Frogs are synonymous with jumping. However, not all frogs are expert jumpers, and some, like this one featured on Wild.Ark, can’t even aim that well. This frog’s ability to launch itself is unmatched, but the landing could use some work. Does this frog have the worst coordination known to man, or is there a scientific reason for its overshot?
Small Frogs Are Known For Chaotic Landings
Launching oneself at a moving target is not an exact science. Many frogs are efficient at it, but smaller species sometimes struggle. It’s not exactly accurate to claim a frog has poor aim, but it is accurate to say its anatomy may be a hindrance. Experts call what we see in this video an “uncontrolled landing.” The inner ear processes information related to depth perception and balance. The smaller the frog, the smaller the ear and inner ear canal. A jump can be spot-on or controlled chaos, depending on a frog’s jump perception. Since a frog’s vestibular helps estimate acceleration, it’s not 100% accurate.
Frogs Are Adept At Hunting
Despite the clumsiness of these frog jumps, the species is good at hunting prey. A frog’s aim might never be perfect, but its sticky tongue makes up for its lack of accuracy. On average, a frog’s tongue is just under one inch long. This gives the amphibian an incredible range, making up slightly for its jumping accuracy. According to Three Rivers Parks, a frog can capture its prey in less than one second. Therefore, one good jump is all that’s needed to consume a meal in record time.
That’s not the only trick these frogs have when hunting. Their tongues are coated with mucus that becomes sticky with high-velocity movement. As its tongue latches onto an insect, the impact of the shock and the rate of acceleration in retraction creates a trap. When a frog catches a bug, it’s unable to escape before being consumed in a fraction of a second.
Will This Frog Ever Catch a Meal?
For every uncontrolled landing in this video, many bugs were likely caught. Hunting bugs is an art form for frogs, not just a practice. Although these frogs couldn’t stick their landings, coordination is only have the battle. They were all trying to catch dragonflies, which is a tougher task than most. One frog is successful, and this is a perfect example of acceleration, powerful legs, and a sticky tongue in action.
