Three-horned frog
The 3-Horned Frog is a species of frog native to the Dire Bogs of Direnomut. The frog is named for and known by its signature 3 horns that spurt out of its green body. The frog is slightly endangered due to ivory hunting. Captive breeding programs have failed in the past because of the difficulty involved with replicating the frog homeland bogs.
Description
Three-Horned frogs are a species of medium sized amphibian distinguishable by its pointed horns on top of its head. They are brown and green, often spotted or speckled. The creature otherwise resembles a common mor-frog. The use of the three horns were initially thought to be for breeding, scientists thinking that the frogs would impale each-other with them to win mates, while this is a common misconception they are aggressive toward frogs of the same sex and have been noted to sometimes engage in combat with each other using the horn. The actual usage is to deter predators, with the outer layer of the horn being coated in a bitter ooze that causes predators to spit the frog out. The substance is generally harmless to almost all creatures, with the exception of Mrola, when ingested by Mrola it is almost always fatal to the bird.
Range
The frogs are native to the Dire Bogs, a sparsely populated region of wetlands in southwestern Direnomut. They are known to sometimes cross into the wetlands of the southern Capital Territory or the rest of Direnomut but that is rare.
Ecology
Social behavior
Three-horned frogs are aggressive and antisocial, they mate for life. Their breeding season takes place during the second month in the Haracalnde. Once their offspring reaches maturity the parents will depart from the burrow and move to another site in the bog.
Diet
They are carnivores, eating mainly small lizards and other amphibians, like the Uryt and Liama skeyn.
Discovery
They were first discovered by Utlian biologist and explorer Hia Jiey during an expedition on 8-7 1038 TT. Hia wrote about it in her report on Direnomut, where she named it as a variant of the mor-frog, she would rectify this after further research done in the area. after completing the expedition Hia moved to Direnomut to study the bog ecosystem and specifically three-horned frogs.
Use
As one of few sources of ivory in Utlia, the frog was highly sought after, being nearly hunted to extinction multiple times prior to the revolution. After the Republic of Utlia was established, Yyme Braia enacted wildlife protections for many endangered species in Utlia, three-horned frogs being one of them. They are a recovering species, slowly becoming more common in their native range.
In culture and society
Utlian politician Ire Liamia has a pet three-horned frog named after Utyr Cemry Liamia.