FrogWorld

Anatomy: Other Characteristics The skin of a frog is a critical organ. It absorbs oxygen and water. Frogs do not swallow water, and therefore must rely on their skin to keep them hydrated. Frogs need their skin to absorb oxygen when underwater, since they cannot breathe with their lungs when submerged. The skin must be kept moist or else oxygen will not be able to pass through it easily and the frog could usffocate. The skin is usually shed about once a week. Frogs have very good eyesight. Their eyes can see well even in dim light and can detect a large range of colors. Because the eyes are situated above the frogs head, they can see in almost all directions, allowing it to detect prey and predators quickly and eaily. Frogs do not have any teeth, and so the eyes have a unique part in the swallowing process. When a frog swallows, its eyes sink down into the sockets, pushing the food down into the throat. Also, when a frog shoots its tongue out to catch prey, its eyes close so the frog cannot see when it is striking. Not all frogs have the long tongues which they are normally associated with. Those that do have tongues use it to catch prey. The tongue is attached to the rear of the mouth. It is covered by a sticky substance and can be shot out at prey at a high speed, making it an efficient catching device. Many frogs, expecially males, have special vocal chords allowing them to "sing". A frog species can easily be distinguished by their call. This call is made by forcing air through the vocal chords, also known as the larynx. Some male frogs have vocal sacs. These swell up, allowing the frog to force even more air through the vocal chords, making an extremely loud sound. This call is usually made to attract a mate. The tympanums, the ears of the frog, are located behind the eyes and appear to be large flat discs. Each frog is fine-tuned to listen to their own species. This is done by the size and distance between the tympanums. In this way, the ears determine which sounds the frogs hear the best, allowing them to listen to and locate other members of their species. This is extremely important during breeding. Previous Next