Many animals have an instinctive need to disperse. Under favorable conditions they will just take off and travel. The result is a sharing of genetic material among different populations and the colonization of new territories. Dispersal instincts have allowed this Green Frog to claim a new territory in my water garden. The clunks and croaks he makes advertise his desire to share genetic material. It’s all for the good of the species.
The disc on the side of the frog’s head is the tympanic membrane, also referred to as the ear drum. A tympanic membrane with a diameter much larger than the eye indicates a male frog. Green Frogs closely resemble the Bullfrog, but can be distinguished by the ridge of skin beginning behind the eye and running down the back.
Although the name says green, the dominant color of these frogs seems to be brown. Most of the green is around the mouth and throat.
This small pool has about six square feet of surface area and is separate from the larger water garden. The male frog easily dominates his pool. Any insect coming to the water is well within the frog’s striking range, so he remains quite well fed.
Of course, the smarter insects stay behind the frog’s head.
Many animals have an instinctive need to disperse. Under favorable conditions they will just take off and travel. The result is a sharing of genetic material among different populations and the colonization of new territories. Dispersal instincts have allowed this Green Frog to claim a new territory in my water garden. The clunks and croaks he makes advertise his desire to share genetic material. It’s all for the good of the species.
The disc on the side of the frog’s head is the tympanic membrane, also referred to as the ear drum. A tympanic membrane with a diameter much larger than the eye indicates a male frog. Green Frogs closely resemble the Bullfrog, but can be distinguished by the ridge of skin beginning behind the eye and running down the back.
Although the name says green, the dominant color of these frogs seems to be brown. Most of the green is around the mouth and throat.
This small pool has about six square feet of surface area and is separate from the larger water garden. The male frog easily dominates his pool. Any insect coming to the water is well within the frog’s striking range, so he remains quite well fed.
Of course, the smarter insects stay behind the frog’s head.
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