Frogs can be cute little critters. Well, they can be cute after you get used to them, anyway. And once you stop jumping around the room, making loud noises, frogs can be very interesting. Also, there are few things more outdoors-comforting than the sound of frogs croaking.
There are a lot of things about these slimy little damp-dwellers that are surprisingly fun and unusual. One thing about frogs is you don’t have to wait while they get to the point. They are pretty straightforward. Frogs aren’t known for being subtle.
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They’re croakers. And croaking is a frog’s way of saying everything, from, “This is MY yard. What are you doing here?” to “Hey, baby, how ’bout a date?” Bulgy eyeballs to bouncy legs, when a frog does something, you know it. Even when they flirt, there isn’t doubt what they are trying to accomplish.
There is one thing a frog does, though, that isn’t a flashing billboard when it happens: breathing. That’s right – breathing. The one thing a frog needs to do constantly, in order to stay alive is a cloak-and-dagger affair. Maybe that’s the smart way to do things: keep the important stuff quiet. Could be they’re geniuses, after all.
Do frogs have noses?
Because frogs come in all sizes, it isn’t always easy to see exactly what a frog looks like. Since looking for a nose on a one-inch croaker with slippery skin can be tricky, we will answer the nose question for you today.
Do frogs have noses? Yes, a frog has a nose. Quite a cute little one, as a matter of fact. On the front of the frog’s face, above the mouth just where you would expect to find them are two tiny nostrils. So small, they could almost be described as “dainty”.
Of course, we won’t tell that to the muscular bullfrogs as they sit near the water on warm nights croaking bass notes to impress the females around them.
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But with their nose so close to their mouth, do frogs have trouble breathing while they swim? Ah, now we are getting to a frog’s real breathing secret…
THE AMPHIBIANS—AND NO, IT ISN’T THE NAME OF A BAND
Frogs are amphibians. They don’t go around bragging about it everywhere – well, it wouldn’t do any good if they did, because no one except frogs would understand, and frogs already know. Yes, frogs are amphibians. But what does this mean?
When it comes to breathing, it means that most amphibians have lungs. But that isn’t all. In the case of our friend, the frog, it also means they can breathe through their skin.
Imagine being able to breathe through your skin, for a moment.
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Skin Breathing
If you were a slimy-skinned frog, needing to stay near water, how would being able to breathe through your skin be helpful? Several ways…
While you are swimming, (remember, you are a frog) your nostrils keep getting submerged under the water. You close your nostrils nice and tight, in order to keep the water out, but that also prevents your inhaling or exhaling. What will you do? You can drown, float to shore, and become someone’s appetizer that day before dinner. Or, we assume you didn’t think much of the appetizer idea; you can pull air in through your skin and survive.
Nostrils are useful in flirting
But don’t think nostrils are left by the wayside. When a male frog croaks in order to attract a mate, he pulls in air, shuts his nostrils, then forces his air between his vocal sac and lungs. now his vocal cords can vibrate the air and be loud and impressive. Now that is a sexy nose.
What is a frog’s nose called?
Frog’s nose is actually two nostrils that are called nares. Frogs have internal and external nares. They use them to breathe when they’re out of the water. When they’re submerged, they breathe through their skin.