Shades of Green: Earth's Forests -- Amphibians

There are many predators that specialize in eating frogs. Snakes, bats, fish, hawks, herons, almost all carnivorous mammals, and many other animals feed on frogs. Even some frogs feed on other frogs. Some frogs are nocturnal, which helps them avoid certain predators, and some have chemical defenses--substances which make them taste unpleasant or even make them toxic to predators.

Certain frogs have evolved complex behavior to help their tadpoles survive. In the tropical rainforest, some poison arrow frogs actually do not lay their eggs in ponds. Instead, they are laid on a leaf and the male incubates them on the forest floor for several weeks until they hatch. The newly hatched tadpoles then hang onto the back of the female frog, who distributes them in pools of water collected in the leaves of bromeliad plants. Usually she leaves only one tadpole in each plant, increasing their chances of survival. She later returns and lays several unfertilized eggs in each pool, which the tadpoles eat.
A Pacific tree frog perched on a leaf. Photo by Maya Walters.

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