People are having a hard time believing this animal is actually real

This unusually chubby amphibian is well on his way to internet celebrity — and for good reason.

His smooth round physique and expressive small features are so remarkable that many people have questioned whether this animal is real.

And it’s difficult to blame them.

Just take a peek at him.

Some speculate that he’s a shellless turtle, while others believe he’s the result of a child’s ceramics project gone wrong.

But, as it turns out, neither is correct.

Jodi Rowley, a biologist and amphibian specialist, decided to cut through the hype and reveal the animal’s genuine identity on Twitter.

“This frog has gone viral on social media. It’s a burrowing frog with a blunt skull (Glyphoglossus molossus) “Rowley penned an essay. “Native to drier portions of mainland Southeast Asia, this species spends the most of its existence underground, waiting for rain – they have an excellent form for burrowing and conserving water.”

Though the frog’s round, squishy body is undoubtedly part of what makes him so attractive, it is actually part of a unique ability to ward off potential predators. According to Rowley, the frog in this image is “puffing up to appear large and frightening.”

However, judging by the online response, it appears to be having the opposite impact.

“To be honest, I enjoy our froggy companion,” one Twitter user remarked. “What an interesting creature,” another said.

And it’s difficult to disagree.