Cricket frogs have evolved a unique swimming technique called ‘porpoising’ to traverse water, allowing them to travel significant distances with remarkable energy efficiency.
The Unique Locomotion of Cricket Frogs
Cricket frogs are often thought to be able to walk or hop on water, but a new study reveals that this is not the case. Instead, these tiny amphibians use a unique form of locomotion called “porpoising” to travel across the surface.
How Cricket Frogs Move Across Water
When a cricket frog starts its journey, it begins with its body submerged in the water, with its front legs by its sides and back legs tucked in. The frog then pushes off the water with its back legs, propelling itself into an arc through the air. As it descends, its front legs push forward into an upright position, before belly flopping into the water.
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This high-speed movement allows the cricket frog to travel significant distances across the surface of the water. In fact, each consecutive hop results in the frog traveling about 16 centimeters forward and flying nearly 4 centimeters high. The energy savings come from the reduced resistance animals face when traveling through air compared with the water.
Energy Efficiency and Unique Movement
The cricket frogs‘ unique movement is similar to that of leaping dolphins, seals, and fish who also use “porpoising” to conserve energy. However, unlike these marine animals, the frog pauses between jumps, differentiating its movements from traditional porpoising. This pause may be due to the frog‘s size or speed being too slow to take advantage of the forward momentum it generates.
The study by biomechanist Talia Weiss and colleagues provides new insights into the locomotion of cricket frogs and highlights their unique adaptations for movement across water.
- sciencenews.org | Cricket frogs belly flop their way across water
