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A species of South American toad was silent for 100 years. Then it chirped

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A species of South American toad was silent for 100 years. Then it chirped

It was, in fact, a type of brown toad with rough skin called Rhinella festae that has a prominent nose and had been considered mute since it was first discovered 100 year ago. Ecuadoran biologist Jorge Brito was trekking through the forest when he heard what he thought was the chirp of a cricket.

What he found changed a century of scientific belief. “At first I thought it was some sort of cricket out there vocalizing, but then I paid attention,” said Brito, from Ecuador’s national biodiversity institute. It was, in fact, a type of brown toad with rough skin called Rhinella festae that has a prominent nose and had been considered mute since it was first discovered 100 year ago.

“While it did not inflate its vocal sack, you could see a small flicker” on its chin, said Brito. He caught it and took it to a laboratory to study with his colleague Diego Batallas. “The first time I heard it, I said: Wow, that’s not the sound of a toad, it’s like a little bird,” Batalla told AFP.

The toad, which measures between 45 and 68 millimeters in length, lives in the mountainous Ecuadoran regions of Cutucu and Condor, extending over the border into the Amazonian region of Peru. The discovery was first reported in February in Neotropical Biodiversity magazine, where Brito and Batallas described the sound made by the toad.

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“It is the first time this unique song of the Rhinella festae has been recorded and it’s surprising because it shouldn’t sing,” Batallas told AFP. The toad does not have the vocal sack that allows most amphibians to amplify their calls so that they can be heard up to one kilometer away. “The fact that this species can sing (without the vocal sack) makes it unique,” added Batallas, who used to sing in a choir.

Batallas said that the faint sound emitted by the Rhinella festae demonstrates that some species of amphibians could have evolved in such a way — perhaps as an anti-predator measure — as to “not need their song to be heard very far away.”

In the case of the Rhinella festae, it emits a sound as a greeting, whereas other species of toad croak as part of a mating ritual or as a warning.

“It’s a very subtle sound and very difficult to hear in nature.”

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Ecuador has registered 658 different species of amphibians, of which 623 are toads or frogs and almost 60 percent of those are at risk or in danger of disappearing.

Only Brazil and Colombia have more species of amphibians than Ecuador.

For Detailed News: Hindustan Times

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Bollywood

Kareena Kapoor chuckles at Jeh’s antics while sharing pictures of Taimur during a skiing trip in Switzerland.

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Kareena Kapoor chuckles at Jeh’s antics while sharing pictures of Taimur during a skiing trip in Switzerland.

Kareena Kapoor is enjoying her vacation in Switzerland with her husband, Saif Ali Khan, sons Taimur and Jeh, sharing photos from their skiing session on Instagram. Taimur, dressed in a red and green outfit, stands outdoors wearing ski gear, captioned by Kareena with a red heart and laughing emojis and a star emoji.

Kareena and Saif Ali Khan surprised their sons with special gifts during Christmas, sharing a glimpse of her international celebrations on Instagram. Kareena and Saif, who worked together in LOC Kargil and Omkara, fell in love on the 2008 film Tashan. They have two sons, Tamir and Jeh, and two children.

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Kareena appeared in Rohit Shetty’s action film, Singham Again, alongside Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff.

Kareena Kapoor, the Bollywood actress known for her charismatic presence both on and off the screen, recently shared a heartwarming glimpse into her family vacation with her sons Taimur and Jeh during their skiing trip to Switzerland. Kareena, who frequently delights her fans with pictures of her family, posted some adorable snapshots that captured her son Taimur’s fun-filled moments on the snowy slopes.

The pictures, which were shared on her social media, show Taimur happily skiing and enjoying his time in the picturesque Swiss Alps. Fans were quick to notice his growing sense of independence and adventure as he took on the slopes with enthusiasm. As the firstborn of Kareena and Saif Ali Khan, Taimur has often been in the public eye since his birth, and his fans love to keep up with his activities and milestones.

However, it wasn’t just Taimur who stole the spotlight in Kareena’s recent post. The actress also shared a few candid moments featuring her younger son, Jeh. In one of the photos, Jeh is seen playfully enjoying his time in the snow, and Kareena can be heard chuckling in the background at his antics.

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The playful interactions between mother and son were endearing, and Kareena’s affectionate laughter resonated with her followers, who were quick to comment on how sweet it was to see such a joyful family moment.

Kareena’s captions further added to the charm of the post, as she wrote about how skiing was not just an adventure for Taimur but also a bonding experience for the entire family. While Taimur was embracing the thrill of skiing,

Jeh was content with his little snow games, and Kareena couldn’t help but laugh at the amusing and often unpredictable nature of family vacations with young children. Her playful comments Taimur and Jeh away from the hustle andabout Jeh’s quirky behavior added a light-hearted touch to the post, making her followers feel connected to her and her family.

The scenic backdrop of Switzerland added an enchanting layer to the beautiful pictures. With snow-capped mountains and picturesque landscapes, the family seemed to be having the perfect winter getaway. Kareena, known for her love for travel, has often shared snippets of her vacations with her followers, and this trip to Switzerland was no different. Fans were overjoyed to see the Kapoor family creating new memories together.

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Beyond just a fun-filled family vacation, the skiing trip also highlighted Kareena’s bond with her children. As a busy actress who juggles her career and family life, Kareena has always emphasized the importance of spending quality time with her loved ones. This trip was no exception, as she used the opportunity to bond with Taimur and Jeh away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.

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