At first glance, they seem an unlikely pair: the massive, horned water buffalo that grazes along the Black Sea coast, and the tiny marsh frog.

After the accidental discovery of an Anatolian water buffalo covered in hitchhiking amphibians, however, researchers now say the two may have a relationship of biological importance.

A new study on the bizarre behaviour has found that this previously undescribed interaction may actually be common, with buffalo seen to host 2-5 frogs at a time on numerous occasions – and in one case, 27 frogs were perched atop a single buffalo.

A new study on the bizarre behaviour has found that this previously undescribed interaction may not be all that rare, with buffalo seen to host about 2-5 frogs at a time on numerous occasions – and, 27 frogs were perched atop a single buffalo

WHY FROGS MIGHT HITCH A RIDE Frogs are known to feast on flies – and, buffaloes are known to harbour these insects. By resting on a buffalo, the frogs could have access to a plentiful food source, while at the same time cleansing pests from the mammal’s shaggy coat, the researchers explain. For buffaloes, flies can be parasites and disease carries. The relationship could also be linked to the buffalo's nature as a potential heat source for the frogs, the researchers say. This 'can be important for heterothermic amphibians especially at low ambient temperatures.' Advertisement

The phenomenon was first spotted during a birdwatching excursion in Turkey’s Kizilirmak Delta, one of the largest wetlands in the Middle East, according to National Geographic.

Following the unusual observation, a team led by ecologist Piotr Zduniak of Poland's Adam Mickiewicz University returned to northern Turkey.

And once there, they noted 10 more cases of frogs hitching a ride on the backs of buffaloes.

‘Our observations indicate an association between frogs and buffaloes and may have a biological meaning,’ the authors wrote in the study published to the journal Acta Herpetologica.

‘The observed behaviour was not incidental or loosely structured.

‘Frogs foraged on buffaloes in a similar manner as birds on large mammals.’

While the reason behind this pairing isn’t quite clear yet, the researchers say the two creatures may be working in each other’s’ favour, as well as their own.

Frogs are known to feast on flies – and, buffaloes are known to harbour these insects.

While the reason behind this pairing isn’t quite clear yet, the researchers say the two creatures may be working in each other’s’ favour, as well as their own. Frogs are known to feast on flies – and, buffaloes are known to harbour these insects

By resting on a buffalo, the frogs could have access to a plentiful food source, while at the same time cleansing pests from the mammal’s shaggy coat.

‘Because the diet of the species also includes fly species, and many of them are parasites or main disease vectors for large mammals, including buffaloes, the recorded association between frogs and buffaloes can be considered as possible mutualistic interaction,’ the authors explain.

And, there could be more to it, according to the researchers.

The phenomenon was first spotted during a birdwatching excursion in Turkey’s Kizilirmak Delta, one of the largest wetlands in the Middle East, according to National Geographic . Following the unusual observation, a team led by ecologist Piotr Zduniak returned to Turkey

‘An additional explanation for the observed phenomenon could be the use of buffaloes by frogs as an efficient heat source, which can be important for heterothermic amphibians especially at low ambient temperatures,’ they note in the study.

According to the researchers, these observations ‘confirm the existence of an interspecific interaction’ between the frogs and the buffalos.

But, not all are in agreement that this relationship is one of mutual benefit.

‘The best understood cases of mutualism between two vertebrate species involve one species that removes parasites from the other, like cleaner fish and their host fish,’ Judith Bronstein, an ecologist at the University of Arizona, who was not involved in the study, told National Geographic.

‘The jury is out on what the nature of the interaction, but if I had to put down money, it would be that it isn’t a mutualism.’