Systematic
Position
Phylum : Chordata
Sub-Phylum : Vertebrate
Class : Amphibia
Genus : Rana
Species : tigrina
New Name : Hoplobatracus
tigerinus
Habitat
Frog lives in or near permanent fresh water bodies like lakes,
ponds, rivers etc. It lives near water mainly for two reasons:
a) To keep skin moist for cutaneous respiration and
b) To escape away from enemies by jumping in water.
However, during rainy season they are found far away from water
bodies.
Habit
Frogs are non-poisonous, harmless and silent animals. It shows
following habits;
a. Resting :- Frog rests on land with its
short forelimbs upright and hind-limbs folded as
b. Locomotion:- Frog shows two types of
locomotion, leaping on land and swimming in water.
(i) Leaping :- Frog leaps or jumps by
suddenly extending the powerful and muscular hind-limbs which acts as springs
throwing the body up in air. On landing back fore limbs act as shock absorber.
The fore limbs also play role to maintain direction.
(ii) Swimming :- Frog swims in water by
powerful backward strokes of its hind-limbs during it, toes are spread apart and
broad web push against water, moving the body fore ward.
c. Feeding:- Frogs are carnivorous and feeds
upon insects, worms, snails and
tadpoles. Tadpoles feed upon algae as they
are herbivorous.
Some large frogs feed
upon small Frogs and this mechanism is called as cannibalism( A type of feeding
mechanism in which an individual of a species
feeds upon the another individual
of the same species).
d. Hibernation
and aestivation:- Being cold-blooded or poikilotherermic
animal, body
temperature of frog changes with that of the environment.
Thus Frog spends inactive
life during extreme cold or hot periods. During
it, Frogs burry in soft mud and remain
metabolically inactive, stop
feeding and respires only through skin. Energy for life
processes is
obtained from glycogen and fat stored in their bodies. This inactive life
spend
by frogs during winter or cold is called as "hibernation or winter
sleep" while
during summer or hot is called as "summer sleep or
aestivation"
e. Croaking :- The special sound produced by male frogs during breeding season
to attract female is called as croaking. It is also called as mating call. It
is advertisement of home and husband.
f. Camouflage: - Frogs can change the
colour of their skin to match with that of the surroundings to protect it from
enemies. This protective colouration is known as camouflage. It is also called
as metachrosis. It is possible due to change in concentration of
chromatophores.
g. Breeding :- The breeding season of frog is rainy season which lasts form July
to September.
h. Enemies:- The chief enemies of frogs are snakes, turtles, crows, vultures
etc.