Just Froggy things

Posted by Earthly Notes


Apparently March 20 is #WorldFrogDay

So I thought let’s have a post dedicated to these fascinating creatures in the animal kingdom.

Image: Frogs can be a master of camouflage.

As amphibians, they have the dual ability to thrive in both land and water. What is also really cool about them is that they (like butterflies) undergo complete metamorphosis. They start their lives as eggs floating on water, then they become tiny, wiggling tadpoles and then finally transform into fully-formed adult frogs. Frogs can not only breathe through lungs but also their skin, which makes them quite comfortable in water-habitats.

Image: Black tadpoles seen in this rainforest stream.

Here are 3 lesser-known facts about Frogs

Some frogs make foam nests!
Image: The Malabar Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) is a bright green marvel with striking eyes and red-yellow webbed feet. Endemic to the western ghat, this frog makes foam nests during monsoons over hanging branches. The eggs are laid in this foam nest and after a while, the newly hatched tadpoles drop into stream flowing below directly.
Frogs legs (were) a delicacy in Some parts of india
Image: Bullfrogs were quite threatened at one point as they were a local delicacy in some parts of India. Bullfrogs were poached for their meaty hind legs. For example in Goa, Bullfrog legs were a delicacy and sold as jumping chickens! This group of frogs, characterized by their large size was once hunted indiscriminately. However, over time, with efforts from the local government, forest department, conservationists, there has been a shift towards preserving bullfrogs and this has reduced the hunting rates. (More info)
Vulnerability to road kills
Image: One of the greatest threats to frog populations are road accidents. Its a silent tragedy that occurs throughout the monsoons, when there is maximum frog activity due to breeding season. Frogs venture out in the open and are killed by speeding vehicles by the hundreds. For the most part, these road kills go unnoticed, but they can be damaging to local populations, especially in ecologically sensitive biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats or northeast India.

There are so many cool things about frogs! Did you know there is a peculiar looking frog species found in South India that spends much of its live underground? There is a bush frog with blue eye rings, and another one that dances! Outside of India, there is a also a frog whose skin becomes transparent and you can see its internal organs. And let’s not forget one of the world’s most poisonous animals are the Golden Poison Dart Frog.

Image: A small froglet on a leaf

From rainforests to backyard ponds, the jumpy frogs continue to play a vital role in our ecosystems. As we learn more about them, we also learn how to better protect their dying species. So let’s take a moment on this #WorldFrogDay and learn more about them, one leap at a time!

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My name is Adithi Muralidhar. I am a nature enthusiast based in Mumbai, India.

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