amnhnyc:

Do you ever just want to tuck and roll yourself out of a difficult situation? When approached by a foe, that’s the Venezuelan pebble toad’s (Oreophrynella nigra) go-to move.🪨🐸

If a predator, like a tarantula, comes too close to the toad, it tucks in its limbs and rolls itself down a hill—like a pebble! For this critter, rolling away is faster than escaping by foot. You might think that the toad would sustain injuries from throwing itself down a rocky slope, but it weighs so little that the impact is minor. If it’s lucky, it might even roll into a crevice at the bottom of the hill, adding another layer of protection!

Photo: guilherme jofili, CC BY 2.0, flickr

#AnimalFacts #PebbleToad #herpetology #dyk #nature #toads
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