Ohio Amphibians - the Corpse Frog #1

Scientific Name: Piscana, G. [species]

Other Names: Mudmouth, River Zombie, Mudmen/Mud Men

Species: Miniature Mireling, Longjaw Mireling

Evolutionary Kind: Amphibian

Diet: Scavenger/Carnivore

Reproduction: Oviparous

Conservation: Nearly Extinct

BASIC DESCRIPTION

Mirelings emerging from their hovels are a frightening sight. Resembling a corpse rising from a forgotten grave, their long snouts push up mud and debris and their arms claw outward. Two bulbous, brown eyes protrude from the top of the head, causing onlookers' imaginations to consider grisly explanations. Snapping or gurgling for only a brief moment, the creature delves back into the mire; when large, possibly dangerous entities are near, it does not expose itself to the surface for long.

Pulled from hiding and cleaned, Mirelings appear to be chubby, large-eyed, crocodile-nosed frogs that never lose their tadpole-tail; two pincher-like fangs protrude from the mouth, one at the top, the other at the bottom. Like aquatic creatures of the abyss, this amphibious organism looks out of place above land.

Contents

1 Encounters

2 Distribution & Habitat

3 Descriptions

3.1 Evolutionary Kind

3.2 Species

3.2.1 Miniature Mireling

3.2.2 Longjaw Mireling

4 Behavior

4.1 Diet & Feeding

4.2

5 Biology

5.1 Life Cycle

5.1.1 Reproduction

5.1.2 Physical Growth & Development

Mirelings are an amphibious branch on the tree of life that combines characteristics traditionally associated with salamanders or frogs. Initially mistaken as a perseverant species of proto-amphibian, these animals are the first offshoot on the Pollyfrog branch. A poisonous family line, Pollyfrogs are one division away from the state's famous Loveland Frogman species (subspecies: "Waterfarers" and "Watersteaders"). These creatures are also more closely related to Ohio's largest cryptid amphibian—the giant swamp frog, Popfrog—than any other living species.

Physical Appearance

Mirelings appear as short, chunky, lizard-like animals coated in a thick layer of mud; as they spend most of their lives in moist, bankside hovels, their typical donning of grime is no surprise. Free of filth, a Mireling's hide shares a similar color palette to the mud: various shades of brown, minor flecks of muted greens, and blots of grays. A single surviving species, further categorization of this animal depends on outer patterning.

Banded Mireling  The rarer of the two, a banded Mireling's hide exhibits clear color division. Comprised of brown, rectangular, horizontal blocks, thin, vertical bands of green, and wavering gray, the upper half of the amphibian is consistently orderly across its kind. However, the bellies can differ slightly in color; a single brown tone, banded Mirelings may have medium or lightly-hued lower halves - or any shade in between. Only 12% of males and 5% of females display a banded patterning.

Spotted Mireling  The dominant patterning, spotted Mirelings have somewhat erratic coloration. A singular brown color (which, like banded Mirelings, may be one of many shades) dotted by varyingly-sized and shaped specks, no two are the same. Though inconsistently followed, colors tend to reside in specific regions: green hues are found on the back and side, gray on the upper ridges, mid-section, as well as upper tail, and rich browns on the head. Perhaps a reason for its current prevalence, spotted Mirelings are harder to distinguish when underwater. During the breeding season, the amphibians must swim to find mates; at their most vulnerable, improved camouflage may give spotted varieties an advantage.

Mirelings have short, bulky tails attached to stout, low-to-the-ground bodies; as arms and legs are rigid, though forceful, these four-limbed animals are well suited for digging and sliding. Five-toed, digits are shallowly webbed, chunky, and longer on the hindlegs; leaf-shaped paddles, toes spread out for balance aboveground and support in other conditions.

A slick, mucousy substance incessantly secreted by the skin aids in underground travel; responsible for its slimy appearance, the matter is sticky and partially the cause of its unappealing stench. Upon its back are bands of globular muscles. Two on each side and one down the middle, when assisted by its tail, Mirelings can wriggle with great strength and speed in and out of tunnels or thick mire.

While its body is a strange composite, none of its features are as bizarre as its head. Two bulbous, dark brown eyes sit like two eggs in a frying pan against an almost flat forehead. A thin snout curves upwards a few inches above the eyes; this is the tallest part of the animal. Jutting from the snout tip is a fang. Slanted slightly forward, it rests above an opposite-facing tooth poking from the bottom lip. The jaws are thin and bowed inversely, ensuring that the mouth never fully closes. Tiny teeth line the amphibian's mouth, diminishing in size the further into the cavity they are; most are for gripping prey, though its eye-catching frontal teeth are for pulling and tearing. Enveloped in muscle, while jaws appear weak, their grip is substantial. Below the Mireling's thin head is a loose flap of skin connected to the lower mandible. Able to stretch and accommodate large portions of food, the pocket is essential for the amphibian's survival.

On account of an oddly-shaped head, when breaching the surface, it gathers a hefty pile of debris. Sludge gathering and falling down its skull obscures the animal's coloration and facial features. Consequently, this has led observers to misidentify the creature as a round-headed being with small, side-facing eyes and a thick neck.

It is early fall in the valley. A cold and cloudy stream gurgles softly. Winter creeping closer, everything dons a muddle of brown, yellow, and orange. Water brushes against a gentle, sloping ridge. After a weekend of rain, the surrounding area is messy, topped by a thick layer of mud.

Blep.

Bleup.

Bpt.

Periodically, a bubble sputters up from the earth. A thin tunnel obscured by a wall of sediment, the rhythmic air pushes up droplets and flecks, building the barrier bit by bit. River waves lap at the defense, prevented from flowing in. A transition from waterway to solid earth, this mire clips between submersion and tacky dryness. Yet, the tunnel remains unscathed.

Like a shellfish hiding under the sand, a creature shelters beneath this mud tunnel. It softly snorts and clears the passageway, needing the surface's air. As sunset turns to dusk, the breaching bubbles occur more frequently. Now, with each breath, the tunnel widens. No longer slender, the riverbank divot transforms from the thickness of a plastic straw to that of a dry-erase marker.

The animal below must clear out its burrow after flooding or heavy rains. Several thin tubes connected to the main branch supply the dwelling with fresh air. Their state inspected biweekly, debris blocking airflow is pushed or blown out of the way with a thin, pointed snout.

Under twilight, the ground shifts nearby and seemingly expands. The slight change would go unnoticed if not watched intently. A hand's breadth away from the bubbling, silt flutters. Two dark, glossy orbs are washed of debris as they rise; the eyes lifelessly stare upwards. Within, a dark ring ominously darts around, though the organs only seem to twitch. Flat and colored like an agate stone, a Mireling's vision is limited.

Though Dime cannot see far, his sight is much better than humans' in these low-light conditions. Like most amphibians, Mirelings can distinguish shapes and colors even in complete darkness; most adept in twilight, they are more active in the early morning or early night. However, with eye sockets permanently angled overhead and a stiff head, he can only observe what is above him or to his side. Independently moving, one eye watches the sky while the other cautiously surveys the riverbank.

Mirelings are opportunistic hunters; if an easy meal passes by their den, they attack with a projectile tongue. On quieter evenings with less traffic, they try a different approach. Mouths slightly ajar and bits of decaying food between fangs, when the amphibians poke their odorous bodies just above ground, they make compelling corpses. A secondary hunting method, Mirelings bait scavengers into drawing near enough to be struck.

Unfussy carnivores, Mirelings will consume a variety of insects, small birds, snakes, lizards, rodents, and, occasionally, fish. Unable to tackle large, quick, or particularly dynamic organisms, while they will eat anything they can catch, they are limited to prey that is small, unintelligent, and slow to react. If meals are few or far between, they must exert more energy and seek bulky food sources. Primarily scavengers, these amphibians obtain most of their monthly sustenance from carrion. Corpses provide a wide array of meals and need not be any specific size or temperament—only dead.

As twilight passes, another hunting session ends. One more night without substantial visitors makes Dime agitated. He is hungry, but is it worth the risk of leaving his safe den? After days of only small insects, his appetite prevails.

Wriggling out of a hidden, underground dwelling, Dime slides on his belly and flings his limbs backward; his home a slanted hole, the amphibian forces his way to the surface, kicking against dirt walls and gripping mud. Tired from the escape, he rests quietly on the riverbank. His nostrils flare, sniffing the air intensely; his eyes roll anxiously, fixated on the nearby woods. What awaits within the forest tonight?

Tongue Projectile Hunting  Its most common hunting technique, the amphibian shoots out a long tongue towards a potential meal. Able to stretch up to 2 ft away, the muscle reaches its target in under half a second; wet and barbed, it violently attaches to creatures. After contact, the ballistic tongue recoils and brings its catch home.

Scavenger Baiting  Utilizing its natural scent and scraps of previous meals (found between teeth), the Mireling poses as carrion. Sticking only its snout above ground and holding its mouth slightly agape, it attracts scavengers. If prey falls for the amphibian's trap, they are grappled by its tongue or clamped between its jaws.

Scavenging Head tilted downwards for optimal scent detection, the creature seeks the chemicals associated with animal decomposition; the further along in the process the remains are, the easier it is for the Mireling to pinpoint its location. 

***

Today, Mirelings face few predators. Yet, in the past, numerous hunters preyed upon their ancestors. A more crocodilian amphibian similar in appearance to Dime, this now-extinct species also hunted after twilight; waiting for meals to pass by or seeking them out, they only used their ballistic tongues to feed. Just as proficient hunters as their descendants, these Bufodiles ("frog-crocodiles") had one major flaw: they were easy meals for larger carnivores. Since every feeding forced them out of hiding, their large, clumsy forms were often vulnerable. Aside from awkwardly biting at foes or lashing with a lumpy tail, Bufodiles had no other means of retaliation.

Despite living dangerous, short lives, the Bufodile thrived. As a result of becoming a staple of other organisms' diets, the most elusive, hidden, and distasteful individuals survived and bred. Over time, two evolutionary lines formed, each with unique responses to perils. One lineage adjusted to living more of its life underwater; the Mirelings' family line evolved to spend more time on land. However, both developed a foul-flavored, virulent secretion to curtail becoming another's food. Fortunately, few who targeted them in the past reside in the present; though, new dangers have arisen in the south, such as the Ohio Valley Mutants

.

Coated in a slimy mucous, the substance produced and secreted by Pollyfrogs acts as a dangerous repellent. When ingested in moderate quantities, the toxin is fatal; when eaten in lesser amounts or touched, severe illness or discomfort may occur. Yet, this putrid scent and slimy texture are often enough to prevent interspecies interactions. All Pollyfrog species maintain this defense by scavenging.

To explain, Pollyfrogs utilize the bacteria found in decomposing meat; a specialized gut transforms the microorganisms' byproducts into a toxic discharge. A Mireling will keep spoiled meat in its jowls to foster bacteria growth; swallowing small portions as it liquefies, the amphibian nourishes itself with every part but the bones. Once cleaned of all useable nourishment, the remains are spit aside. The creature must regularly replenish its gut with bacteria to upkeep toxin production.

With exceptionally corrosive stomach acids, all Pollyfrogs can consume putrified meat and withstand illness. These animals are such stout eaters that they can remove infected carcasses and their diseases from further blighting communities. Yet, they are susceptible to some afflictions, like rabies.

***

Dime's short, awkwardly positioned limbs are not ideal for walking. Primed for digging and laying low, he does not travel quickly or gracefully. Over root and rock, he shuffles forward with his head tilted downwards. He pauses every few feet, inhaling deeply; seeking a specific scent, he moves purposefully onward.

Mirelings are primarily scavengers. Having a sizable and complex olfactory system, they can detect carrion up to 30 ft away above ground and 10 ft below. A detestable meal even to vultures, Mirelings find even putrified remains palatable. Typically the last vertebrate guest, it disposes of a large quantity of flesh before relinquishing the meal to smaller organisms.

Now deep within the woods, he has picked up on something. Smelling the air, he twitches and pauses more frequently. Correcting his path at each stop, he makes a beeline toward food. Closer to the source, he slows; other scavengers lurk in the area at night, as well as scavenger-hunters. Dime recognizes the scent of another. Trees and bushes abruptly rustle as a massive figure stumbles past. Holding a hooved leg, a Bank Bigfoot drags the somewhat fresh corpse of a deer behind it. Luckily for Dime, bigfeet detest Pollyfrogs; particularly affected by their poison, they avoid contact at all costs.

Immediately, Dime scuttles forward and hisses. With surprise, the bigfoot drops its deer, turning and dropping to all fours; fear transforming into a rage, it bares its teeth and gives a dry bark. Unperturbed, Dime moves closer to the creature, head slanted downward and focused on his rival. The amphibian places one spread paw on the deer. Spittle drips from his lips as he issues another wet hiss.

Pounding his fists against the ground, the ape-ish animal emits several more barks into the wilderness. It breathes heavily and sits anxiously still, poised to fling away at any provocation; the creature listens for the response of its troop. Replies echo across the river, causing the bigfoot to bristle. It stands, looming several feet over the Mireling. With a low growl, the bigfoot grabs the carcass and pulls at it; provoked, the amphibian puffs up and scurries fully atop the body, opening his jaws as wide as possible. A gurgling builds in Dime's throat.

At once, the menacing competitor jerks away. The bigfoot bares its teeth again before stepping backward. Warily, it backpedals into the brush; the thin trees bend to allow its passage back to the river. The creak of bark and crackle of leaf fade to silence. The din of crickets and a nearby screech owl overpowers the River Bigfoot family's rhythmic chatter in the distance. Dime relaxes and hops off the carcass. Most creatures fear a Mireling's spit; though mostly harmless, it is just as smelly as its outer secretions, bacteria-laden, and clings to mammals' coats. The bigfeet will not return, even after Dime leaves. With his scent on the remains, as well as his toxic juices, few creatures will claim his leftovers.

After expending a lot of energy to travel up the bank and the forested hill, Dime is starving. It is rare for him to have nearly-fresh meat, especially this much! Pulling at the hide with his sharp teeth, he picks the carrion apart and launches his tongue at the freed bits. Swallowing snippets and chunks, the Mireling engorges himself; after a long feeding session, his abdomen is round with excess. Sluggish, he picks several sizeable lumps up with his tongue; instead of swallowing them, he tucks them under the tongue. Using this stretchy pocket under the jaw, he will save some of the meat for later. The leftovers will grow beneficial bacteria for his body and attract insects or other scavengers when he grows hungry later. Normally dormant animals, a large feast like this will sustain him for weeks.

Halfway into the night, a cloudy sky provides little light to illuminate the ground - much less between the trees. Nonetheless, any light is enough for Dime to find his way home. Paired with the scents he left behind on the trek up, his scotopic vision provides an easy path to follow. Dime is neither lithe nor eager to find himself in another altercation; thus, his trip home is doubly long. Slow and careful to make as little noise as possible, the Mireling wobbles down the hill. This far into the night is the favorite of the river land's more dangerous, less persnickety beasts. The relentless Bone Crunchers and creative Wildmen are the most formidable predators he may face here.

Only the beginning of autumn, the chilly nights remind Dime that he must venture out more often. Winter is near; he must prepare.