You! Yes, you! Be smart, turn into a frog! Let the froggification begin. Red-eyed tree frogs are smart since tadpoles: Millions of eggs hang from the trees, when a snake gets close to the mass of embryos, they can react to perils inside their eggs… and out! Even within their shelters, they're learning about eating and being eaten. They have a "panic-hatch" to leave the egg when endangered. Plus, when embryos can't find enough air, they manage to move towards it. Sophisticated frogs.
Researchers have been very surprised by this adaptation ability. They say the frog embryos are not guiding themselves by instinct but actually learning, because they notice a change of behaviour after experiencing something that motivates it, and that's the definition of learning. They define tree frogs as "talented" in comparison with other species. The other species on which this kind of prenatal learning has been detected in lower levels are humans, rats, sheep, rabbits, some birds, reptiles, other amphibians like the salamanders, and even some invertebrates. Tree-frog embryos can learn visually too, because their outer membrane of the egg is clear enough to allow them to take a peek at the environment.
Perhaps the most important to you, reader, my future froggified grown-up monkey, is that the tree-frog embryos that were exposed to salamander scent (a predator) learnt a lesson on when to be careful, as much as when not to panic, in comparison with the ones that were not exposed as embryos to the scent of their predators. Meaning to you, hairy ones, that the tree-frogs show you how the more you experience danger, the more prepared and cooler you are in front of your challenges.
So all of you, almost dear, two-legged under-evolved beings, should consider to peacefully surrender to our froggification plan. Listen to your froguru: Is a plan of peace, knowledge, and love of wisdom. How really bad could be for you being green, hairless and have patterned skin compared to that? Surrender to your inner frog!...
Algoritmos Genéticos - 3D #169
12 years ago
Frogs may learn as embryos, but turtles can live to be one hundred years old.
ReplyDeleteBecause it takes that time for them to learn ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou know, all this talk about a frogs makes me think of an old X-Files episode when it was raining frogs. Wow, I haven't thought of that in a while. I have the DVDs. I'll have to dust them off and watch the episode :P
ReplyDeleteIt's Raining Frogs! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Frogs! Oh, yeah!
ReplyDeleteHumidity is rising - Barometer's getting low
According to all sources, the street's the place to go
Cause tonight for the first time
Just about half-past four
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining frogs.
It's Raining Frogs! Hallelujah! - It's Raining Frogs! Oh, yeah!...
Frog rain is not that bad considering they are soft. Imagine if it was raining turtles! oww!
ReplyDeleteI don't have to imagine much, because once I was hurt by hailstones. But imagine the poor frogs if it rains chariots --I mean turtles, over them. Poor frogs. Misunderstood frogs. They must take over the world to be respected.
ReplyDelete"...once I was hurt by hailstones"
ReplyDeleteOUCH, poor little hurt froggie :(
Poor bumper-head frog.
ReplyDelete