Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Life cycle of a frog"

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==Diet and Predators==
 
All adult frogs are [[carnivore]]s, and usually eat invertebrates such as: [[insect]]s, [[worm]]s and [[spider]]s. However, a few of the larger species may eat larger prey, such as small [[mammal]]s, [[fish]] and smaller frogs. Some frogs use their sticky tongues effectively in catching fast-moving prey, while others capture their prey, and force it into their mouth with their hands.
 
  
Most tadpoles are [[herbivore]]s, eating moss, or filtering small plant particles through their [[gill]]s. During the process of metamorphosis, their intestine will shorten to accommodate a carnivorous diet. Some species of frogs are carnivorous at the tadpole stage, and will usually eat small larvae and small fish.
 
 
Many animals eat frogs. These include [[birds]], large fish, [[snake]]s, [[otter]]s, [[fox]]es, [[badger]]s, [[coati]]s etc. Tadpoles and eggs are predated by fish, newts, predatory diving beetles, and birds such as [[kingfisher]]s. [[Cannibalism]] has also been observed among tadpoles.
 
  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==

Revision as of 10:54, 11 January 2006

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Mesobatrachia
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Frog is the common name for amphibians in the order Anura. There is often a distinction made between frogs and toads, based on appearance, however there is no scientific distinction. The only family exclusively given the common name "toad" is Bufonidae, but many species from various other families are also called "toads". "True frogs" are of the family Ranidae.


Distribution and status

Frogs are found nearly worldwide, but they do not occur in Antarctica and are not present on many oceanic islands.

In many parts of the world, the frog populations have declined drastically since the 1950s. Many environmental scientists feel that amphibians, and frogs in particular, may be excellent biological indicators of ecosystem function because of their location on the food web, their permeable skins and their typically bi-phasic life (in both water and on land). Although habitat loss is certainly one of the most important features of most declines; pollutants, climate change, introduction of non-indigenous predators/competitors, and infectious diseases (see Chytrid fungus) have also been implicated.



Taxonomy

Distinction of frogs and toads

A problem commonly associated with Anurans, is the distinction between frogs and toads. This distinction has no scientific basis, and only refers to the common name of a species. Most frogs in the Ranidae family (true frogs) and Hylidae family (tree frogs) are considered frogs, whereas all those within the Bufonidae family (true toads) are considered toads. However, many families, and even genera, have a mixture of frogs and toads, so there is no taxonomic basis.

The distinction between frogs and toads usually given to the Anurans is; frogs are smooth and moist skinned, while toads have dry, warty skin. An exception can be made for the Fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina). While its skin is slightly warty, it prefers a watery habitat.

Hybridisation

Many Anurans readily hybridise. For instance, the Edible Frog (Rana esculenta) is a hybrid of the Pool Frog (R. lessonae) and the Marsh Frog (R. ridibunda). Bombina bombina and Bombina variegata similarly form hybrids, although these are less fertile, giving rise to a hybrid zone.

Frogs in culture

  • Frog legs are a delicacy in China, France, and in many parts of the American South, especially Louisiana. The French custom of eating frog legs is the source of the English use of the derogatory nickname "frogs" for French people.
  • In the Bible (Exodus 8) a plague of frogs are sent upon Egypt
  • The behavior of frogs illustrating nonaction is a myth. ("Take a pot of hot water and a frog. Throw the frog into the pot. What do you think will happen? The obvious, of course: the frog will jump out. Who likes hanging around in a pot of hot water? Now ... [t]ake a pot of cold water, put the frog in it, and place the pot on the stove. Turn on the heat. This time something different will occur. The frog, because of the incremental change in temperature, will not notice that it is slowly being boiled." from "Life and Death in the Executive Fast Lane" by Manfred Kets de Vries) Professor Doug Melton, Harvard University Biology Department, says, "If you put a frog in boiling water, it won't jump out. It will die. If you put it in cold water, it will jump before it gets hot -- they don't sit still for you." [1] A frog put anywhere that doesn't kill it will jump, "they don't sit still for you."

Frogs in popular culture

Frogs feature prominently in folklore and fairy tales in many cultures, such as the story of The Frog Prince. Similarly, numerous fantasy settings (such as the Final Fantasy videogames) include magic spells that turn people into frogs, such as the frog character in the videogame Chrono Trigger.

  • File:Froggunso.JPG
    Sgt. Frog (Keroro Gunso)
    Sgt. Frog (aka Sergeant Keroro [ケロロ軍曹 "Keroro Gunsō"], portrayed by Kumiko Watanabe) is a humorous frog-like alien invader who winds up on Earth in the manga and anime series of the same name created by Mine Yoshizaki in 2004. Keroro licensed product merchandise is immensely popular on both sides of the Pacific.
  • The Crazy Frog is a cartoon creature resembling a frog, the character of the most downloaded ringtone in the UK.
  • Probably the most famous frog in the entertainment world is the Muppet character Kermit the Frog.
  • Until recently, the American TV network The WB (Warner Brothers) used 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".
  • Frogger is an early electronic arcade game which features a frog that must cross a busy road and river.
  • Frogs fall from the sky in various urban myths and notably in the movie Magnolia. This may derive from incidents when frogs are picked up by a tornado, or when a sudden migration of frogs happens overnight.
  • The character Jiraiya in the manga/anime series Naruto calls himself the Frog-Hermit. He has an established blood contract with them and can summon them whenever he chooses.

External links

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ar:ضفدع ast:Xaronca bg:Безопашати земноводни ca:Granota cs:Žáby da:Frø (padde) de:Froschlurche eo:Rano es:Rana fr:Grenouille he:צפרדע ja:カエル li:Kwakkers nl:Kikker no:Frosk pl:żaba pt:Rã simple:frog sr:Жаба sv:Grodor