Final answer:
Frogs have adapted to living on land and water through features like three eyelid membranes for vision in different environments, the tympanum for hearing, long hind legs for jumping, and buccal pumping for lung ventilation. They also have adaptations for skin breathing and undergo metamorphosis from aquatic larvae with gills to terrestrial adults with lungs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Adaptations of Frogs for Living on Land and Water
Frogs exhibit several adaptations that facilitate their survival on both land and water. One such adaptation is the three eyelid membranes they have, including a transparent one to protect their eyes underwater, making vision clear both on land and in aquatic environments. Additionally, the tympanum, which acts like a simple ear, enables frogs to hear effectively and is crucial for communication and predator detection on land.
Breathing Adaptations
To fill their lungs, frogs use a process called 'buccal pumping,' which is essentially pushing air into the lungs with the help of their throat. Frogs require less oxygen than birds or mammals because of their slower metabolism and less intense activity levels. This efficiency is particularly important during underwater periods where they predominantly rely on cutaneous respiration, or skin breathing, to absorb dissolved oxygen.
Movement and Physical Adaptations
Frogs have evolved long hind legs and long ankle bones, making them exceptional jumpers. Toads, which are closely related to frogs, tend to have shorter legs and spend more time on land. Salamanders and newts have a different mode of movement, either walking or swimming, and caecilians are legless, living in water or soil.
Reproductive and Developmental Adaptations
During reproduction, many frogs lay their eggs in water, subsequently undergoing a larval stage where the young breathe using gills. They undergo metamorphosis, transforming from larval forms with gills to adult forms with lungs, a process that enables them to transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial lifestyle.