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"Rotting wood cannot be carved." |
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Frog Facts
For millennia, the Frog has been endowed with magical
powers. Due to the very large number of eggs it lays at
one time, it has become a symbol of inspiration,
fertility and abundance. In addition, frogs were
believed to have the power to bring friendship. |
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The
Frog has been worn as an amulet by men and women of many
cultures – a very powerful and positive symbol. The
widespread reliance on the frog’s power was evidenced by
some of the practices of ancient civilizations. |
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In Egypt, frogs were so important, that they were often
embalmed when they died. |
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In Rome, the frog was a mascot believed to bring good
luck to the home. |
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In Latin countries as well as in Europe, Frogs have been
a subject of inspiration in the arts. For example,
Pre-Columbian artists made frequent use of the frog in
ceramics. |
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They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling
water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger.
But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with
water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually
heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will
not become aware of the threat until it is too late. The
frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting
sudden changes. |
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Although a frog may lay about 3000 eggs, only about five
will probably make it to be an adult. |
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Frogs can breathe through their skin. This enables them
to hibernate for several months beneath piles of mud and
decaying leaves underwater. |
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In the wild, frogs can live for up to 8 years. |
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Common frogs are largely terrestrial outside the
breeding season, and can be found in meadows, gardens
and woodland. They breed in puddles, ponds, lakes and
canals, preferring areas of shallow water. |
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Common frogs do not feed at all throughout the breeding
season, but when they are active they will feed on any
moving invertebrates of a suitable size, such as
insects, snails, slugs and worms, which they catch with
their long sticky tongues. |
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Adult frogs feed entirely on land, whereas younger frogs
will also feed in the water. |
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Tadpoles are herbivorous and feed on algae, but become
carnivores when they mature into adult frogs. |
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The common frog is protected under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981. |
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Males emit a low purring croak during the breeding
season, but this can only be heard up to 50 metres away
because common frogs do not have any vocal sacs. |
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The native common frog is often green - but can also be
brown, orange or a reddish colour. Genetic mutations
provide bright orange, canary-yellow or cream-coloured
individuals with red eyes. |
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Frogs use their eye-balls to swallow their food. They
close their eyes, which go down into the frog's head,
applying pressure and actually pushing the meal down the
frog's throat! |
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Frogs can launch themselves over 20 times their own
length. The longest frog jump on record measured 33 feet
5.5 inches. It was made by a frog named Santjie at a
frog derby held in South Africa. |
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Some frogs shed their skin weekly, others as often as
every day! They start to twist and turn and act as
though they have the hiccups. They do this to stretch
themselves out of their old skin. Finally, the frog
pulls the skin off over its head, like a sweater, and
then eats it! |
