Frog

Frog life begins in water when adults lay jelly-like eggs that hatch into tadpoles. Tadpoles breathe through gills and swim with tails, feeding on algae and detritus. Over weeks, metamorphosis transforms them: legs sprout, tails shrink, lungs develop, and young frogs hop onto land to chase insects. Adults keep their skin moist by staying near ponds, streams, or rainforest leaves coated with dew. Some species, like glass frogs, remain arboreal, while others, like bullfrogs, patrol pond edges.

Frogs are champions of sound. Males inflate throat sacs to amplify croaks, trills, or peeps that attract mates and defend territories. Each species has a unique call, allowing scientists to survey wetlands at night simply by listening. Vibrating vocal cords also help frogs regulate temperature by releasing heat through moist skin.

Amphibian skin is permeable, absorbing water and dissolved oxygen. Many frogs release mucus that keeps skin flexible, while some secrete toxins that deter predators—bright colors warn of powerful poisons in species like poison dart frogs. Powerful hind legs deliver explosive jumps to escape snakes or birds, and sticky tongues lash forward to snatch flies mid-air.

Frogs face global declines from habitat destruction, pesticide exposure, climate shifts, and the chytrid fungus, which attacks skin and disrupts breathing. Conservationists restore wetlands, maintain shaded stream buffers, and breed endangered frogs in biosecure facilities for reintroduction. Citizen scientists monitor frog calls through programs like FrogWatch, providing early warnings of population changes.

Students learn from frogs by observing metamorphosis in classroom aquariums, modeling how sound travels through air and water, or testing water quality to see how pollution affects amphibian health. By protecting wetlands, reducing lawn chemicals, and cleaning gear between pond visits to prevent fungus spread, communities can keep frog choirs singing every spring.