Why Do Some Frogs Have 5 Legs
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For years, frogs sporting five (or even six) legs were considered a mysterious and foreboding phenomenon
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But the truth is much weirder. It's all because of flatworms
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The flatworm's larvae burrow into the tadpole's hind limb buds, which will eventually grow into back legs
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The larvae cause the developing legs to split into two branches, or fail to develop at all
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This results in frogs with an abnormal number of legs
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The parasite's strategy is to manipulate the frog's morphology, or appearance, to help it survive
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Frogs with extra legs move more slowly, making them easier for birds to catch
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When the frog is eaten, the parasite enters the bird's stomach and infects the bird, starting the life cycle again
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