Do you know about frogs? 🐸

00:00:44
Speaker 1: Hi, science fans, Guess what. We are launching Season four of sleep Tight Science this September, and we need your help to make it extra special. Did you know that your voice can be part of our show. We want to hear your amazing voices in our show opening. It's super easy and fun to join in. Just record yourself saying you are listening to sleep Tight Science. Then send your recording to the email address in our show notes. How cool is that. We can't wait to hear all your fantastic voices. Thank you for listening. You're listening to sleep Tight Science. Did you know that you can tell if a frog is a boy or a girl by the size of its ear drum. What if the ear drum is about the same size as the frog's eye, you're looking at a girl frog, But if it's noticeably larger than the eye, you've spotted a boy frog. Hello, friends, and welcome back to sleep Tight Science, a bedtime show that answers your questions about science. In this episode, we are going to jump into the fascinating and diverse world of frogs. We'll explore what makes amphibians so unique, delve into the incredible life cycle of frogs, and understand the vervarious environments in which they thrive across the globe. We'll also uncover what these amazing creatures eat to fuel their leaps and hops. After that, we'll answer some listener questions and share some fun facts to satisfy your curiosity about frogs. So let's begin by discussing what amphibians are. Amphibians are a diverse group of vertebrates characterized by their unique life cycle and ability to live in water and on land. There are about seven thousand known species of amphibians, making them the smallest group of vertebrates, yet they play a crucial role in their ecosystems. Like fish and reptiles, amphibians are ecothermic or cold blooded, which means they do not generate their own body heat, rely on external sources like the sun to regulate their temperature. Most amphibians begin their lives in water, where they hatch from eggs and breathe through gills similar to fish. As they grow, they undergo a remarkable transformation known as metamorphosis, during which they develop lungs and legs that enable them to survive and move on dry land. This dual life allows them to exploit a variety of habitats, from underwater to terrestrial environments. Amphibians are found in almost every corner of the world, except for the polar regions, where extreme cold is unsuitable for their survival. Their habitats range from humid rainforests and lush woodlands to arid deserts and high altitude grasslands in the tropics. Many amphibians, such as certain frog species, can complete their life cycle without a permanent water body by utilizing moisture trapped in plant leaves and other microhabitats. Despite their adaptability, amphibians require moist environments to thrive due to their permeable skin, which can easily lose moisture. This skin feature also enables them to absorb oxygen directly from their surroundings, but it does make them sensitive to environmental changes and pollutants. During colder seasons, amphibians often enter a state of dormancy or hibernation to conserve energy, hiding in mud, under logs, or l Frogs and toads make up about eighty percent of all amphibian species. Frogs are known for their long, powerful back legs that allow for impressive leaps, while toads typically have shorter legs and may prefer to walk rather than jump. Salamanders and newts represent the second major group of amphibians, characterized by their elongated bodies, short legs, and long tails, adapted for a more aquatic or moist terrestrial lifestyle. The least known among amphibians are the sicilians, legless creatures that resemble worms or snakes and lead a hidden burrowing life underground. Next, we will learn a little about the life cycle of the frog. Did you know that frogs are the world champions of jumping. Some frogs can jump over twenty times their body length in a single leap. If a human had the same ability, they could jump across a basketball court in one bound. The life cycle of frogs is an incredibly intriguing process. In just a short period, they transform from eggs to tadpoles, then to froglets, and finally into adult frogs. This unique process, known as metamorphosis, is specific to amphibians and is one of the many reasons they are so fascinating. The process begins with the female frog laying her eggs in water, often laid in clumps or strings. These eggs are covered in a gelatinous substance that provides protection in favorable conditions. The eggs typically hatch within a week or two, depending on the species and the environmental temperature. What emerges from these eggs are not miniature frogs, but tadpoles, which look more like fish than frogs. At this stage. Tadpoles are the aquatic larval stage of the frog. These little creatures have long finned tails and gills for breathing underwater. Like fish, tadpoles spend their days feeding on algae and the nutrients in the remaining gelatinous material of their egg cases. As they grow, tadpoles undergo a series of gradual changes called metamorphosis. It's during this stage that the remarkable transformation begins to take shape. The first noticeable change is the growth of hind legs, followed by the front legs, as the tadpole starts to lose its fish like tail. Internally or inside the tadpole, other significant changes are happening too. The gills begin to disappear as the tadpole develops lungs, transforming it for life on land. The mouth of the tadpole changes, losing its adapted beak for scraping algae and gaining the typical wide mouth of a frog. Its digestive system also changes from one that could handle a herbivorous or plant diet of algae to one that can digest a carnivorous or meat diet. As the metamorphosis nears completion, the tadpole's tail becomes smaller and smaller until it disappears completely, leaving behind a young frog, often referred to as a froglet. This young frog is almost a fully formed adult, but still may have some remnants of a tail that eventually vanishes. The young frog, now adapted to life in water and on land, begins the final stages of its development into an adult. This phase involves growth in size and the development of adult characteristics, such as the ability to reproduce. Adult frogs will then continue the cycle by mating and laying eggs of their own. Life cycle of a frog progressing from egg to tadpole to froglet to adult shows how life adapts to survive in various environments. This cycle is essential to the ecosystem, where frogs serve as predators and prey, helping maintain ecological balance. Did you know that male frogs are famous for croaking and singing, especially during the mating season. They croak to attract female frogs and even have their own unique songs depending on the species. As we mentioned earlier, frog's diets changed dramatically as they progress through their life cycle. Let's take a closer look at what frogs eat at each stage of development and how their dietary habits help them thrive in diverse environments. As tadpoles, the diet of a frog is primarily herbivorous or plant based. Tadpoles feed on algae and plant matter found in the water where they hatch. They use their small, specialized mouths to scrape algae off rocks and other surfaces, and they also eat decaying plant matter. This plant based diet is rich in nutrients necessary for their rapid growth and development during this early stage of life. As tadpoles begin metamorphosis and develop legs and lungs, their dietary needs change. During this transitional phase, they start eating a more varied diet than incld includes small aquatic organisms such as tiny insects and larvae. This shift from the herbivorous to a more omnivorous or plant and meat diet helps them adapt to their changing bodies and prepares them for adulthood. Once frogs reach adulthood, their diet becomes primarily carnivorous or meat based. Adult frogs are known for their diverse and opportunistic feeding habits. They eat a wide range of prey, including insects, spiders, worms, and small invertebrates. Frogs use their long, sticky tongues to catch prey with remarkable speed and precision. When an unsuspecting insect comes within reach, the frog's tongue shoots out, rabs the prey, and pulls it back into the frog's mud in the blink of an eye. Some larger frog species have even more varied diets. In addition to insects and small invertebrates, they may eat small mammals, birds, other amphibians, and even small reptiles. Frogs like the African bullfrog, can consume large prey compared to their size, showing off their adaptability and resourcefulness as hunters. Frogs are not only active hunters, but also use a variety of strategies to catch their prey. Some frogs wait patiently for their prey to come close, while others actively hunt and chase down their food. Frogs rely heavily on their keen sense of sight to detect movement, so they often hunt at night, when many of their prey are active. The diet of frogs plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance By controlling insect populations, They help manage pests and contribute to the health of their environments. As prey for larger animals, frogs are an integral part of the food web, supporting a diverse range of species. Now let's jump right into some listener questions. Our first question comes from Charlie, who is five years old and from Malaysia. Charlie asks, is there really a monster in Lockness. Lockness is a big deep lay in Scotland. For many years people have told stories about seeing a huge, mysterious creature in the lake, which they call the loch Ness Monster or NeSSI. Some people think NeSSI might be a type of dinosaur that somehow survived, while others think it's just a big fish or something else. Scientists have tried to find NeSSI by looking in the water with special equipment like sonar and underwater cameras, but they haven't found anything that proves NeSSI is real. They think that what people see might be big waves, floating logs, or even large fish that look like a monster from far away. So while it's fun to imagine NeSSI swimming around in Lochness, we don't have any real proof that a monster lives there. Thank you for the question, Charlie. Our next question is from Kira van Heimert, who is six years old and from Belgium. Kira asks what happens when a venomous spider bites? Does it hurt a lot? When a venomous spider bites, it uses its fangs to inject venom into your skin. This venom is a special liquid that spiders use to protect themselves and catch their food. Here's what happens, step by step. First, the spider bites and you might feel a sharp pinch. This is when the fangs pierce your skin and inject the venom. The venom starts to work right away. It can cause the area around the bite to become red, swollen, and sore. This is because the venom irritates your skin and tissues. The bite might hurt like a beasting or a bad bug bite for most people. Some venomous spider bites can hurt a lot more depending on the spider. For example, a bite from a black widow spider can cause severe pain that spreads from the bite to other parts of your body. Besides pain, venom can cause other reactions in your body. You might feel itchy, get a rash, or even feel sick to your stomach. Some people might get headaches or muscle cramps. In rare cases, if the venom is very strong, or if a person is allergic, it can cause more serious symptoms. This is why it's important to tell an adult and get medical help if you think you've been bitten by a venomous spider. Most of the time, the bite will heal in a few days. Keeping the bite clean and using ice can help help reduce pain and swelling. A doctor can give special medicine to help if the bite is serious. Now, most spiders are harmless. Out of thousands of spider species, very few are harmful to humans. Most spider bites are not serious and only cause mild irritation. Spiders are important for the environment because they help control the population of other insects like flies and mosquitoes. Most spiders are not dangerous to humans and would rather avoid us. Thank you for the question. Kira. Our last question comes from Abigail, who is nine and from Ottawa. Abigail asks why do eyelashes exist. Eyelashes are like little protectors for your eyes. They have a few important jobs to help keep your eyes safe and healthy. First, eyelashes catch and block tiny particles like dirt, dust, and even small insects from getting into your eyes. This helps prevent irritation and keeps your eyes clean. Second, eyelashes also help to filter sunlight and bright light, protecting your eyes from getting too much light and helping you see better. Third, eyelashes are very sensitive. When something like a bug or a bit of dirt touches them, it triggers a reflex to blink. Blinking helps to quickly protect your eyes and remove whatever touched them. So eyelashes are important because they keep your eyes safe from harm and help you see comfortably. Thank you for the question, Abigail. Well, now for some fun facts. Did you know that some frogs can freeze and then come back to life. Wood frogs can survive being frozen solid in winter, and when they thaw out in spring, they hop away as if nothing happened. Did you know that frogs don't have ears? Like we do. Frogs have ear drums on the outside of their heads, and they can hear sounds above and below water. Did you know that amphibians were the first animals to leave the water and live on land. Amphibians were among the first creatures to transition from water to land, showcasing their amazing adaptability. Did you know that long words can actually make things simpler. Instead of saying a process by which plants use sunlight to produce food, scientists can just say photosynthesis and everyone knows what they mean. Learning and using these words can help you understand and talk about science more deeply like the experts. Did you know that some frogs can change color? Tree frogs, for example, can change their skin color to blend in with their surroundings, helping them hide from predators. In this episode, we started learning what makes amphibians so unique. We looked at the incredible life cycle of frogs and the various environments in which they thrive across the globe. We also looked at what these amazing creatures eat to fuel their leaps and hawks. After that, we answered some questions from Charlie, Caira van Hemert, and Abigail. Then we shared some fun facts to satisfy your curiosity about frogs. Thank you to Isabella, age six in Central New Jersey, Beverly five years old from Portland, Oregon, Mattie Rose, aged six and a half in Worcester, Massachusetts, Hudson Tyas age eight in Bakersfield, Aarrov age six, Olivia Cambellini, age seven in Montrose, New York, Ira Halder Orrin in New Hampshire, and Schuyler Maclain from Kentucky. We would love to get your feedback on our show. If you have any feedback, please send it our way. If you want to make sure you get all the episodes, please ask your parents to subscribe. You can find us on Apple podcasts or wherever your parents listen to podcasts. If you love learning about science with us, please leave us a review. It may help others find our show. If you'd like to send us your questions, please send them to Hello at sleep tightscience dot com sleep tight