Editing Frog (section)

====Adults====
[[File:Xenopus laevis froglet swimming -1749-8104-7-13-S10.ogv|thumb|A ''[[Xenopus laevis]]'' froglet after metamorphosis]]

Adult frogs may live in or near water, but few are fully aquatic.<ref>{{cite book|author=Mattison, Chris|year=2011|title=Frogs and Toads of the Worlds|publisher=Princeton University Press|page=107|isbn=978-0-691-14968-4}}</ref> Almost all frog species are [[carnivore|carnivorous]] as adults, preying on invertebrates, including [[insect]]s, [[crab]]s, [[spider]]s, [[mite]]s, [[annelid|worm]]s, [[snails]], and [[slug]]s. A few of the larger ones may eat other frogs, small [[mammal]]s and reptiles, and [[fish]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Mattison, Chris|year=2011|title=Frogs and Toads of the Worlds|publisher=Princeton University Press|pages=65–68|isbn=978-0-691-14968-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/Anura/Natural-history#ref40605 |title=Anura: Feeding habits|author1=Duellman, W. E. |author2=Zug, G. R. |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=April 9, 2022}}</ref> A few species also eat plant matter; the tree frog ''[[Xenohyla truncata]]'' is partly herbivorous, its diet including a large proportion of fruit, floral structures and nectar.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=de-Oliveira-Nogueira |first1=Carlos Henrique |last2=Souza |first2=Ubiratã Ferreira |last3=Machado |first3=Thaynara Mendes |last4=Figueiredo-de-Andrade |first4=Caio Antônio |last5=Mônico |first5=Alexander Tamanini |last6=Sazima |first6=Ivan |last7=Sazima |first7=Marlies |last8=Toledo |first8=Luís Felipe |date=June 2023 |title=Between fruits, flowers and nectar: The extraordinary diet of the frog Xenohyla truncata |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2352249623000101 |journal=Food Webs |language=en |volume=35 |pages=e00281 |doi=10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00281|bibcode=2023FWebs..3500281D }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Da Silva, H. R. |author2=De Britto-Pereira, X. C. |year=2006 |title=How much fruit do fruit-eating frogs eat? An investigation on the diet of ''Xenohyla truncata'' (Lissamphibia: Anura: Hylidae) |journal=Journal of Zoology |volume=270 |issue=4 |pages=692–698 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00192.x }}</ref> ''[[Leptodactylus mystaceus]]'' has been found to eat plants,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.herpetologynotes.seh-herpetology.org/Volume7_PDFs/Camera_HerpetologyNotes_volume7_pages31-36.pdf|title=Diet of the Neotropical frog Leptodactylus mystaceus|access-date=April 2, 2014|archive-date=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407060239/http://www.herpetologynotes.seh-herpetology.org/Volume7_PDFs/Camera_HerpetologyNotes_volume7_pages31-36.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=Bruno F. |last1=Camera |first2=Diones |last2=Krinski |first3=Isabella A. |last3=Calvo |title=Diet of the Neotropical frog ''Leptodactylus mystaceus'' (Anura: Leptodactylidae) |pages=31–36 |date=February 4, 2014 |journal=Herpetology Notes |volume=7 |url=http://www.herpetologynotes.seh-herpetology.org/Volume7_PDFs/Camera_HerpetologyNotes_volume7_pages31-36.pdf |access-date=April 26, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030141/http://www.herpetologynotes.seh-herpetology.org/Volume7_PDFs/Camera_HerpetologyNotes_volume7_pages31-36.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[folivory]] occurs in ''[[Euphlyctis hexadactylus]]'', with plants constituting 79.5% of its diet by volume.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Das|first1=I.|title=Folivory and seasonal changes in diet in ''Rana hexadactyla'' (Anura: Ranidae)|journal=Journal of Zoology|date=April 1996|volume=238|issue=4|pages=785–794|doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05430.x|url=http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11519/1/100-%20Das%20%28Folivory%20in%20Rana%20hexadactyla%29.pdf }}</ref>  Many frogs use their sticky tongues to catch prey, while others simply grab them with their mouths.<ref>{{cite book|author=Mattison, Chris|year=2011|title=Frogs and Toads of the Worlds|publisher=Princeton University Press|page=69|isbn=978-0-691-14968-4}}</ref> Adult frogs are themselves attacked by many predators. The [[northern leopard frog]] (''Rana pipiens'') is eaten by [[heron]]s, [[hawk]]s, fish, large [[salamanders]], [[snake]]s, [[raccoon]]s, [[skunk]]s, [[mink]], bullfrogs, and other animals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.northern.edu/natsource/AMPHIB1/Northe1.htm |title=Northern leopard frog (''Rana pipiens'') |author=Graham, Donna |work=An Educator's Guide to South Dakota's Natural Resources |access-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623230955/http://www3.northern.edu/natsource/AMPHIB1/Northe1.htm |archive-date=June 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:TrophicWeb.jpg|thumb|left|alt=|A trophic pyramid showing frogs as primary predators]]

Frogs are primary predators and an important part of the [[food web]]. Being [[Ectotherm|cold-blooded]], they make efficient use of the food they eat with little energy being used for metabolic processes, while the rest is transformed into [[biomass (ecology)|biomass]]. They are themselves eaten by secondary predators and are the primary terrestrial consumers of invertebrates, most of which feed on plants. By reducing herbivory, they play a part in increasing the growth of plants and are thus part of a delicately balanced ecosystem.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Pimm, Stuart L. |year=1979 |title=The structure of food webs |journal=Theoretical Population Biology |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=144–158 |url=http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/pimm/publications/pimmreprints/12_Pimm_TPB_1979.pdf |doi=10.1016/0040-5809(79)90010-8 |pmid=538731 |bibcode=1979TPBio..16..144P |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927230926/http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/people/faculty/pimm/publications/pimmreprints/12_Pimm_TPB_1979.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref>

Little is known about the longevity of frogs and toads in the wild, but some can live for many years. [[Skeletochronology]] is a method of examining bones to determine age. Using this method, the ages of [[mountain yellow-legged frog]]s (''Rana muscosa'') were studied, the phalanges of the toes showing seasonal lines where growth slows in winter. The oldest frogs had ten bands, so their age was believed to be 14 years, including the four-year tadpole stage.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Matthews, K. R. |author2=Miaud, C. |year=2007 |title=A skeletochronological study of the age structure, growth, and longevity of the mountain yellow-legged frog, ''Rana muscosa'', in the Sierra Nevada, California |journal=Copeia |volume=2007 |issue=4 |pages=986–993 |issn=0045-8511 |doi=10.1643/0045-8511(2007)7[986:ASSOTA]2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=86237494 }}{{subscription required}}</ref> Captive frogs and toads have been recorded as living for up to 40 years, an age achieved by a European common toad (''Bufo bufo''). The cane toad (''Rhinella marina'') has been known to survive 24 years in captivity, and the American bullfrog (''Rana catesbeiana'') 14 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pondturtle.com/lfrog.html |title=Frog and toad index |author1=Slavens, Frank |author2=Slavens, Kate |work=Longevity |access-date=July 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818221708/http://www.pondturtle.com/lfrog.html |archive-date=August 18, 2012 }}</ref> Frogs from temperate climates hibernate during the winter, and four species are known to be able to withstand freezing during this time, including the wood frog (''Rana sylvatica'').<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Storey | first1=KB | title=Life in a frozen state: adaptive strategies for natural freeze tolerance in amphibians and reptiles | journal=American Journal of Physiology | volume=258 | issue=3&nbsp;Pt&nbsp;2 | pages=559–568 | year=1990 |pmid = 2180324 | doi=10.1152/ajpregu.1990.258.3.R559 }}</ref>