How a tiny frog “skitters” on water

For years, scientists have been mystified by the way some frog species appeared to glide across the surface of a body of water in a movement they called “skittering.” Recently, a team observed one of these frogs more closely and found there’s more to it than meets the eye. The frogs do a series of “belly flops” so quickly that it creates the illusion that they are walking on water. The researchers studied the northern cricket frog, a species found throughout eastern North America, including in US states such as Kentucky and Virginia. As one of the smallest North American frog species, these animals can easily fit on a human thumb. Their tiny size and rapid movement have made it difficult to see exactly how they travel. To find out…

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The Week Junior US (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 252

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