Scientists reveal frogs' super ability to jump on water

Cricket frogs, which live in Virginia and North Carolina (USA), demonstrate an incredible ability to "run" on the surface of the water. These amphibians challenge scientific understanding of animal physics and behavior.

However, scientists have uncovered the secrets of the frogs' superpower to jump across water. A new study has found that these tailless frogs stay on the surface through a series of quick jumps, SciTechDaily reports.

Understanding the skills of cricket frogs improves human understanding of animal locomotion and has potential implications for the development of advanced robotics and amphibious drones, scientists say.

Mechanical engineering professor Jake Socha led the research team investigating the cricket frog's unique skill of jumping through water, which has been dubbed "skittering."

"Part of this research is not only to study this behavior of cricket frogs but also to try to give the term 'skittering' a more precise scientific definition," said lead author of the study, PhD student Talia Weiss.

It is known that cricket frogs are one of the smallest frogs in North America, easily fitting on the thumb of an average adult.

To observe the cricket frog in motion, members of Jake Socha's team used high-speed video recording. They recorded the frog jumping on land and in water, observing the movement of its legs.

The researchers found that the frogs actually drown with each jump if you watch the slow motion footage. However, in nature, they seem to stay afloat because of the speed of their movements.

By watching the frog in slow motion, the team members could follow the movement as it retracted and extended its limbs. The experts also noticed that the angle of the frog's body to the waterline played an important role in enabling it to balance in the water.

The team of scientists watched the frogs make eight jumps in a row, each of which was completed in less than a second. And this is an extraordinary skill, experts emphasize.

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