Sorry. This is a day late; I've been fishing. Tailed frogs are about the most unique frog we've got around. Instead of absorbing their entire tail at metamorphosis, the males retain part of it, which turns into a penis.
These frogs live in turbulent mountain streams, where internal fertilization is a must, so the males have a "penis". They also have no voice at all, because the turbulent streams are too noisy. Also, the larvae (tadpoles) live for three years in these streams, growing only very slowly, before they morph into adult frogs.


Third-year larvae, showing the tail which gets mostly resorbed at metamorphosis.



Early third-year larvae with barely budding back legs. Also shows tooth rows larvae use to eat diatoms and hang on to rocks so they don't get swept downstream.



Ventral view of an adult male with "penis".



Adult frog fully morphed from larvae (polywog).

Interesting!, never heard of that species...

Nature is so interesting. Thank you, Jack. Hope your fishing was fun.

Sharon -

Thanks. Fishing was good! (Is it ever not?). He11s Canyon. Catfish and yellow perch biting. No people. Miss Lisa outfished me again. 2 rubber boas roadkilled, along with many bullsnakes. Watched 3 coyotes in Gem County. Couldn't have been much better. Nice leopard frog!

Jack

Wow! That’s interesting! I never heard of a frog like this before. Thanks for posting this!

About 2 weeks ago I heard my boys talking to Mom about catching a bunch of tadpoles in a low spot in the bush behind the house. I walked into the garage thinking tadpoles?? I haven’t seen tadpoles in that water before.

I came back into the house and my wife is now talking about the tadpoles the boys are out catching.

Again, I’m thinking what in the world, really? Can’t be!

I holler out the door “Boys!!!!!”

I go to the back window and watch them walk out from the bush into the yard, then I stare at the front door and wait.
The boys came into the house happy as can be with their sand castle buckets.

“Those aren’t tadpoles, they’re mosquitoe larvae!!”

I'm so happy you had a great fishing trip. Even when I haven't caught any fish, I still love being in a quiet place, bird watching and enjoying the picnic time . Love catfish and hush puppies.

I just cringe at those boas run over. I wonder every time, how many years did they live before such an unnecessary demise ? And with folks like me always looking to find one and enjoy catching it ? Taking photos, then letting it go in a safe place.

Enjoy life, Jack. Every moment.

So only the males retain the vestigal tail?Do the females completely resorb the tail?
If so then they would be easy to identify by sex.
Great post Gulo.

Yup, just like humans!

Boco -

Correct. The females resorb the tail entirely; only the males retain part of the tail. Fascinating, in my estimation.

I screened hundreds of the larvae in hundreds of streams throughout north Idaho. With larvae so abundant, I always wondered about the adults. Finally figured it out on a small trickle (Lost Girl Creek off the Coeur d'Alene River) one night by spotlighting and looking for reflective eyeshine. Found that their reflective layer (tapetum lucidum) is very small, and you must have the flashlight very, very close to your own eyes to get the reflection. Once I figured out how to do it, the adults were actually very common. On 100 meters of this small stream, I found 22 adult frogs one night, and the next night, same stretch of stream, I found 22 adults again.

Jack

Were you in the employ of official research Gulo or just to satisfy your own curiosity?

Boco - Just got intrigued by them. It was on my own, with a few sips of rye and an evening free from other duties. Can't let that curiosity just hang there!

Jack

After your trip to Minnesota, Jack, some of us likely worry when your Friday is late!

martentrapper -

Thank you. Yes, it's getting pretty sketchy these days. I don't suspect there'll be too many more photo phridays.

Jack