The
animal was already well known by native peoples throughout sub-Saharan
Africa as a source of protein and an aphrodisiac or fertility medicine
(Kobel et al., 1996). Ease of maintenance and breeding with injected hormone,
has made X. laevis the standard laboratory amphibian since the 1940's
(Gurdon, 1996). Being aquatic throughout their life Xenopus
are easy to keep and are resistant against disease and infection. Although
crude, the use of X. laevis as an assay for luteinising hormone,
and thus pregnancy testing, led to mass movement of the humble Platanna
to laboratories pan-globally. Subsequent use of X. laevis as the
laboratory amphibian in schools, universities, pregnancy clinics, medical
research establishments, and as pets, has meant that this animal is familiar
to biologists the world over, and has even established feral
populations.
A
recent review of diet in Xenopus reinforced these observations of
reliance on aquatic invertebrates and cannibalism, based on the gut contents
of several species in native and feral habitats (Tinsley et al., 1996).
However, recent studies of behavioural feeding mechanisms have shown this
aquatic frog to be proficient at catching prey out of water with very fast
striking movements (around 10 m s-1)
which minimise the risk of attack by predators and maximise the chances
of capturing prey with rapid escape reflexes. This movement is faster than
any other previously recorded for Xenopus (Measey,
1998). The mechanism explains the presence of some of the terrestrial components
in the diet of Xenopus, although it seems likely that there are
other mechanisms through which terrestrial prey may be acquired.
John
Measey, 1998 
Department of Zoology
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021 - 959 2261
Fax: 021 - 959 2312