started by emad on Apr-29-05 10:06 AM (6 replies)
Last modified by Kellanved on Apr-29-05 10:33 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=3146352

German Scientists Puzzled By Exploding Toads - ENN
Topic started by hatrack on Apr-27-05 10:39 AM (8 replies)
Last modified by htuttle on Apr-28-05 02:55 PM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=22836

What's up with exploding toads?
Topic started by HeeBGBz on Apr-28-05 03:06 PM (6 replies)
Last modified by aeolian on Apr-29-05 09:18 AM
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=228&topic_id=6115

[paula777]

4. Wow, I looked for the story and didnt see it posted. My bad

[radfringe]

6. where was bush* when the happened?

according to web-stories -- as a child - bush would explode frogs/toads with firecrackers...