There’s much to learn about frogs. Besides, there are approximately 5,000 known frog species out there. Frogs are cute creatures. They boast varied colors, body shapes, and other features that make each known species unique.
Frogs are tailless, and have teeth in their jaws. They also boast slimy skin, bulgy eyes and can leap to a certain height. Frogs jump 44 times their body length, which is approximately 130 inches in height.
Furthermore, like other animals, you can find frogs in a group. But the question is, what do you call a group of frogs? If you’re here to find answers to this question, keep reading.
What is a group of frogs called?
Most animals’ name changes when they come together, and that includes frogs. When frogs move together in a group, they’re no longer called frogs, but an army of frogs. You can also call a group of frogs a chorus or colony of frogs. Frogs croak, so the term “chorus” should stick faster in one’s head.
Interestingly, frogs differ from toads. And though both creatures look alike, they boast several features that make them distinct. A group of toads is best known as a nest or a knot. But let it be known that toads rarely come together in a group. So, keep in mind that you might not be seeing a nest or knot in your lifetime.
Alright, that’s the answer to the question, but we have more in store for you. So, keep reading.
What Frog Is
Frogs are tailless, short-bodied amphibians that belong to the order called Anura. These creatures do spend much time on land. But in their tadpole stage, they live in water. A tadpole won’t survive on land because it hasn’t developed the features required to do so.
Other amphibians are newts, salamanders, and toads. Amphibians refer to small vertebrates that need water or even a moist environment to survive. And among the group of animals called amphibians, the frog is the most populous and most common. They outnumber salamanders, toads, and newts.
Frogs are one of the most diverse creatures on earth, and you can find them in any part of the world. But they are most common in places like the Amazon rainforest, including the forest of equatorial Africa.
So, you can find frogs in the desert, Arctic Circle, and rainforest. Unfortunately, you can’t find frogs in Antarctica.
A Handy Tip: Antarctica (South Pole) and the Arctic (North Pole) are cold because they don’t receive direct sunlight. However, Antarctica is much colder.
How Do Frogs Survive In The Desert?
Ordinarily, the poor supply or absence of water should threaten many creatures from living in the desert. Water is crucial for survival.
Shockingly, many creatures have learned to live without water for many days, and months. Most of them choose to remain dormant for a considerable period until the rain starts falling.
One such group of animals is amphibians. These include toads, frogs, and salamanders. They have all discovered an easy way to survive in the desert, despite the lack of water. Normally, amphibians cannot survive in the absence of water or moisture. But these creatures have found a way to resolve that.
So, how do frogs and the other amphibians survive the harsh weather conditions in the desert for months?
Well, they go deep underground. These amphibians also congregate around oases or wet seeps.
It’s important to know that the South California desert originally boasts approximately 17 frog species, but things have changed now. Most of them no longer exist in the desert.
Differences That Exist Between Frog And Toad
It’s easier for people to confuse frogs for toads and vice versa because both creatures look almost the same. You can only detect the differences when you study both amphibians carefully or have knowledge of their differences.
At the tadpole stage, it would be challenging to differentiate a frog from a toad. For the record, both creatures become tadpoles during their developmental stage.
One common difference between these two amphibians is that frogs live on land and water while adult toads live mainly on land.
Another difference between these familiar amphibians is that the frog has longer limbs and very slippery skin while the toad has dry, rough skin and shorter legs. The long leg of the frog enables it to jump while the toad prefers to walk or use small hops because of its short legs.
Furthermore, it will interest you to know that frogs have teeth while toads don’t. Their body shapes also distinguish them. Frogs are supple and agile-looking, whereas toads are dumpy and squat. The shape of their nose is also key in pointing out their differences. The frog has a pointed nose while the toad has a broader nose.
A Handy tip: Only one species out of 5,000 known frog species boasts true teeth, which is present on their lower and upper jaw.
Reasons Why Frogs Live Together
There are several reasons why frogs might choose to live in groups. Some of these reasons are highlighted below:
Protection:
though some species of frog have thick poisonous skin to ward off predators and protect themselves. Some develop different skills and traits just to survive predators. But living in a group gives them protection, especially their young ones and their eggs.
Mating/reproduction:
that croaky noise you hear most time is done by the male to attract females just for the sole aim of mating. Therefore living as a group makes it handy and easier for a prospective male to find a willing female for reproduction.
Food sourcing and hunting:
all social animals have ways of fending for their young ones. This is no exception for frogs. The adult male protects the territory while the mature females get involved in hunting down insects and smaller creatures to feed the young ones. Sometimes these tadpoles feed on tiny green plants.
Territorial management:
this is very common with most social animals. Dominant males always carve out their territories with their females. The dominant male will fight away any intruding male into his territory.
Some Interesting Facts About Frogs You Should Know
- Frogs are excellent jumpers. They have the ability to jump up to 10 times their body length. Imagine jumping that high. Wow!
- Do you know frog never closes their eyes while sleeping? Imagine those bulging eyes staring at you while they are asleep.
- Do you know that just 1g of toxins produced by the skin of a poisonous dart frog can kill 100,000 people?
- Surprisingly, the frog is one of the rare creatures that shed her skin and still eat it up.
- Do you know why they call the glass frog its name? It is because its skin is so translucent, that you can see its internal organs, beating heart, digestive tract, muscles, and bones through the skin
- Some frogs have no lungs, they breathe through their skin. An example is the Indonesia frog.
- The study of frogs is called ‘herpetologist’
- The way frogs croak is not the same.
- The goliath frog is the world’s largest frog. It can be found in the West Africa region. And it weighs as much as a newborn baby.
- Do you know that frogs don’t live in the sea? It’s simply because they can live in a salty environment. Now you know.
Conclusion
So, what is a group of frogs called? It’s called a chorus, colony, or army of frogs. We also mentioned that frogs and toads differ, even though they’re both amphibians.
It is also important to know that frogs can survive in the desert, despite being amphibians. They have a special way to survive and can remain in the desert for a considerable period, waiting for the rain to fall. You can find frogs in any part of the world, except Antarctica.
