Pinocchio, the Name of a New Frog Species With a Pointy Nose

By
Izzie S
-

Scientists have discovered a new kind of tree frog in New Guinea that has an odd, pointy nose. Because of this feature, it’s been called the northern Pinocchio frog.

View this post on Instagram

Be inspired by weird and wonderful wildlife prompts for the Planet in Peril competition, closing on April 28th! SPIKE-NOSED TREE FROG Colloquially known as the “Pinocchio Frog,” this unusual animal was discovered during a National Geographic Society expedition to New Guinea in 2008. It’s nickname comes from the fact that the tree frog’s elongated nose grows rigid and erect when he’s calling out to prospective mates. Not much else is known about the species, other than the fact that it lives in the rainforest of the Foja Mountains. Planet in Peril: www.flyonthewallpoetry.co.uk/Planet-in-peril Pinocchio Frog, photo © Tim Laman via Conservation International #frog #pinocchio #pinnochiofrog #wildlife #planetinperil #globalwarming #ecopoetry #climatechange #animals #writingprompt #poetry #poetrycommunity #photography #wildlife #booklovers #newrelease #flyonthewallpress #publishing #reading #poetryofinsta

A post shared by Fly on the Wall Press (@flyonthewall_poetry) on

“What is particularly striking is that it is erectile,” said Paul Oliver, a herpetologist at the Queensland Museum and Griffith University in Australia for National Geographic. “At times it sticks out quite straight, while at other times it droops downward. So, they are pretty elaborate structures that must have some purpose.”

Oliver suspects that such a unique nose could be the frog’s way to identify the species among 450 other frog species that live in the forests. “But the truth is, like so much in biology, we don’t really know,” he said.