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Why We’ve Fallen in Love with Frogs

Why We’ve Fallen in Love with Frogs

Posted by Ania Emmett on

Fairytales say that when you kiss a frog, he will turn into a handsome prince… this may be fantasy, but it’s one of many reasons why we are loving frogs right now!

Why are frogs such an important species?

They may not be cute and cuddly, but frogs are incredibly important animals for maintaining ecosystems. In fact, frogs are known as an ‘indicator species’ because they are used by scientists to determine the health of an environment.

They are environment indicators

Why is this? Well, frogs have permeable skin, which means substances can pass through it. This allows frogs to breathe and drink through their skin. However, it also means that anything in the surrounding environment is easy for them to absorb. If an environment is contaminated with things like pollutants or chemicals, their health is significantly affected.

Frogs live on both land and in water, which exposes them to two different environments (and even more risk factors). This combination of permeable skin and dual life on and off land makes frogs a useful species when assessing ecosystems.

Frogs are important to the food chain

Frog Brooch in Silver Green and Amber

Throughout its lifecycle, the humble frog plays an important role in the food chain, both as predator and prey. As tadpoles, they feed on algae, which helps to keep water clean for other creatures. Once full-grown, frogs feed on lots of insects, which helps to control bug populations. When they aren’t busy eating things, they are busy being eaten! Fish, snakes and birds will all eat frogs when given the chance.

Top 10 facts about frogs

Get ready to have your mind blown with these phenomenal facts about frogs…

  1. There are over 4,700 different types of frog and they are found on every continent except Antarctica.
  1. Every year that a frog goes into hibernation it grows a new layer of bone. You can count the rings on a frog’s bones to determine how old it is.
  1. Frogs can jump 20 times their own height. That’s like a 6ft tall man jumping 120ft, or roughly the height of 9 double decker buses!
  1. Did you know that frogs moult? This is the process where they shed their skin. Once the old skin has been pulled off, the frog tends to eat it.
  1. Croaking is used by male frogs as a way to attract females. Each type of frog has a distinct croak, and the sound can travel up to a mile in some cases.
  1. Frogs swallow using their eyes. Its eyes retract into its head and help push the food down its throat.
  1. One type of desert frog can wait up to 7 years for water by surrounding itself in a type of transparent bag that becomes its first meal once the rain comes.
  1. The world’s biggest frog is the goliath frog (Conraua goliath) from Cameroon, West Africa. They can grown up to 32 centimetres (12.6 inches) in length.
  1. The smallest frogs in the world – the Brazilian gold frog - are less than half an inch long. They weigh around one gram, or 0.035 ounces.
  1. The world’s most dangerous and deadly frog is the golden poison frog, typically found on the Pacific coast of Colombia.

What do frogs symbolise?

Throughout history, frogs have symbolised renewal, rebirth, transformation and metamorphosis thanks to their unusual lifecycle. They are typically associated with the cleansing properties of water, as well as the feminine attributes of fertility. In fact, frogs are closely connected to women in mythology, and as a spirit animal are believed to guide one through times of turmoil in the smoothest way possible.

Henryka frog jewellery pieces

At Henryka, we have a range of lovely frog-inspired jewellery pieces to symbolise your own or a loved one’s transformation. Our Frog Stud Earrings in silver are ideal for every day or in second, third and fourth piercings that climb up the ear. To make a statement, the One Little Speckled Frog Brooch in silver and green amber is a firm favourite.

Share your love of frogs and your favourite Henryka jewellery pieces with us on social media, using the hashtag #HenrykaWithLove. Want to create your own wardrobe of animal-inspired jewellery pieces? Check out the full range today!