Взрывающиеся жабы

After several weeks of harassing scientists is the great mystery of the exploding toads in Germany was revealed.

Health workers in Hamburg started to panic after last month about 1000 toads swelled up and exploded, and their insides scattered on the square to square meters.

Tabloid press described the scene of the carnage and "Pond of Death", warning children and dogs to stay away. Considered the theory that the toads are committing suicide or dying because of the virus. But now one of the leading experts of the German amphibian says that he solved this case.

Frank Macmann, who examined both the dead and live specimens of frogs from Hamburg in the Berlin research centre, found that all had identical circular incisions on the back, small enough to be work the bird's beak. Then he discovered something strange: their liver is not enough.

"There were no bite or scratch. Only after the liver is gone, toad realizes that she was attacked. Triggered a natural defense mechanism, but since she doesn't have a diaphragm or ribs, without the liver there is nothing that could keep the rest of her organs. The lungs expand and explode, expelling the rest of the bodies."

Terrible death of a toad really is a well-documented phenomenon. For the first time she was in Germany in 1968 and in Belgium, Denmark and America.

Toads of Hamburg began to explode during their week-long mating season. Themselves frogs are very poisonous, but not their liver that crows seem to understand. Dr. Buchmann believes that the crows were engaged in murder, when the toads were too busy to sexual excitement.

"They would have noticed something, when the crow pecked them, but it would not be particularly painful," he said.

Mystery solved. Toads are very popular in Germany, are a protected species. But the ravens, too.

"I had a few angry letters," said Dr. Buchmann. "But there is no reason to worry. It's just part of nature."

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»