We should respect our elders. There are no ifs, ands, or ribbuts about it. You see, there is evidence that frogs have roamed the Earth for more than 200 million years. That’s at least as long as the dinosaurs. Yet, those little froggies survived.
Here is something else about their longevity. It is difficult to guess the life spans of frogs in the wild. But frogs in captivity have been known to live more than 20 years. And then they croak.
I like frogs. I have a fond place in my heart for them. It was a frog that changed my life, albeit the thing was a little plastic toy frog. But nonetheless.
Just remember I toad you so.
And since I mentioned toads, it seems they are often misunderstood. Frogs and toads have a lot in common. They are both amphibians in the order Anura. Anura means “without a tail,” and I wonder if this had something to do with outlasting the dinosaurs.
Anyway. Toads. They are a sub-classification of frogs. So this means that all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads. It is starting to sound like a mathematical word problem. For the record, they both reproduce in water, and they even look alike. All this time, I thought toads were land dwellers. Exclusively.
One thing I live about frogs is their hop. They launch. I have terrible launching skills. I can barely leap off the ground, and I’ve always been this way. I attribute my land-stickiness to my overly large feet. But those frogs have some long legs, and many of them can leap more than 20 times their body length.
But for all their moving ability, they also can stay very still. Like all amphibians, frogs are cold-blooded. Not in the cruel and savage way. No. Frogs’ body temperatures change with the temperature of their surroundings. When temperatures drop, some frogs will dig deepish burrows underground. Some go into the mud at the bottom of ponds. And then they sleep. They hibernate in these burrows until the weather turns warm again. They stay completely still and scarcely breathe.
Frogs come in a lot of varieties. There are over 5000 frog species in the world. And oh, how they sing. Each frog type has a unique call, and some frog calls can be heard a mile away.
Yet, here is the thing. The water. The breath. Frogs can stay underwater, holding their breath for five to seven hours. And then they breathe.
So. Before you head back to your pad, there are just a few more things.
Have you ever wondered why frogs are so happy? Because they eat whatever bugs them.
And frogs without legs are totally unhoppy.
Finally, a great tip. If you are in your car and want a frog to ride along? Just tell it to hop in.
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“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”
― Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar
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“Remember to breathe. It is after all, the secret of life.”
― Gregory Maguire, A Lion Among Men
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“I’d kiss a frog even if there was no promise of a Prince Charming popping out of it. I love frogs..”
— Cameron Diaz.
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