Tuesday 30 December 2014

Why do frogs jump?



Why do frogs jump?
There are lots of animals (like alligators, snakes, owls, and even people) who think that frogs make tasty snacks. Since frogs don't have sharp teeth or claws to defend themselves against predators, the best thing they can do to avoid being eaten is to escape as quickly as possible when they spot a hungry-looking animal approaching them. Sproinnggg!!! Some kinds of frogs can jump distances up to 20 times their own body length in a single leap. When disturbed, frogs often jump into a puddle or pond where they can hide underwater. Their erratic zig-zag jumping on land also serves to confuse potential predators. In most frog species only the males croak. They croak to attract female frogs for breeding, and to warn away other male frogs from their territory. Female frogs think croaking is very sexy. Many kinds of frogs puff themselves up enormously with air when they croak. This amplifies the sounds made by the frog's vocal chords, kind of like how the stretched membrane of a drum works. This is why a little critter like a frog can make such loud noises! They hibernate in burrows or bury themselves in mud. Frogs and toads are cold-blooded and their body processes slow down as the outside temperature drops. (This is why you sometimes find sluggish-acting toads on cool mornings in the spring.) Frogs' bodies have some natural antifreeze built into them, but some kinds of frogs who live in especially cold climates can even survive being frozen solid.

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