The Secret Lives Of Frogs

Text and photos by Heather Cline 

A frog peaks through a duckweed covered pond

Dinosaurs were reptiles that evolved from amphibians, and amphibians evolved after the dinosaurs went extinct, contributing to the wide diversity of those that exist today. Frogs represent 90% of amphibians and they make excellent photographic subjects - if you can find them. Frogs live a somewhat secret life due to their size, environment, and the hours they keep. This post is dedicated to the secret lives of frogs and includes some tips for capturing images of them.

Types of Frogs

• All toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads. 
  • Toads are warty skinned and short-legged. Due to their short hind legs, they get around by short hops or walk rather than long leaps. They tend to have thicker skin than other types of frogs, an adaptation due to living in drier conditions. 
  • Many members of this group have expanded sticky toe pads that allow them to climb trees and shrubs, but some are solely terrestrial, spending most of their time on the ground or low hanging plants. 

• Frogs and Treefrogs:
  • This group of frogs is what many consider “normal” frogs, and typically have long legs, generally smooth skin on their backs, and low-pitched “croaking” calls.
  • Frogs are smoother-skinned, long-legged, and tend to travel by long leaps as opposed to walking. 

Lifecycle

Frogs are unique in that they lay shell-less eggs in water that hatch into fish-like, gill-breathing larvae commonly referred to as tadpoles or polliwogs. Through metamorphosis, they develop legs, lungs, and other modifications needed to allow them to breathe air so they can live on land. The adult frogs will continue to live on land but will always be reliant on water for reproduction. 

They play an important ecological role by consuming thousands of insects and serving as a food source for fish, birds and snakes. 

Nocturnal Behaviors / Activity

• Frogs are primarily active at night for several reasons:
  • Moisture preservation: conserve moisture by avoiding the drying effects of daytime sun
  • Predator avoidance: staying hidden from predators who might have better vision during the day
  • Temperature Regulation: allowing them to hunt for food in cooler temperatures
  • Insect prey availability
• During the day, nocturnal frogs may seek out shaded areas, crevices, or burrows to avoid the sun and predators. 
• While most frogs are considered nocturnal, some species may be more active during the day, especially in cooler climates or near water sources where moisture is readily available. 

Physiological Phun Phacts

• Frogs have excellent night vision and are very sensitive to movement. The bulging eyes of most frogs allow them to see in front, to the sides, and partially behind them.
• Male frogs have vocal sacs—pouches of skin that fill with air. These balloons resonate sounds like a megaphone, and some frog sounds can be heard from a mile away.
• Many frogs can leap more than 20 times their body length.
• Many poisonous frogs, such as the golden poison frog and dyeing poison frog, are boldly colored to warn predators of their dangerous toxic skins.

Frogs are amazing creatures that are worth the energy and focus needed to observe and capture them in their natural environment. I hope this post has inspired you to 'jump' out there and capture some of your own. :)