Mountain chicken

Despite its name, the mountain chicken is actually one of the world's largest frogs. It is so named because its meat is said to taste like chicken. Sadly it is also one of the world's most threatened frog species. Once found on many Caribbean islands, it is now restricted to a few moist areas of only two: Dominica and Montserrat.

The dramatic decline in number is due to human consumption, volcanic eruptions and fungal disease. This supreme ambush predator waits patiently for anything it can swallow whole, ranging from insects to small mammals and even other frogs. Unusually for amphibians the mountain chicken breeds in underground burrows and not in water. Froglets emerge during the wet season.

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