Clawed frog - Clawed frog

Japanese: ツメガエル(爪蛙) - ツメガエル（英語表記）clawed frog

A general term for aquatic frogs belonging to the genus Xenopus in the family Pipalidae. Six species are found in central and southern Africa. They are 10-12 cm long and have a flattened body with small eyes protruding from the top of their head. They are completely aquatic, with extremely developed webbed hind legs that help them swim and breathe through their skin. The three inner toes of their hind legs have black claws that are used to support the body in currents and for self-defense, as well as to stir up mud on the bottom of the water to dig up aquatic insects. They detect and capture prey that jumps out with the lateral line on their torso, but since they lack a tongue, they eat by shoveling food into their forelimbs.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ピパ科ツメガエル属Xenopusに属する水生ガエルの総称。アフリカの中部，南部に6種が分布する。体長10～12cm，体は扁平で，小さな眼が頭頂部に突出している。完全な水生で，後肢の水かきがきわめて発達し，遊泳のほか皮膚呼吸にも役だつ。後肢の内側3本の指には黒いつめがあり，流れの中で体を支えたり自衛に役だつほか，水底の泥をかき混ぜて水生昆虫を掘り出すのにも使われる。とび出した獲物は胴側にある側線で感知しとらえるが，舌を欠くので餌は前肢でかきこむようにして食べる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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