Animal of the Day!
Budgett’s Frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis)
(Photo from National Geographic)
Conservation Status- Least Concern
Habitat- Southern South America
Size (Weight/Length)- 13 cm
Diet- Insects; Amphibians; Snails
Cool Facts- Nicknamed the hippo frog for obvious reasons, the Budgett’s frog is always smiling. Despite living in South America, their homes can get as cold as -13 degrees Celsius in the winter. During this time, the Budgett’s frog sheds off an extra layer of skin that prevents them from losing water in the extreme cold. These frogs are relatively aggressive and are not afraid to use their pseudo-fangs to deliver a strong bite to anyone foolish enough to wake them up. Their main threat is habitat loss, however their massive population is adapting to park ponds.
Rating- 11/10 (1/3 of their body is their head.)
