Frogs
Frogs are amphibians belonging to the order anura. The anuran group has nearly 2,700 species throughout the world and includes both frogs and toads. The word anura means "without a tail," and the term applies to most adult frogs. The anura are distinguished from tailed amphibians (urodeles) such as salamanders because the latter retain a tail as an adult.
One of the most studied and best understood frogs is the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens. This species is well-known to most children, to people who love the outdoors, and to scientists. Leopard frogs live throughout much of the United States as well as Canada and northern Mexico. Inhabiting a diverse array of environmental conditions, the order anura exhibits an impressive display of anatomical and behavioral variations among its members. Despite such diversity, the leopard frog is often used as a model that represents all members of the group.
Leopard frogs mate in the early spring. The frogs deposit their eggs in jelly-like masses. These soft formless clumps may be seen in temporary ponds where frogs are common. Early embryonic development occurs within the jelly mass after which the eggs hatch releasing small swimming tadpoles. The tadpoles feed on algal periphyton, fine organic detritus, and yolk reserves through much of the spring and early summer.
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