this post was submitted on 08 Jul 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago

Yeah, that's "Wolverine frog" as in The Wolverine, Logan, not the animal he was named after. Because those bone blades are kinda like his (except they come out of the finger tips like that other version of him that he fought in X2).

[–] anugeshtu@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

Nuclear radiation was discovered in 1895. That frog was discovered around 1900... Coincidence?

[–] DJKJuicy@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 hours ago

What. The. Fuck. Holy shit.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 13 points 5 hours ago

It is Wednesday, my dudes.

[–] Malyca@lemmy.zip 3 points 4 hours ago

I want a pack of feral frogs to defend my home

[–] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 60 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

> Hairy

> Small

> Uses bones as weapons

Yeah, whoever called it the wolverine frog did an excellent job

[–] Smoogs@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I'm pretty sure its the other way around: this frog would have been the inspiration for the character.

animals often are. especially unusual ones.

[–] Binturong@lemmy.ca 12 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Maybe the other animal named just wolverine was the inspiration too...

[–] Smoogs@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

a combo. Pretty sure wolverines don't break their own bones to grow knuckles

[–] Avicenna@programming.dev 3 points 5 hours ago

badgers beyond my comprehension

[–] DEJED@feddit.org 3 points 5 hours ago

Ppl looking for HP Lovecraft to get their horror fetiche satisfaction… just go to the local pond and observe…

[–] riskable@programming.dev 23 points 9 hours ago (5 children)

It's not the only animal like this! The Iberian Ribbed Newt (Pleurodeles waltl) will push its own ribcage out of its chest (turning them into spikes) and secretes toxic venom through those bones...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_ribbed_newt

[–] diaphragmwp@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 3 hours ago

Uh huh, yeah, I recognize some of these words

[–] MoffKalast@lemmy.world 8 points 5 hours ago

P. waltl is a model organism for the study of adult regeneration. Similar to other salamanders, P. waltl can regenerate lost limbs, injured heart tissue, and lesioned brain cells, in addition to other body parts such as the eye lens and the spinal cord. The 20 Gb genome of P. waltl has been sequenced to facilitate research into the genetic basis of this regenerative ability.[20] Regeneration is able to occur due to the newt's specialized progenitor cells and the transduction of their somatic cells, which act like stem cells.[21] Stem cells repair damaged tissue and contribute to regeneration effects. In most organisms, the efficiency of the function of these stem cells decrease, but in some organisms like P. waltl, this degeneration does not occur.

This thing is genuinely Wolverine in terms of healing superpowers.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 hours ago

That's nice, dear.

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 9 hours ago

Amphibians are crazy, dude! 😄

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 4 points 8 hours ago
[–] smeg@feddit.uk 61 points 11 hours ago (4 children)

The hairy frog is also notable in possessing retractable "claws", which it may project through the skin, apparently by intentionally breaking the bones of the toe.[5] These are not true claws, as they are made of bone, not keratin. In addition, there is a small bony nodule nestled in the tissue just beyond the frog's fingertip. When sheathed, each claw is anchored to the nodule with tough strands of collagen. When the frog is grabbed or attacked, it breaks the nodule connection and forces the sharpened bones through the skin.[6][7] Although a retraction mechanism is not known, it has been hypothesized that the claws later retract passively, while the damaged tissue is regenerated.

This type of natural weaponry appears to be unique in the animal kingdom, although the Otton frog possesses a similar "spike" in its thumb.[8] An alternative hypothesis is that the broken bones could provide a better grip on rocks.[9]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairy_frog

Yep, pretty horrifying, accurate name.

[–] SoleInvictus@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

A picture adds the missing context that the meme leans into to make this seem more awful than it is.

The bone isn't broken as if it was cracked in half and the jagged shards protrude from the skin. The tips of the toe bones are sharp points, held in place inside by a tiny "claw rest"' bone at the end. The frog flexes a muscle, the bone breaks free from the bony rest, and the sharp tips protrude through the toe pads.

Edit: actually including the picture helps.

[–] Shrubbery@piefed.social 2 points 4 hours ago

"Evolution, may I have broken bones?" "For better grip on rocks?" "Yeeeees" Actually for making weapons, like a boss

[–] protist@retrofed.com 19 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

Nature is fucked up. Bedbugs mate via "traumatic insemination," where the male stabs the female in the gut with his reproductive organ and injects sperm straight into her body. And we all know about ducks...

Crazy shit evolves.

[–] morto@piefed.social 4 points 5 hours ago

Evolution only favors continuity, not well-being, and that's why we should stop glorifying it

[–] Whostosay@sh.itjust.works 4 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

Out of the loop on these ducks, are we talking about the duck rape?

[–] GrilledCheese@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 hours ago

I assume they are talking about the spiraled reproductive organs

[–] ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 7 hours ago (2 children)

Probably the evolutionary arms race between rapey males and females. Males have long corkscrew penises that inflate rapidly during copulation to fill the tract of the female. Females, what with their desire to choose mates and all, have evolved corkscrew vaginal tracts with dead ends and stuff that spirals in the opposite direction. Forced mating frequently ends without insemination, as a result.

I am genuinely unsure of the mechanism by which successful mating actually happens, considering the anatomical arms race and all (maybe it’s like dolphins, which have a similar problem. Female dolphins have a false vagina and can choose where the male’s sperm goes by changing her tail position), but they seem to be able to reproduce, so it is what it is, and I’m not super keen to look it up at the moment.

[–] mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Fyi, I'm pretty sure the duck rape thing is specific to mallards. But I'm not an ornithologist

[–] Whostosay@sh.itjust.works 6 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

I'm not read up on current bird law either

[–] NocturnalMorning@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

Have you talked to Charlie Day about it? He can probably help you out

[–] Whostosay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 hours ago

That is wild lol thanks for sharing

[–] hayvan@piefed.world 56 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

Conservation status: least concern.

Right. I have other concerns though.

[–] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 6 points 8 hours ago

We canNOT let these evolve!

Just imagine horror frog post-carcinization...

shudders

[–] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 13 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

We haven't invented the inverse scale for obvious reasons.

[–] Wrufieotnak@feddit.org 8 points 10 hours ago

Extermination status: highest concern

[–] 0x0@infosec.pub 2 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Its a dark market underground thing, you wouldnt understand it

[–] QuantumSparkles@sh.itjust.works 16 points 9 hours ago

My favorite part is that it grew out it’s mutton chops for the sake of committing to the cosplay

[–] MalikMuaddibSoong@startrek.website 31 points 10 hours ago (1 children)
[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 2 points 8 hours ago
[–] NatakuNox@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

Ya but it's like 1 pound.

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 5 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

It’s okay, he’s only here to tell us what day of the week it is

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 hours ago (1 children)
[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 3 points 6 hours ago

Wow it really does look like Wolverine, that’s fucking awesome

[–] 87Six@lemmy.zip 7 points 11 hours ago

This mf vs Doomguy would be an even matchup

[–] Jakylla@jlai.lu 4 points 10 hours ago

Hopefully, the frog only have bones to show up, and does not contains explosive power. Looks like if it had, it would kamikaze itself like a Creeper without a doubt