32 Interesting Frog Facts

By James Israelsen, Associate Writer

Published June 24, 2022

Tree frogs have sticky toe tips that help them to climb and balance on trees._[2]
There are frogs on all of Earth’s continents except Antarctica._[2]
Frogs can be found in many types of ecosystems, including forests, deserts, lakes, rivers, and ponds._[2]
Tree frogs’ feet constantly produce a sticky mucus that keeps their feet clean at all times._[1]
A Rhacophorus nigropalmatus frog can glide through the air using skin flaps on its sides and the webbing between its toes._[1][4]
The rocket frog can jump over six feet by releasing energy it stores in its tendons._[1]
A species of frog that lives around Lake Titicaca has developed the habit of doing push-ups at the bottom of the lake to increase the water flow around its body, which, in turn, allows it to take in more oxygen._[1]

They may be bumpy, but they won't give you warts

One of the main differences between frogs and toads is that frogs need to stay by water to survive, whereas toads can survive without constant access to moisture._[6]
The Alaskan wood frog has evolved the ability to survive in an almost-entirely frozen state during hard winters._[1]
The flat-headed frog of Borneo has developed the ability to breathe without lungs._[1]
The Budgett’s frog can scream when it feels threatened. It also has two sharp ridges in its mouth that it can use to bite whatever is threatening it._[4]
The purple frog spends all of its life underground, with the exception of a few weeks every year when it comes aboveground to mate._[4]
To help it stay moist in its dry climate, the monkey tree frog secretes oil from its neck, which it then rubs all over its body._[4]
Frogs are amphibians, which are small vertebrates that can only live in watery environments because they need moisture to survive._[3]

Even amphibians need a place out of the rain sometimes

In many frog species, males have vocal sacs that they can inflate to make their mating call louder._[4]
The harlequin poison dart frog is very brightly colored, which is a warning to keep predators away._[4]
Frogs have very thin skin, through which they are able to both breathe and absorb water._[3]
The frog life cycle is a process known as metamorphosis, so-called because they change form multiple times._[3]
Frogs are cold-blooded._[3]

Who couldn't love that face?

There are over 4,000 species of frog._[4]
Frogs require very specific living conditions, including enough water to absorb through their skin, limited levels of sun to avoid cell damage, and lower levels of wind, which can otherwise cause their skin to dry out._[3]
Because they require very specific living conditions, frogs and other amphibians are always the first species to die out when their habitats are changed or contaminated._[3]
More than half of all frog species are currently endangered._[3]
Frogs' legs tend to grow longer than their body and head combined, allowing them to be good at leaping and swimming._[6]
Technically, all toads fit into the basic classification of frogs, although traditionally they have been considered two different types of animal._[6]
The Brachycephalus didactylus toad is commonly known as the Brazilian gold frog or Brazilian flea frog because of its frog-like traits._[6]
Frogs usually breed in fresh water._[6]
Poison dart frogs are among the most poisonous animals in the world._[5]

They may not look dangerous, but you don't want to make a pet out of a frog like this

As their common name suggests, the venom of poison dart frogs used to be the source for the poison on darts made by native hunters in the rainforest._[5]
Frogs lay eggs in clusters in fresh water. Many of these clusters are allowed to simply float on the surface until they hatch, or they are attached to an underwater plant._[6]
Some frog species, such as the Senegal running frog and the red-banded rubber frog, move across land by walking rather than hopping._[6]
The golden poison frog is so toxic that a single bite of any part of it would kill a human._[5]