Life Cycle

• Frogs' eggs must be a delicacy in the animal kingdom, as dozens of species devour the eggs before they hatch. As a result, frogs lay many eggs to increase the chances of a few surviving long enough to hatch a tadpole. It can take anywhere from 6 to 21 days before a fertilized egg hatches, then another 7 to 10 days before the tadpole is capable of swimming around to feed itself. After 6 to 9 weeks, a tadpole will begin to sprout legs, and its head will become more pronounced from its body. The young frog will then begin to feed on plants and insects, and in another 12 to 16 weeks the frog will become a fully developed adult. Most frogs live anywhere between 4 to 15 years; however, the European Common Toad holds the record for longest recorded lifespan at 40 years.
  
  

Frog Legs

• As every child knows, a frog moves around by hopping from place to place. What they probably don't know is that an adult frog can leap an incredible 20 times its own length. For a human, that would be the equivalent of being able to jump 100 feet, a distance equal to 1/3rd of a football field. A frog's legs are used for more than just jumping. Amphibious frogs have webbed toes for swimming, tree frogs have special suckers on their toes for climbing, and subterranean frogs have little claw-like fingers for digging.
  
  

Skin

• A frog's skin does more than just look cool, it also helps the frog drink and breathe. Frogs absorb oxygen through their skin while under water, in addition to the air they breathe with their lungs when above water. Frogs needs to stay near water to prevent their skin from drying out, which could cause them to suffocate. This is why frogs are often slimy to the touch, as their skin produces a mucus film that helps keep their skin moist. A frog's skin is so important to its health that some frogs shed their skin weekly, while other species of frogs shed their skin daily, to keep their skin fresh and clean.
  
  

Natural Defenses

• A list of a frogs' natural predators would include snakes, lizards, birds and even hedgehogs. Needless to say, it's tough being a frog. That is why frogs have developed several natural defense mechanisms. Most toads have paratoid glands located behind their ears that shoot poison at enemies who get too close. The grey tree frog camouflages itself to look like the bark of a tree, while barred leaf frogs have colored stripes on the underparts of their legs that appear to flash when they jump, confusing predators.