Frog enthusiasts have long been fascinated by the apparent ability of certain species to walk on water or jump from its surface without sinking. New research published in The Journal of Experimental Biology may hold the key to understanding this phenomenon.
Researchers studied northern cricket frogs, one of the smallest frog species in North America, using high-speed videography to film them in a 20-gallon tank above and below the water. The goal was to observe how their leg movements allowed them to traverse the water’s surface like a stone skipped across a lake. However, the recordings revealed that the frogs were not “skittering” as expected.
Instead, the cricket frogs were found to be “porpoising,” or bouncing, up and down in the water during their locomotion cycle. This means they remain completely submerged throughout the entire jump, defying the notion of walking on water. The researchers’ findings suggest that if you observe a frog running and jumping on the surface of the lake, it’s actually an optical illusion created by the frog’s high-speed movement.
The study showed that cricket frogs can perform multiple jumps in quick succession, with each complete cycle taking less than one second. This impressive feat has significant implications for the robotics field, where researchers are working to develop robots that can mimic animal movements. While cricket frogs may not be able to walk on water, they have evolved remarkable abilities to navigate their aquatic environment.
Source: https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/scientists-discover-why-this-tiny-frog-seems-to-walk-on-water