As kids we were introduced to frogs described as amphibians known for their croaking sounds, bulging eyes, slimy skin, and jumping abilities.
There are more fascinating facts about these stunning creatures.
Frogs live all over the world and are among the most diverse animals in the world, with more than 6,000 species.
Frogs begin their lives in the water as eggs and then tadpoles and when they are fully developed, they live on land.
Almost all frogs fertilize the eggs outside of the female's body.
The male holds the female around the waist in a mating hug called amplexus.
He fertilizes the eggs as the female lays them.
Amplexus can last hours or days.
Frogs were the first land animals with vocal cords.
Male frogs have vocal sacs - pouches of skin that fill with air.
These balloons resonate sounds like a megaphone, and some frog sounds can be heard from a mile away.
Did you know that frogs use their eyeballs to swallow?
They eat their prey whole and their eyeballs actually sink down into their mouth and push the food down into their throat.
The bulging eyes of most frogs allow them to see in front, to the sides, and partially behind them.
Eyes positioned atop the head give frogs a field of vision of almost 180 degrees.
The eyes and nose of frogs are on top of their heads so they can breathe and see when most of their body is under the water.
Did you know that frogs absorb water through their skin, so they don't need to drink?
Frogs do not have external ears like us.
However, they do have eardrums and an inner ear.
The frog ear is called a tympanum and is the circle you see behind a frog's eye.
One of the ways you can tell a male frog from a female is by looking at their ears, which are located right behind the eyes.
If it’s larger than the frog’s eye, it’s a male… if it is smaller, it’s a female.
Frogs have long back legs and webbed feet for jumping and swimming.
They need to jump quickly to escape predators and catch food.
I almost forgot…… if you are looking for a Prince and you bump into a frog, do not make the mistake of kissing the creature because amphibians are known to carry salmonella so the only outcome would be serious intestinal discomfort!
April is National Frog Month.
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