Brachycephalus are… special creatures. They exemplify the rule that ultra-miniaturised animals undergo major morphological remodelling. In their case, this has resulted in unprecedented changes to the otic capsule, which has apparently caused them to lose hearing, as well as attitude control after jumping.
But tbh they’re a pretty successful genus in terms of species diversity, and can apparently be locally abundant. So they’re clearly good at what they are adapted for. That strange jumping strategy might even be advantageous, if, for instance, it makes your would-be predator pee themselves laughing and forget that you were supposed to be their next meal.
I fact-checked this video, and @markscherz’s commentary is a perfect addition. Adaptations persist when they’re beneficial for survival… it’s just not clear how exactly these ones are. Except for the…
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