UMary Allen
Amasele anetyhefu aphakathi kwamasele. Igama lebhayoloji yityhefu yesele. Kukwakho negama lesithathu elihamba kakuhle nabo: umbala wamasele.
Igama elithi poison dart frog livela kwinto engaqhelekanga: esikhumbeni salo, kukho ityhefu esetyenziselwa ukutyhefa iintolo. Abantu bomthonyama babamba amasele anetyhefu. Babetha imida yabo eluswini lwamasele baze bawadubule ngemipu. Ixhoba lokubethelwa liza kukhubazeka kwaye lingaqokelelwa.
Amasele anetyhefu afumaneka kuphela kuMbindi Melika malunga ne-ikhweyitha, oko kukuthi, kwihlathi elinemvula. Olona tshaba lwazo yindoda kuba xa egawula amahlathi, utshabalalisa indawo yawo yokuhlala. Kodwa kukwakho nokungunda okunokuthi kuhlasele amasele anetyhefu. Bafa kuyo.
Aphila njani amasele anetyhefu?
Amasele anetyhefu amancinci kakhulu, malunga ne-1-5 centimeters. Zidla ngokuzalela amadlelo azo, oko kukuthi amaqanda azo, kumagqabi emithi. Apho kufuma ngokwaneleyo okanye kumanzi ngokwaneleyo kwihlathi elinemvula. Iinkunzi zigada amaqanda. Ukuba ikhe yoma kakhulu, bayayichamela.
Inkunzi ibeka amaqunube aqanduselweyo kumachibi amancinane amanzi, ahlala kwiifolokhwe zamagqabi. Oonobumba abangekakhuselwa yityhefu. Zithatha malunga neeveki ezi-6-14 ukuze zikhule zibe ngamasele afanelekileyo.
Amasele atya amaxhoba anetyhefu. Kodwa oko akuwukhathazi umzimba wakhe. Emva koko ityhefu ingena eluswini lwamasele. Oku kuzikhusela kumarhamncwa. Ityhefu yenye yezona zinamandla ehlabathini.
Kodwa kukwakho namasele anemibala angenayo ityhefu yotolo esikhumbeni ngokwawo. Bafumana inzuzo kwabanye, ngoko ke "bluff". Iinyoka kunye nezinye iintshaba zilumkiswa ngumbala kwaye zishiye isele elingenatyhefu lodwa.