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Frog named after a pitcher plant!


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Interesting !

 

I wonder how it manages to survive the digestive enzymes during its egg stage (assuming they are laid under the surface) and its developing embryonic stage with its gills and tiny appedages able to avert digestion, it must have a method of either halting the plants enzyme production or some sort of physical protection.

 

Thanks for sharing the discovery.

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Delightful. One must remember that Nepenthes ampullaria, much like Sarracenia purpurea, may rely on commensal or mutualistic organisms to break down prey and litter. I would imagine the amount of rainfall experienced by N. ampullaria (or more precisely the runoff from the canopy above) and it's free entry due to the reflexed lids, would ensure the pitcher fluid remains quite diluted and constantly renewed. Just a thought.

Edited by Amori
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N. ampullaria is detritivorous, it cunningly traps leaf litter. It is also probably benefitting from the accumulation of frog and tadpole poop too

 

 

 

At least 59 infaunal species have been recorded from the pitchers of N. ampullaria. Among these are one of the smallest known species of Old World frog, Microhyla nepenthicola, and the crab spider, Misumenops nepenthicola.  The bacterial communities found in the pitchers of this species have also been studied.
Edited by FredG
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