The free-living male and female worms mate and produce eggs which hatch inside the mother.

The adult parasitic worm is a hermaphrodite and grows to be about ten times the length of the free-living form.

The eggs it produces are coughed into the frog's mouth, are swallowed and develop in its intestine.

Juvenile frogs are often infected and a heavy worm burden can seriously restrict their growth.

The parasite-induced anorexia caused a decrease in food intake and some of the young host frogs died.