Niubu Frog

Niubu Frog

　　In the old days, the area from Dajiangkou Dam to Mafangxi was collectively known as the Thirteen Niubu Squares. Here, towering mountains line both banks, and small streams flow gently. During summer and autumn, the Niubu Frog can be heard croaking “bang, bang, bang” incessantly.

　　Locals call the Niubu Frog “Stone Stick,” and some also refer to it as “Mud Frog.” The Niubu Frog is a rare and unique small animal native to the Meijiang area, belonging to the class Amphibia, order Anura, and family Bufonidae. The Niubu Frog has short front legs and long hind legs, with dark brown, spotted skin, resembling a frog. Its weight ranges from 0.25 to 0.7 kilograms.

　　The Niubu Frog primarily feeds on small insects. At the same time, it is a natural enemy of venomous snakes. A snake catcher in Meijiang once conducted an interesting experiment. He placed a captured Niubu Frog and a five-step snake in an iron wire cage. Initially, the frog and the snake glared at each other without moving. When the snake attacked, the Niubu Frog quickly leaped and firmly clamped the snake’s “vital spot” with its front legs, ultimately resulting in mutual destruction.

　　The meat of the Niubu Frog is tender, thick, and delicious. In the Meijiang area, it is prepared in various ways, including spicy stir-fry, clear stew, steamed with rice flour, and dried as preserved meat.