Carn-Pnay
The carn-pnay or akok is a amphibian from the eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea, particularly in the cloud forests and rainforests of the Jimi Valley.
Description
It is a gigantic frog on a par with, or somewhat larger than, the world's largest known species.
According to the Karam people, the name akok, which is cognate with the Wahgi term agak, is onomatopoeic. The frog makes a yodelling vocalisation, transcribed as "akok-akok-akok."
The carn-pnay is distinguished mainly by its extreme size and bulk: the species can reach 45.7-56 cm (18-22 in) and weigh 15 lbs.
Ecology and Behavior
The carb-pnay is both aquatic and arboreal, spending much of its time in either the rivers where it hunts and spawns or resting in the understory, and resembles the akpt or cebs frog (Papurana grisea) in shape, but is very much larger, with different markings.
The area the carn-pnay inhabits is dominated by bogs and moss-forests.
Like all frogs the carn-pnay is carnivorous, feeding on practically any animal it can fit in its mouth, though they prefer to hunt for fish, shrimps and smaller amphibians in the water.
Conservation
The Carn-pnay’s population has been declining since 1960, and today local people regard it as a very rare animal, which is usually seen when it emerged from the forest to spawn in the rivers, during December.