FrogWorld

Anatomy: Camouflage Camouflage is the first line of defense for the majority of frog species. The ability to hide from predators is an important evolutionary characteristic. Each frog species has adapted a special camouflage to fit its lifestyle, habitat, and ecosystem. The most common type of camouflage is the type that makes the frog blend in with its surroundings, allowing it to hide from predators and avoid detection from prey. The most common colors worn by frogs are brown and green, expecially when the frog lives in a swamp, forest, shrub, or river habitat. Some frogs which have dull, drab colors have "flash colors". These are bright, eye-catching colors that are located in places normally hidden in view. When a predator attempts to catch the frog, the frog will display the flash colors, confusing or scaring the predator away. Other frogs can change color. They do this with chromatorphores. These are special cells which contain grains of pigment. The color of the frog changes when the distribution of the pigments is altered. When the pigment is lightly distributed, then the frog turns darker. When the pigment is more thickly distributed, the frog turns a lighter color. There can be different causes for a frog to change color. Some change when they are excited or disturbed. Other change colors to fit with their immediate surroundings to avoid detection from predators. For some frogs, hiding is the last thing they want to do. These frogs, mostly located in the tropics, display extremely bright, attention-getting colors. But instead of attracting, predators, the bright colors and patterns act as a deterrent. These colors warn predators that the frog tastes bad. In other words, the frog is telling predators, "I'm poisonous." A few frogs displaying these bright colors are not poisonous or bad tasting at all, but are instead mimicing the poisonous frogs so that predators will also give them a wide berth. PreviousNext