Another in our Nature at NASAM - Frog

Frog …

After the icy blasts of late March, a new shrub I had planted in a pot looked decidedly the worse for wear. After a miraculous recovery, I was determined not to allow drought to complete what winds had failed to do. As water poured from the spout of my watering can, a frog leapt from the far side of the container. From its size, I guessed it was of 2017 vintage. Frogs, even those of half size, can certainly jump. This one landed a good two feet from take-off position.

My camera was reasonably close. Why I felt I had to take a picture I cannot say but I am glad I did. The frog was sitting quite still on a hot concrete path and needed to return to damp and shade as soon as possible. I gave a gentle nudge in the right direction to aid the process. As soon as I touched him, the frog squeaked. So I may now include the squeaking frog in my picture album.

The volume was low. If there had been background noise I could easily have missed it. Not so sounds coming from the two shrieking frogs we heard here some years ago. Each was the object of attention from the two kittens we had at the time. Each was given a gentle tap to make it move. Each uttered a most piercing screech, impossible to describe. I can merely liken it to the noise we used to make as boys by blowing across a broad-bladed grass.

Frogs must keep their skins moist which is why we find them in damp corners of the garden. They lack the system of ribs and diaphragm we use to help us breathe. Their skin is similar to the linings of our lungs and this enables them to exchange gases. What it boils down to is that if their skin dries, they suffocate.