Sun Frog

Of all the exotic animals that I've seen during my expeditions, the Sun Frog is certainly one of the most bizarre ones. It is similar in shape ans size to a common frog, but is colored in bright orange. Sun frogs develop strong symbiotic bonds with an animal host, that provides them with shelter and heat. In exchange, they develop a poison to which the host is immune, but is extremely dangerous to other beings. The poison causes the skin of the victim to cover in bruises, which pattern resemble dozens of suns.

Leonard Teapot, Disquisition over the Flora and Fauna in the Star Archipelago.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Sun frogs are no longer than an inch. Sun Frogs have bright orange patterned skin on their dorsal side and yellow ventral side.

As other frogs, sun frogs have two forelimbs in the front and two powerful hind limbs in the posterior that they use to swim and jump. Each forelimb has four toes, but the hind limbs have five toes with webbing in between, to improve their swimming ability.

Sun Frogs have an extensible tongue that is used to catch insects, and is long twice as the body. These animals are very agile, and can jump as far as 2'6", or 1' high.

Genetics and Reproduction

During the Summer Moons, the male sun frogs release their sperm in the water, and the eggs laid by females get impregnated. After two weeks the eggs hatch.

Growth Rate & Stages

A sun frog lives for approximately two years. When the eggs hatch, the embrios are released in water, and in one week become tadpoles. The tadpole develop itsback legs in the span of a month, and the front legs in another month. Around the fourth month, its lungs are fully developed, and the tadpole begins its adult life, losing also its tail. Around thisn time the adult sun frog forms a bond with an animal creature, that provides it with heat in exchange for poisonous defence. Grung are known to be suitable hosts for sun frogs, and usually form bond with more than one of them at the same time, in that case it's called a colony.

Ecology and Habitats

Sun Frogs live in the tropical forest on the Star Archipelago. Teir ideal habitat is humid and warm, like lakes in the jungle or the skin of a Grung.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Sun Frogs, despite being very small, are very hungry, needing to eat at least a hundred flies every day in order to survive. They capture food using their extensible tongue.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sun frogs have white eyes, that occupy the sides of the head, that allow them to see in the darkness. They can sense magic used near them or strong magical auras, and can discern the alignment of said magic.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Sun frogs develop lasting bonds with a humanoid creature when they reach adulthood. Their host becomes immuno to their poison. The sun frog lives on the host, and gets heat and shelter from it.

Scientific Name

Rana Solis

Lifespan

2 years

Average Length

1 inch

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Sun frogs are coloured in bright orange patterned with dots that look like tiny suns. This patterns appears also in the bruises developed by the creatures that come in contact with their poison.