Frogs are amphibians, which means they live part of their lives in water and part on land. They have adaptations that enable them to thrive in both environments. Frogs have webbed feet for swimming and propelling themselves through the water. When swimming, a frog will kick its hind legs in unison, generating a forward thrust … Read more
Frogs have skin composed of thin membranous tissue that is quite permeable to water and contains a large network of blood vessels. They use this skin to breathe, and also to absorb water to rehydrate. Salt can kill frogs by disrupting the water and ionic exchange across their permeable skin. This can lead to serious dehydration … Read more
Most frogs are either nocturnal or crepuscular and are most active in the dark and twilight hours. When inactive, may frogs will burrow is soft soil or mud. But have you ever wondered why frogs burrow? Frogs burrow for a variety of reasons, such as to cool off or stay warm, to hide from predators, … Read more
Frogs are obligate carnivores, which means they eat prey instead of plants or vegetation. These amphibians are generalist predators who eat almost any prey they can catch and fit into their mouths. Frogs are ambush hunters instinctively attracted to movement while hunting for food. For this reason, most frogs will not eat dead bugs that are … Read more
Have you ever encountered a dead frog and wondered why it was flipped over and lying upside down? This happens for a very interesting reason. Frogs do not die on their backs. Instead, often flip onto their backs due to the relaxation of their muscles. This relaxation, in addition to their rounded body shape, makes … Read more
Adult frogs are carnivores that aren’t very picky with what they eat. Their generalist diet means frogs can find food in the variety of habitats they live in – from rainforests to mountainous areas to dry regions. However, despite their diverse diets, frogs still sometimes find themselves in environments where food sources are scarce. So, … Read more
In the wet months of the year, it’s common to see frogs in or near ponds, and other water bodies puffing up their throats. But why do they do it? Frogs puff up and inflate their throat to croak. The part of the throat that gets inflated is known as a vocal sac. Depending on … Read more
Salamanders are the only amphibians that have tails in the adult stage of their life. Their slender bodies and four short legs, give them a somewhat lizard-like appearance. But have you ever wondered why salamanders have long tails, when other amphibians, such as frogs, don’t? Salamanders’ long tails serve many important functions. Salamanders use their … Read more
Salamanders are the only amphibians that have tails in the adult stage of their life. Like Lizards, salamanders can lose part of most of their tail, and subsequently regenerate it. But have you ever wondered why this happens? The main reason salamanders lose their tails is to defend themselves when they are grabbed by a … Read more
Frogs are amphibians, which means they live part of their lives in water and part on land. But can all frogs swim? In general, the overwhelming majority of frog species can swim, they have webbed feet and powerful hind legs for propulsion. However, some frog species such as the rain frogs of Southern Africa are … Read more