As organism's strive to survive, every species makes certain adaptations

to their surroundings in order to live. For example, a gira"e has a long

neck in order to reach its food high up in the trees, and a chameleon
changes colors in order to blend in with its surroundings and hide from
prey. Over time, scientists have discovered a total of about 790 di"erent
species of frogs (unknown 2, 2014). Each one has di"erent adaptations
and slightly di"erent living conditions. An American Bullfrog's main
evolutionary adaptations include their strong legs and accommodating
toes, their sticky tongue and bulging eyes, and their moist skin (unknown
2, 2014). American Bullfrogs may be found in freshwater, lakes, ponds, or
marshes, and must adapt accordingly with what they eat, and how they
behave (unknown 1, 2014).

Frogs may live primarily on land, or in the water (unknown 1, 2014).
Evolutionary adaptations have taken place for both of these types of frogs
as they adjust to this habitat. Despite the type, all frogs have four toes in
the front, and ve toes on their hind legs (unknown 2, 2014). Aquatic
frogs, like the American Bullfrog have long, strong legs, with webbed
back feet that help them to push through the water (unknown 3, 1999).
Tree frogs, however, often have shorter legs, and instead have large round
toe pads on the bottom of their toes to help them stick and grip onto the
tree's branches (unknown 3, 1999). These toes are somewhat like suction
cups, allowing them to stick to even the most slippery surfaces like moist
rainforest leaves (unknown 2, 2014).
Similar to that of a snake, American Bullfrogs swallow their prey whole
(Crowley, 2013). Bullfrogs use their long sticky tongue to catch just about
anything they can t their mouths around. The prey of this species ranges
anywhere from a tiny little insect, to another bullfrog that is smaller in size
(Crowley, 2013).

Bullfrog's powerful tongue shoots out, sticks to the prey, and sucks right
back in all within less than a second (unknown 2, 2014). For whatever
reason, as a frog latches onto its prey, its eyes ip shut (unknown 3,
1999).This is similar to how a human shuts their eyes as they sneeze.
There is no real incentive to closing your eyes when you sneeze, but it is
inevitable. Since bullfrogs cannot see as they are catching, they have to
use cautious aim before they shoot their tongue out. This cautious aim is
gained by their strong eyesight. (Unknown 3, 1999). Bullfrogs can see a
wide range of colors and can see well in low levels of light. Also, their
bulging eyes allow them to have both frontal and peripheral vision
(unknown 2, 2014). This wide range of vision makes it very di#cult for
predators to sneak up on an American Bullfrog (unknown 3, 1999).
Besides just for protection from predators, their bulging eyes help them to
digest their food. American Bullfrogs have little holes in their skull, and as
they swallow, their eyes sink down into these holes and shove their food
down into digestion (unknown 3, 1999).
These two reasons explain why a frog's eyes are such an important
evolutionary evolution. If their eyes were any di"erent, then they would
have to nd new ways to hide from predators, and digest their food.

Imagine if humans had the same kind of skin as frogs. It would be
very unnecessary. Humans do not need slimy moist skin because they
don't live in the same conditions as frogs, who need to make the slimy
skin adaptation in order to survive. Frogs not only use their skin to
breathe, but they also drink through their skin (unknown 3, 1999). As
opposed to swallowing water, like humans do, frogs absorb their
necessary moisture through their skin. Also, frogs breathe through their
skin. Although frogs have lungs, they absorb oxygen through their skin as
extra air supply specically for when the are in the water. If a frog's skin
dries up, oxygen is unable to pass through it, and the frog will su"ocate
and die (unknown 3, 1999). This is why it is so important for frogs to keep
their skin moist. They do this through the production of mucus. The skin
secretes a mucus that covers the skin of the frog, keeping it moist
(unknown 2, 2014) Even with the aide of this adaptation, frogs must stay
close to bodies of water or moist locations because their skin dries out
very quickly (unknown 3, 1999).









All organisms have to make accommodations and adaptations in
order to survive. Many of these adaptations have evolved over time due
to changes in climate or locations of habitat. In the case of the American
Bullfrog, their living conditions call for moist skin, webbed feet, and
bulging eyes (unknown 2, 2014). As evolutionary adaptation is witnessed,
connections can be made to a family that is moving. Moving calls for
some major adjustments. These might be a new time zone, making new
friends, a new school, a new daily routine, a new climate, or new
neighbors. These adjustments are made so that the family can lead a
functioning, and successful life in their habitat. American Bullfrogs may be
easily connected to this. If they did not have webbed feet, then they
would not be able to swim, and their skin would dry out. If a family moved
from Wisconsin to Florida during winter and did not bring shorts, they
would over heat. Even humans make adaptations that are similar to other
living organisms like gira"es and chameleons. Evolutionary adaptions are
important, and they occur within all living organisms all over the world.


















Figure 1: The diagram above labels the main evolutionary adaptations of an
American Bullfrog. In order to survive, this frog makes adjustments through its
bulging eyes, powerful, jumping legs, sticky tongue, and webbed feet.





Bibliography:

Source 1:

Unknown 1. "American Bullfrogs, American Bullfrog Pictures, American
Bullfrog Facts - National Geographic." National Geographic. National
Geographic, n.d. Web. 05 June 2014.

Source 2:

Crowley, Joe. "American Bullfrog(Lithobates Catesbeianus)." Reptiles
and Amphibians of Ontario. Ontario Nature, 2013. Web. 02 June 2014.

Source 3:

Unknown 2. "Getting to Know the Frog." Getting to Know the Frog. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 05 June 2014.

Source 4:

Unknown 3. "Exploratorium: Frogs: The Amazing, Adaptable Frog / Page
2 of 6." Exploratorium: Frogs: The Amazing, Adaptable Frog / Page 2 of 6.
Exploratorium, 1999. Web. 02 June 2014.