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More About Frogs ...
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A frog is a fresh-water amphibian of the family Ranidae, in the Order Anura. They are closely related to toads. The Ranidae are sometimes called the "true frogs" since a few members of other families also have common names including the word "frog.".
In many parts of the world the frog population has declined drastically over the last few decades. Pollutants are one cause for this decline but other culprits include climatic changes, parasitic infestation, introduction of non-indigenous predators/competitors, infectious diseases, and urban encroachment.
The life cycle of a frog involves several stages. A female frog lays her eggs in a shallow pond or creek, where they will be sheltered from the current and from predators. The eggs, known as frogspawn hatch into tadpoles. The tadpole stage develops gradually into an adolescent froglet, resembling an adult but retaining a vestigial tail. Finally the froglet develops into an adult frog. Typically, tadpoles are herbivores, feeding mostly on algae, whereas juvenile and adult frogs are rather voracious carnivores. Furthermore, The red-legged frogs normally reproduce from November to early April because during these months, the water is about six or seven degrees Celsius. Under these cool conditions, embryonic survival is ensured. Amplexus is the process wherein the male grasps the female while she lays her eggs. At the same time, he fertilizes them with a fluid containing sperm. The eggs are about 2.0 to 2.8 millimetres in diameter and are dark brown. After about six to fourteen days, the eggs hatch between July and September into brown tadpoles that are about three inches long. The tadpoles then progress to lose their tails, grow legs, and change into a juvenile form with adult characteristics.
Frogs eat insects such as mosquitoes and small animals such as minnows. Their sticky tongues are effective in catching fast-moving preys. They hunt mostly at night.
Frogs are a diverse group with some 4800 species. Most spend their lives in or near a source of water (water frogs), although tree frogs live in moist environments that are not actually aquatic. The requirement for water becomes most acute for egg and tadpole stages of the frog, yet here again some species are able to utilize temporary pools and water collected in the axils of plants.
The most familiar frogs are the Bullfrog, the Edible frog, the Leopard frogs, Spring Peepers, and the Green Frogs.
Frogs range in size from less than 50mm to 300mm in Conraua goliath, which is the largest known frog. All frogs have horizontal pupils, smooth skin and long legs with webbing between their toes. This family has a bicornuated tongue that is attached in front: They also have a tympanum on each side of their head, which is involved in sound production. Most frogs have deep, booming calls, or croaks, with some being onomatopoeically represented by the word "ribbet" or "ribbit."
Many species of frog secrete toxins from their skin when under threat. These toxins deter predatory animals from eating them, and some are extremely poisonous to humans. The natives of the Amazon area extract curare from the poison arrow frog.
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Taxonmony
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Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
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Source: Wikipedia Read more about Frogs
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INFO LINKS
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Northern Cricket Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Southern/Florida Cricket Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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PineBarrens Tree Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Bird-voiced Tree Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Gray Tree Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Green Tree Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Pine Woods Tree Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Barking Tree Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Squirrel Tree Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Mountain Chorus Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Brimley's Chorus Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Spring Peeper
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Upland Chorus Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Southern Chorus Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Little Grass Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Ornate Chorus Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Greenhouse Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Carolina/Florida Gopher Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Bullfrog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Green Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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River Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Pickerel Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Southern Leopard Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
Description, pictures, call, and sonogram of call Read More
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Wood Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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Carpenter Frog
The Frogs and Toads of Georgia
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