Frogs, everyone associated with loud croaking and warm season, are tailless - large detachment of amphibians.Habitat some individuals is exceptionally dry land, other frogs recognize dwelling only in the water, some - both.There are also tree frogs that live in trees and are able to plan for a range of up to 15 meters.
most comfortable for representatives of the amphibians are the places with increased moisture - rain forests, meadows, swamps, freshwater shore.Almost every corner of the earth inhabited by these big-eyed creatures on the planet where there are more than 5000 species.The highest density recorded in the tropical zone.Many nature lovers have always been interested in: what is it, the frog?What to eat?Where to live?
Appearance frog
Frogs are characterized by short trunk.Lack neck itself allows the tailless animal only slightly tilted head, the top of which has two bulging eyes and nostrils.What eats the frog in the pond?What kind of lifestyle leads?And why frequent blinking?The bodies of the frogs are protected for centuries: the top - leathery - and bottom - transparent and mobile.Private blinking characteristic for them, due to the protection of the surface of the eye from drying, which are wetted with a damp skin of eyelids.This feature is caused by land-based way of life of a frog.For comparison, the fish - residents moist environment - do not have eyelids, so do not blink at all.Visual feature of frogs is their ability to simultaneously view what is happening in front, top and side.This never, even during sleep, they do not close their eyes for a long time.
Outside, behind each eye, located outer ear, leather-wrapped - the eardrum.Inside the hearing organ of the frog is placed directly into the cranium.
properties of frog skin
air green frog breathes light that she had poorly developed, and the skin, which has great importance in the breathing process.For this species of amphibians is completely dry environment is detrimental as it causes drying of the skin and certain death as a result.In the aquatic environment frog goes entirely on the breath skin.
Our ancestors believed that the frog skin has antibacterial properties, so throwing the animals into the milk, so it does not soured.By the way, the frog does not drink, and the water from the external environment penetrates into her body through food and through the skin, which, thanks to the skin secretions of the mucous consistency, constantly moist.Based on the foregoing, the questions arise: "What among other fauna allocated common frog? What feeds? How hunts prey?"
frog well formed limbs, each of which consists of three main sections, linked together by means of movable joints.The front legs is the shoulder, forearm and ending with 4 fingers (the fifth - underdeveloped).The rear section consists of the foot with 5 toes, interconnected swimming membranes, hip and thigh.The hind legs, which play a major role in the movement, several times stronger and longer than the front, while the front legs are kind of softening shocks when jumping.
amphibian body temperature depends on ambient temperature, in the warm rising and falling in the cold.As well as fish, frogs are cold-blooded animals.Therefore, in cold weather they lose their activity and seek shelter in a warm place, and in winter hibernate.
frog: the diet fed
these tailless quite extensive and consists of individuals around her.Therefore, by logical thinking and careful observation, you can understand what feeds the frog in the pond.This is mainly beetles, mosquitoes, flies, spiders, worms, snails, caterpillars, crustaceans and sometimes small fry fishes.Some of the victims have a hard shell, which copes with the help of a frog teeth.Frog hunt exclusively on mobile prey sitting in a secluded place and patiently lying in wait for the next meal.Seeing a potential victim, hunter throws lightning from his mouth long a language to which she adheres.
Frog: types
tailless amphibians are divided into three types: frogs, toads and tree frogs.
frog characterized by smooth, slightly lumpy skin, swimming webbed hind legs and on the upper jaw teeth.The most representative of this type of solid - goliath frog, mainly lives in West Africa.Its length is up to 1 meter, weight - about 3 kg.The impressive size!Striking eye so the frog.What to eat such a large specimen that can make jumping a distance of 3 meters?Goliath frog eats his little brothers, spiders and scorpions and can live up to 15 years.The absence of her voice resonator compensated excellent hearing.
size of the smallest frogs living in Cuba, is from 8.5 to 12 mm.
Frog Pond
In central Europe, the most common green frog pond, different from their counterparts except that the smaller size.The abdomen is devoid of spots, a white or yellowish color, back color - gray-green or bright green.The favorite habitat - small ponds of stagnant water and wetland flora.He prefers daily life, feels comfortable both on land and in water, which allows it to equally consume oxygen through the skin and lungs.To move on land uses fast jumping, trying to escape from danger in the water.From hibernation usually come out in April and May, when the outside temperature is 12 ° C heat, and the water temperature - 10 ° C.In early awakening their activity is low, two or three weeks, as the heating of water in the reservoir starts reproduction.One female can lay up to 3000 eggs from which larvae develop within weeks frog.The full cycle of its transformation into an adult is about 2 months.
Life frog in nature
frog tadpoles feed on microscopic algae, a little later - insect larvae.Frogs reach sexual maturity in their third year of life.Their life expectancy in the wild estimated to be 6-12 years.With the onset of cold weather frog leave for the winter, preferring to burrow into the mud.Sometimes it can hide on land, for example, in rodent burrow.For example, herbal frogs spend the winter at the bottom of the ice-free waters, at the headwaters of streams and rivers, gathering tens and hundreds of individuals.Moor frog wintering chooses cracked crust.
toads and frogs: differences
Toad characterized by the absence of teeth and skin covered with tubercles, which is darker and drier frog.The world's largest specimen - a toad-aga - is also one of the most poisonous among their brethren.Its weight can reach up to 2 kg.The smallest Zhabko has a length of 2.4 cm. The representatives of this kind of prefer being on the ground, going down to the water only in the mating season.
Tree frogs are the smallest members of the three described species of frogs.Distinguished by the presence of the other on the fingers extended drives to help them climb up.Some species can fly, which helps them to escape from their enemies.
amazing species of frogs
Like many representatives of fauna, including frogs are unique specimens.
For example, in India there is a rainbow frog, which is the object of worship.It lives in the house she Reggie Kumar.The unusual it is constantly changing color, which attracts a large number of people who want to look at this miracle and to pray to him.
Frog internal structure can be easily explore on an endangered her mind - Hyalinobatrachium pellucidum.Otherwise, it is called a glass or transparent, as can be seen through the skin of her insides.
From poison dart frogs of Central and South America want to highlight coloring dart frogs, in particular, his blue subspecies.Unlike other fellow, he is active even in the daytime, and almost always has a bright color.Many climbers are on the verge of extinction.Dart frogs are poisonous to some extent, than successfully used by the American Indians, using their poison for their arrows.
Vietnamese marsh frog lives in the tropical and subtropical forests, is often the subject of exotic home, in terms of value is estimated from 45 to 75 dollars.It is also called moss due to the unusual structure of the skin that looks like a rock moss.Also, this looks an excellent camouflage.