![]() ![]() They are an important food source for predators and part of the food web dynamics of many of the world's ecosystems. Frogs are extremely efficient at converting what they eat into body mass. Frog skin has a rich microbiome which is important to their health. Adult frogs generally have a carnivorous diet consisting of small invertebrates, but omnivorous species exist and a few feed on plant matter. A few species deposit eggs on land or bypass the tadpole stage. The life cycle is completed when they metamorphose into adults. They have highly specialized rasping mouth parts suitable for herbivorous, omnivorous or planktivorous diets. ![]() The eggs hatch into aquatic larvae called tadpoles that have tails and internal gills. Adult frogs live in fresh water and on dry land some species are adapted for living underground or in trees.įrogs typically lay their eggs in water. Their skin varies in colour from well- camouflaged dappled brown, grey and green to vivid patterns of bright red or yellow and black to show toxicity and ward off predators. Frogs have glandular skin, with secretions ranging from distasteful to toxic. Warty frog species tend to be called toads, but the distinction between frogs and toads is informal, not from taxonomy or evolutionary history.Īn adult frog has a stout body, protruding eyes, anteriorly-attached tongue, limbs folded underneath, and no tail (the tail of tailed frogs is an extension of the male cloaca). They are also one of the five most diverse vertebrate orders. Frogs account for around 88% of extant amphibian species. Frogs are widely distributed, ranging from the tropics to subarctic regions, but the greatest concentration of species diversity is in tropical rainforest. The oldest fossil "proto-frog" Triadobatrachus is known from the Early Triassic of Madagascar, but molecular clock dating suggests their split from other amphibians may extend further back to the Permian, 265 million years ago. Lymph lacks few proteins and RBCs and hence is different from blood.Variegated golden frog ( Mantella baroni) in the Ranomafana National Park of MadagascarĪ frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally without tail in Ancient Greek). RBCs are nucleated and contain haemoglobin. RBCs and WBCs and platelets are present in the blood of frogs. The blood is composed of plasma and cells. The renal portal system is a system of special venous connection between the kidneys and the lower parts of the body. The hepatic portal system is a system of special venous connection between liver and intestine. ![]() Hepatic portal system and renal portal system are present in frogs. The veins carry blood from all parts of the body to the heart. Arteries and VeinsĪrteries carry blood from the heart to all parts of the body. The ventricle opens into a sac-like conus arteriosus on the ventral side of the heart. Blood from the vena cava reaches the sinus venosus. A triangular structure called sinus venosus joins the right atrium. The heart is covered by a membrane called pericardium. There are three chambers in the heart of frog. The heart is situated in the upper part of the body cavity. The lymphatic system consists of lymph, lymph channels and lymph nodes. The blood vascular system of frog is composed of a heart, blood vessels and blood. Lymphatic system is also present in frogs. The vascular system is closed type and is well developed. The bilobed tongue helps in capturing prey. Digestive enzymes are present in the pancreatic juice. Liver produces bile and the pancreas produces pancreatic juice. The alimentary canal is composed of buccal cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, intestine and rectum. The alimentary canal is short because frogs are carnivorous. Sound producing vocal sacs and a copulatory pad (on the first digit of the fore limb) are present in male frogs. The hind limbs are large and more muscular than forelimbs. The forelimbs and hind limbs help in swimming, walking, leaping and burrowing. Ears are represented by membranous tympanum on either side of the eyes. These membranes protect the eyes while the frog is under water. Eyes are bulged and covered by a nictitating membrane. A pair of nostrils is present above the mouth. The body of a frog is divisible into head and trunk. ![]()
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