Designed for kids to learn about frogs and their life cycles, as well as their habitats, characteristics, diet, etc. Special mention of a few native New Zealand Frogs is made.

1. Frogs
Lets learn about frogs!
By Gina Grant

2. Frogs are Amphibians…
Frogs belong to a group of animals called amphibians. (am-fib-ee-anz).
Amphibian means two-lives. Frogs begin their lives in the water as eggs and
then tadpoles and when they are fully developed they live on land. Scientists
believe that there are more than 4,000 different kinds of amphibians on Earth.
Toads, newts, salamanders and caecilians (blind worms) are also members of
the amphibian group.

3. Frogs are cold-blooded…
Frogs are cold-blooded which means that their bodies are the
same temperature as the air or water around them. When they
are cold they will lay in the sun to warm up and when they get too
warm they will go into the water to cool their bodies off.

4. Where do
frogs live?
Frogs are found all over the
world, and in every climate,
except Antarctica. They can be
found near any, and every, body
of fresh water but prefer ponds,
lakes, and marshes, because the
water doesn’t move very
fast. Frogs cannot live in the sea
or any salt water.
Scientists have found frogs
fossils that date back to the
Jurassic period over 140 million
years ago.

5. The Life-Cycle…

6. Jelly covered
Eggs…
Frogs begin their lives as
tadpoles that are hatched in
the water from tiny jelly-
covered eggs. The mother
frog can lay thousands of
eggs at one time. Imagine
having thousands of brothers
and sisters!
Tadpoles don't have eggs but frogs
have eggs that turn into tadpoles then
The jelly has an awful taste, frogs.
which protects the eggs from Frog eggs look look little jelly like
predators until they are ready sacks with little black dots in the
to hatch. middle.

7. Tadpoles…
Tadpoles are born with gills, just like a fish, so that they can breathe
under water. They have a big head and a long tail. They definitely do
not look like frogs, yet! Tadpoles have a tough life. It’s a good thing
they are fast swimmers to escape the many other creatures that hunt
them in the ponds and lakes. They are a favorite food to fish and
water beetles.

8. Metamorphosi
s
Metamorphosis is the change
of shape during an animal’s
life. During metamorphosis
the tadpole will develop back
legs first, then front legs.
Around 6 weeks of life the
mouth starts to widen.
Sometime around 10 weeks
the froglet’s, as it is now
called, eyes start to bulge out
and the tail begins to shrink
and eventually disappear.
When the lungs finish
developing the froglet makes
it’s way onto the land and, Ta-
da! It’s a frog!

9. Tadpole with legs to
Froglet…
After four weeks, the tadpole The tadpole's gills disappear and
grows two hind, or back, legs. its lungs grow stronger.
The tadpole's gills move inside its Two front legs grow where the
body. gills were.

10. What do
they eat?
Frogs are carnivores, which
means that they will eat meat.
Small to medium sized frogs
eat insects such as flies,
mosquitoes, moths and
dragonflies. Larger frogs will
eat larger insects like
grasshoppers and worms.
Some large frogs will even eat
small snakes, mice, baby
turtles, and even other
smaller frogs!

11. What about that tongue..?
Frog’s tongues are attached to the front of their mouths rather than at the
back like humans. When a frog catches an insect it throws its sticky tongue
out of it’s mouth and wraps it around its prey. The frog’s tongue then snaps
back and throws the food down its throat.

12. Characteristic
s
Frogs have very good
eyesight. They bulge out the
sides of their heads in order
for the frog to see in nearly all
directions.
Frogs also have an amazing
sense of hearing. You can
often tell the difference
between a male and female
frog by the size of their
eardrum, which can be seen
behind their eyes. If the
eardrum is smaller than the
eye, the frog is a female. On
males their eardrum is the
same size as the eye.

13. Characteristic
s
Frogs have very powerful
back legs and webbed feet
that help them jump great
distances, as well as, swim.
Frogs even use their legs to
dig, or burrow, underground
for hibernating (although not
all frogs hibernate!)
Every different species of frog
has his or her own look. They
come in many colors, patterns
and sizes.

14. Frogs
(all different shapes, sizes and looks)

15. Frogs
(all different shapes, sizes and looks)

16. Frogs
(all different shapes, sizes and looks)

17. Predators
…
Frogs have many predators.
Animal predators include
birds, fish and reptiles.
Some frogs are very good at
camouflaging themselves so
that they blend in with their
environment, making it harder
for their enemies to find
them. Some frogs can
change the colour of their skin
depending on its
surroundings.

18. Human
Danger…
Humans have become a
major danger for amphibians
of all types. Water pollution is
causing many deformities in
frogs as well as poisoning
them, and loss of habitat
through the building of roads
and houses.
In some countries, frog’s legs
are considered a delicacy,
which means that people love
to eat them! Eew!
(Pictured is the native Maud
Island Frog)

19. New Zealand Native
Frogs
New Zealand has 4 native frog species.
Frogs are declining everywhere in the world. More than most creatures,
frogs are sensitive to disease, pollution, chemical poisons and
environmental changes, as they absorb many things through their sensitive
skin.
New Zealand’s, Hamilton's frog (pictured) is the most critically endangered
species, with less than 300 individuals remaining.