Why Do Frogs Have Webbed Feet?

Why Do Frogs Have Webbed Feet?

Frogs are amphibians which mean that they live partly in water and partly on land. They are cold-blooded animals and this connotes that their body temperature is similar with the surrounding temperature. Their skin is unique because it has the ability to absorb water, therefore they do not have to consume water in order to survive.

Frogs have webbed feet because it is part of their physical make-up and it aids them while they swim on the water. The webbed feet help to push them through the water. It also has tiny suction cups on the toes to help the frogs climb on rocks along streams.

Not all frogs have webbed feet though. This is because the degree of toes to be webbed is directly proportional to the time that the frog spent in water. Aquatic frogs such as the African dwarf frogs have webbed feet while tree frogs, poisonous dart frogs and ground-dwelling frogs have either half-webbed or no webbed toes at all.

Some types of frogs have webbed feet but it is somewhat parachute-like. It acts as an air-brake when these frogs glide from leaf to leaf or tree to tree. Such types of frogs are called flying frogs and an example is the Java Flying Frog.

While the structure of feet varies greatly among the species of frogs they have always been known as great jumpers. Frogs move quickly through their environment to catch food or prey and to evade enemies. They are also known for their noisy calls especially during rainy nights.

Frogs can be found almost everywhere except in Antarctica. Their bodies have slime covering to prevent their skin from drying out and they have big mouths in order to swallow whole things as they are not good at chewing. They are unique creatures which help in achieving balance in our ecosystem because they feed on pests and other insects that are harmful to mankind.