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

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2 years ago

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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.

“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.

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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.”

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.

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

For Detailed News: Hindustan Times

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Patterns of behaviour that emerge after trauma

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12 months ago

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May 8, 2023

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Patterns of behaviour that emerge after trauma

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that can leave a lasting impact on a person’s mental and emotional health. It can result from a range of events, such as natural disasters, accidents, physical or emotional abuse, or military combat. Trauma can have a significant effect on a person’s behavior and can manifest in various ways. Here are some patterns of behavior that often emerge after trauma:

  1. Hyperarousal: After experiencing trauma, a person may feel constantly on edge, with heightened levels of anxiety and tension. This can manifest as irritability, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping.
  2. Avoidance: Trauma can also cause a person to avoid situations, people, or places that remind them of the traumatic experience. This can lead to social withdrawal, isolation, and a loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities.
  3. Emotional numbness: Trauma can cause a person to feel emotionally disconnected or numb, making it difficult for them to experience positive emotions such as joy or love.
  4. Hypervigilance: A person who has experienced trauma may be hyper-aware of their surroundings and perceive threats where none exist. This can lead to an increased sense of danger, which can trigger anxiety or panic attacks.
  5. Flashbacks: Trauma can cause a person to experience vivid and intrusive memories of the traumatic event. These flashbacks can be triggered by a range of stimuli, such as sights, sounds, or smells.
  6. Guilt and shame: Trauma can cause a person to experience feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame. They may feel responsible for what happened to them, even when it was beyond their control.
  7. Substance abuse: Trauma can lead to the use of drugs or alcohol as a way of coping with difficult emotions. This can quickly become a self-destructive pattern of behavior that exacerbates the trauma.

It’s important to note that not everyone who experiences trauma will display all of these behaviors, and that each person’s response to trauma is unique. However, recognizing these patterns of behavior can help individuals and their loved ones identify when trauma may be a contributing factor to mental and emotional health challenges. Seeking professional support, such as therapy or counseling, can help individuals process their trauma and learn healthy coping mechanisms to manage their behavior.

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