Luminous Pop Frogs

“So distracted by the delightful array of colourful amphibians popping in and out of sight around you, one could almost misstep and fall into one of the many pits the little frogs live around. A fatal mistake for it is not simply water shimmering below…”  - Adventures through Forests: Imerathan, by Leopold Der Vitner

Overview

Luminous Pop Frogs are found in the forested foothills of the Uvonid Crescent Mountains, where they live in and around the green-tinged pools there. They are uniquely suited to their surroundings as the pools are actually highly acidic, however the Pop Frogs are nearly entirely resistant to this type of damage. Their name is related to the “popping” sound they make when teleporting short distances. In large groups the popping sound can reach cacophonous levels and be very disorientating to those passing by.

Anatomy and Biology

Pop Frogs are small amphibians, measuring around 1-1.5 inches in size and live primarily in and around the acidic pools. They have powerful hind legs which are capable of springing them into jumps of up to 2 ft. They have large eyes atop their head, which affords an exceptionally wide range of visual field. Their colouring is often bright greens, blues and oranges, with stark contrasting patterns of black. These colours are not only beautiful but also highlight the toxicity of the frog itself. In low lighting the colours will give off a soft glow of bioluminescence. It is thought that this glow is a byproduct of both their innate magic and acid resistance.

Their most distinguishing magical feature is the Pop Frogs ability to teleport. Their teleportation extends out to around 10 to 15 feet, a soft popping noise denoting both their disappearance and reappearance. While it is most often used as a defence mechanism against predators and natural dangers, it is not uncommon for them to use it to traverse short distances or to capture their own food.

Reproduction and Life-Cycle

The reproduction and life-cycle of Pop Frog is similar to that of other frog species, with the stages of spawn, tadpole to adult frog. The eggs are spawned in early spring, directly into the acidic pools and they are coated in a thick acid resistant mucus layer. It will take approximately 4 weeks for them to mature into tadpoles, who also then have adequate acid resistance to leave the protective mucus. Most species of tadpoles are highly vulnerable to aquatic predators, however the tadpoles of Pop Frogs have no natural predators, no other species being able to withstand the acidic environment. Over the course of the next 3 months the tadpoles will slowly develop limbs and functioning lungs, allowing them to become amphibious adults.

Habitat and Diet

Pop Frogs are uniquely evolved to to live in and around pools of acidic liquid, and so the frogs find a natural defence to their habitat due to their resistance to acid. They are not subject to many predators, not only due to being able to retreat to their acidic safety, but also in their brightly advertised toxicity.

The diet of these frogs is entirely that of insects and other small invertebrates. They are able to roam to find food with a combination of jumping, teleportation and their long sticky tongues.

Uses and Conservation Status

Unique to the acidic pools near the Uvonid Crescent Mountains, the Tariad Tower Institute of Magic has classified them as a protected species. This means that they cannot be killed, poached, or used in experiments for any reason. Historically, Pop Frog have been used as a main ingredient in potions of acid resistance, however since their introduction onto the protected species list, alchemists have had to come up with new ways to make them. Specialists at the Tower are in the process of finding methods to gather the resistant mucus from the frogs without causing them harm.