A few frog species live in moist forest areas near small bodies of water, a habitat that provides a favorable temperature and keeps the frogs from drying out. Some frogs spend much or all of their time in water. These species typically have webbed feet that help them swim. Their skill at jumping and climbing enables frogs to exploit habitats that other groups of amphibians cannot reach, especially trees and bushes. Frogs that live in these habitats usually have expanded disks on the ends of their fingers and toes. These sticky disks help them cling to vertical tree trunks or branches.
In harsher environments, such as deserts, tundra, and mountains, frogs have developed special physical and behavioral features that enable them to survive. In dry regions, frogs usually have thick skin and live in tree holes or underground burrows. Tree-hole dwellers often have crests and flanges on their broad heads, which they use to plug up the tree holes after they back in. Burrowing frogs may have horny growths on their hind feet to help them dig through the ground. Some desert burrowers secrete a mucous cocoon around their body to prevent water loss while they are buried. The water-holding frog of the Australian outback emerges from its underground home to feed and mate only during the brief, infrequent rains.
| If this is a picture of a frog habitat...how exciting ...oh yeah...that frog looks incredibly fake. |