

The Mystery of Legless Frogs Solved

It was one of the most contentious debates in the history of environmental issues: what was causing wild frogs to develop with missing limbs?

During the late 1980's and early 90's, researchers received reports of wild frogs being found with missing and or extra limbs.  Some felt predatory insects were to blame, and others thought it was caused by environmental degradation such as thinning of the ozone layer.

Biology professor Stanley Sessions and other researchers were able to determine that a parasitic flatworm disrupted the developing structure of a tadpole, leading to extra limbs.  However, what was causing limb loss was unknown until recently.

Sessions and colleague Brandon Ballengee of the University of Plymouth, U.K., found the apparent answer during one of their recent collaborations.






None did, except three species of dragonfly nymph.




From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Geekazoid.

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So, all those environmentalists who said that the loss of limbs *was* caused by pollution were lying to us the entire time!!!eleventy!!11!!
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This is not the only solution. It is also known that limb buds in tadpoles are attacked by trematode larvae which cause a deformation as the limb grows. Additionally, certain pesticides in the water can weaken and slow the tadpoles so that they can be more easily eaten or damaged by predators.
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