Frogs seem disgusting to some, but they are actually very interesting creatures. Depending on the species, they can live both in water and on land. They have a long and accurate tongue, with which they cleverly catch insects. But what else do we know about frogs? Surprisingly, most people know almost nothing about them.
Fact number one.
Adults usually have two types of coloration. Very bright and dull. Frogs with brightly colored bodies are very often poisonous. With their coloration, they warn predators of how dangerous they are. Species with dull coloration (most often brown, dark green), blend in well with their surroundings, making them invisible to most predators.
Fact number two.
The feet of frogs have different structures depending on their habitat. For example, aquatic species have webbed feet that help them swim well in water. Tree species have distinctive suction cups on their toes, which help them move around in trees without problems. There are also species that have distinctive claws that help them dig in the ground.
Fact number three.
Frogs are carnivorous animals. Insects such as flies, mosquitoes, dragonflies, and grasshoppers form the basis of frogs’ diet. Larger species eat small animals (mice, small snakes, turtles) and fish. Some species even include smaller frog species in their diet.
Fact number four.
Most frog species do not hunt, but simply sit in one place and wait for an insect to fly by or a fish to swim by. When prey is near this amphibian, it throws out its sticky tongue and catches it. Since they cannot chew, they swallow their prey whole. It is also worth noting that this amphibian is able to throw out its tongue over a long distance because it is not attached to the back of its mouth.
Fact number five.
Frogs have excellent vision, and they can see perfectly at night. Also, their eyes are very sensitive to movement. The convex eyes, which are present in most species, help them see not only from the front and sides, but also partially from behind. When this amphibian swallows food, it puts its eyes down to push the food down its throat.
Fact number six.
Like all amphibians, they are cold-blooded creatures. This means that their body temperature is regulated by the temperature of their environment. When temperatures drop to low levels, frogs start digging burrows underground or in the mud at the bottom of ponds. They climb into these burrows to hibernate, and spend the entire winter there, motionless and barely breathing.
Fact number seven.
Frogs have a third eyelid. As we know, humans have two eyelids, an upper eyelid and a lower eyelid. This animal’s third eyelid helps him keep his eyes moist and protect them from dirt and dust. The third eyelid is transparent and acts as a kind of eyewear.
Fact number eight.
Frogs do not drink water with their mouths, but through their skin. Like many other amphibians, they can drink water through their thin skin. Some species have special holes on the underside of their bodies called «drinking holes. It is through these holes that the animal absorbs water. Some species, like tree frogs, use the condensation effect. They go to cold places and spend a fair amount of time there. When their body cools down a lot, they return to their warm den, where the temperature difference will cause droplets of species to appear on their skin.
Fact number nine.
Frogs regularly shed their old skin. So regularly, in fact, that some species do it daily. After frogs shed their skin, they most often eat it to regain the nutrients stored in the shed skin.
Fact number ten.
Frogs cannot effectively chew food and use their tongue to push food down their throats. Instead, they push food through their eyes by pulling them into their skulls with special muscles — which is why frogs often blink while eating.
Since 2008, March 20 has been recognized as World Frog Day. This holiday was created to draw attention to the problems of amphibians and is dedicated to the protection of amphibians, some of whose species are on the brink of extinction.
