platanna

amphibian

Also known as: African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, claw-toed tree toad(Show More)

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July 23, 2026

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The term "platanna" refers to the African clawed frog, a species of tongueless, aquatic frog belonging to the genus Xenopus. These frogs are characterized by small black claws on their hind limbs and are known for their dull coloration and flat bodies.12

Platannas are found in stagnant or slow-moving muddy waters across sub-Saharan Africa. They use their forelimbs to guide food to their mouths, as they lack tongues, and their powerful hind limbs aid in movement. Historically, Xenopus species were used in pregnancy tests due to their hormonal response to human urine, and they continue to be utilized in embryological and anatomical research. The African clawed frog, X. laevis, is also known for its role in mosquito control, as it consumes mosquito eggs and larvae.2

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clawed frog
…the African clawed frog, or platanna (X. laevis) of southern Africa, a smooth-skinned frog about 13 cm (5 inches) long. It is valuable for mosquito control, because it eats the eggs and young of those insects. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, X. laevis was introduced to the United States and Britain.…
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…the African clawed frog, or platanna (X. laevis) of southern Africa, a smooth-skinned frog about 13 cm (5 inches) long. It is valuable for mosquito control, because it eats the eggs and young of those insects. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, X. laevis was introduced to the United States and Britain.…
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amphibian chytridiomycosis
…in populations of platanna (Xenopus laevis), an African clawed-frog species widely used in biological research. Evidence remained inconclusive until 2018, when a genomic study indicated that Bd had originated in a particularly diverse hot spot in the Korean peninsula, which contained several strains of the disease. Bd likely emerged…
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…in populations of platanna (Xenopus laevis), an African clawed-frog species widely used in biological research. Evidence remained inconclusive until 2018, when a genomic study indicated that Bd had originated in a particularly diverse hot spot in the Korean peninsula, which contained several strains of the disease. Bd likely emerged…
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pregnancy
Symptoms and signs; biological tests
…of the female South African claw-toed tree toad, Xenopus laevis, is based on the discovery that this animal will ovulate and extrude visible eggs within a few hours after it has received an injection of a few millilitres of urine from a pregnant woman. The male common frog, Rana pipiens,…
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…of the female South African claw-toed tree toad, Xenopus laevis, is based on the discovery that this animal will ovulate and extrude visible eggs within a few hours after it has received an injection of a few millilitres of urine from a pregnant woman. The male common frog, Rana pipiens,…
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