Basilisk Lizard
Pebble Toad
Banded Sea Krait Snake
The Pebble Toad of Venezuela is tiny; measuring
just a few centimeters long. It is unable to jump very far, an inch
being the furthest it can hop. It lives on the top of a type of
mountain known as a tepui, which occur across the Guiana Highlands in
South America. While there are no snakes living on the tepui, this lack
of athletic prowess makes the toads vulnerable to marauding tarantulas,
an ambush predator. Camouflage is a defense. The toad's black and grey color also helps it blend in with its sandstone habitat. The toad is so small and light that the forces of impact are too tiny to cause it any harm.
When confronted by a predator, some
animals fight, others run while a few hide, hoping not to be noticed.
The pebble toad does something altogether different: it curls up like a
ball and throws itself down the side of a mountain. By doing so, the
tiny creature bounces down the rocks just like a rubber ball. The toads
travel far enough to escape the attentions of the tarantulas and often
tumble into a crack or crevice where they are out of sight or difficult
to reach. However, as well as being less than impressive jumpers,
the toads do not swim well. So while most that land in puddles survive,
there are reports of toads drowning after tumbling into deeper pools of
water.