How do frogs and toads catch prey?

How do frogs and toads catch prey?

• A. Long, sticky tongues and quick reflexes.
• B. Keen eyesight alone.
• C. Powerful claws for grabbing prey.
• D. Frogs and toads use long, sticky tongues and rapid reflexes to catch prey.

Answer: (D)

Frogs and toads catch prey mainly with a specialized tongue that is shot out rapidly and coated with sticky saliva. When prey is detected, powerful tongue muscles lash the tongue out in a fraction of a second, the saliva sticks to the insect or other small animal, and then the tongue retracts back into the mouth, pulling the prey along with it. This rapid, aimed strike relies on quick reflexes to time the shot and coordinate the strike, often aided by vision for targeting, but the actual capture is accomplished by the tongue’s projection and adhesion. The other ideas—seeing prey alone or using claws—don’t describe how these amphibians actually seize prey, and the key mechanism is the combination of a long, sticky tongue with fast, reflexive action.

Frogs and toads catch prey mainly with a specialized tongue that is shot out rapidly and coated with sticky saliva. When prey is detected, powerful tongue muscles lash the tongue out in a fraction of a second, the saliva sticks to the insect or other small animal, and then the tongue retracts back into the mouth, pulling the prey along with it. This rapid, aimed strike relies on quick reflexes to time the shot and coordinate the strike, often aided by vision for targeting, but the actual capture is accomplished by the tongue’s projection and adhesion. The other ideas—seeing prey alone or using claws—don’t describe how these amphibians actually seize prey, and the key mechanism is the combination of a long, sticky tongue with fast, reflexive action.