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| − | {{alternateuses}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_begin | color = pink | name = True Frogs}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_image | image = [[image:Americanfrog.jpg|200px|A frog]] | caption = }}
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| − | {{Taxobox_begin_placement | color = pink}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_regnum_entry | taxon = [[Animal|Animalia]]}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_phylum_entry | taxon = [[Chordate|Chordata]]}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_classis_entry | taxon = [[Amphibia]]}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_ordo_entry | taxon = [[Anura]]}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_familia_entry | taxon = '''Ranidae'''}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_end_placement}}
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| − | {{Taxobox_section_subdivision | color = pink | plural_taxon = Genera}}
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| − | See text.
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| − | {{Taxobox_end}}
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| − | A '''frog''' is a fresh-water [[amphibian]] of the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Ranidae''', in the [[order (biology)|Order]] [[Anura]]. They are closely related to [[toad]]s. The Ranidae are sometimes called the "true frogs" since a few members of other families also have common names including the word "frog."
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| − | ==Types and characteristics of frogs==
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| − | 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]].
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| − | The most familiar frogs are the [[Bullfrog]], the [[Edible frog]], the [[Leopard frog]]s, [[Spring Peeper]]s, [[Poison dart frog]]s, and the [[Green Frog]]s.
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| − | [[Image:Tiny little frog.jpg|left|thumb|Some adult frogs are smaller than a person's thumb.]]
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| − | Frogs range in size from less than 50mm to 300mm in ''Conraua goliath'', which is the largest known frog. All frogs have horizontal [[pupil]]s, 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 hearing. Most frogs have deep, booming calls, or '''croaks''', with some being onomatopoeically represented by the sound (for English speakers), "'''ribbet'''" or "'''ribbit'''." The Ancient Greeks, via Aristophanes, transcribed the sound of a croaking frog as, "korax."
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| − | Many species of frog secrete [[toxin]]s 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_Rainforest|Amazon]] area extract the arrow-poison, [[curare]], from the poison arrow frog.
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| − | ==Distribution and Status==
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| − | Members of this family are found worldwide, but they have a limited distribution in [[Australia]]. They do not occur in the [[West Indies]], nor on most oceanic islands.
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| − | In many parts of the world the frog population has [[Decline in frog populations|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.
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| − | ==Life cycle==
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| − | {| align=right
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| − | |[[Image:Frogspawn closeup.JPG|thumb|Frogspawn]]
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| − | |[[image:Tadpoles 10 days.JPG|thumb|The tadpoles, ten days later]]
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| − | |-
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| − | |[[Image:Frog-Zhe.jpg|thumb|Froglet]]
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| − | |[[image:Green-leopard-frog-in-swamp.jpg|thumb|right|Adult frog]]
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| − | |}
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| − | The life cycle of a frog involves several stages. A female frog lays her [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s in a shallow [[pond]] or creek, where they will be sheltered from the current and from predators. The eggs, known as ''frogspawn'' hatch into [[tadpole]]s. 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 [[herbivore]]s, feeding mostly on [[alga]]e, whereas juvenile and adult frogs are rather voracious [[carnivore]]s. 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.
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| − | ==Diet==
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| − | Frogs eat [[insect]]s such as [[mosquito]]es and small animals such as [[minnow]]s. Their sticky tongues are effective in catching fast-moving prey. They hunt mostly at night.
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| − | ==A new frog==
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| − | ''Main article: [[Purple Frog]]''
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| − | In 2003, Franky Bossuyt of the ''[[Vrije Universiteit Brussel]]'' (Free University of Brussels) and S.D. Biji of the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute in [[Palode]], [[India]] reported the discovery of a new [[species]] of frog so distinct in appearance and [[DNA]] that it merited its own new [[Scientific classification|family]], the first new family for frogs since [[1926]]. This new species, dubbed ''[[Purple Frog|Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis]]'' (commonly ''Purple Frog'' or ''Pignose Frog''), is dark purple in color, seven centimeters in length, and has a small head and a pointy snout. Genetically, its closest living relatives are the [[sooglossid]]s found in the [[Seychelles]]. The new species was discovered in the [[Sahyadri]] (Western Ghats) Mountains in India.
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| − | * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3200214.stm BBC article with photos of the Purple Frog]
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| − | ==Frogs in popular culture==
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| − | *One of the most famous frogs in the entertainment world is the [[Muppet]] character [[Kermit the Frog]].
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| − | *The American TV network The WB ([[Warner Brothers]]) uses Michigan J. Frog, a frog in a tuxedo as their logo. Michigan J. Frog was the singing, dancing star of the [[1955]] Warner cartoon, "[[One Froggy Evening]]".
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| − | *''[[Frogger]]'' is an early electronic [[arcade game]], with a frog trying to cross a busy road and river.
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | * [http://www-itg.lbl.gov/ITG.hm.pg.docs/Whole.Frog/Whole.Frog.html The Whole Frog Project] ~ (virtual frog dissection and anatomy)
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| − | * ''[http://raysweb.net/specialplaces/pages/frogsdecline.html Disappearance of toads, frogs has some scientists worried]'' ~ ''San Francisco Chronicle'', April 20, 1992
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| − | * [http://www.frogsonice.com/froggy/ The Froggy Page] ~ Frog fun
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| − | * [http://www.dartden.com Dart Den] ~ Dart frog resource and forums
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| − | [[Category:Model organisms]]*[[Category:Frogs]]
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| − | [[ast:Xaronca]]
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| − | [[da:Frø (padde)]]
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| − | [[es:Rana]]
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| − | [[nl:Kikker]]
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| − | [[ja:カエル]]
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| − | [[pl:żaba]]
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| − | [[fr:Grenouille]]
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