General Zoology (Laboratory)

Laboratory Exercise no. 4

EXTERNAL FEATURES OF A FROG

Group no._______ Date:_________ Score:___________

Members/Contributors:

I. Unit Expected Outcomes:

At the end of this exercise, each student must be able to:
1. Identify and name the anatomic parts.
2. Relate the structures to their functions.

II. Materials:
:
1. Laboratory exercise and report word documents
2. Laboratory power point
3. Videos and photos of laboratory procedures
4. Additional required laboratory readings/required laboratory readings
III. Instructions:

1. Study its parts using the description as guide.

2. Watch the video tutorial on how to identify the parts of the external anatomy of the frog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N27Tj3B4k8&t=111s
https://youtu.be/z5wN9xelmhw https://youtu.be/yjjwFTr7fGE
3. Accomplish Lab Report
The External Features of a Frog

The first organ that greets the students in the animal’s skin or integument. By the character of the
skin one can deduce the animal’s habitat, that is, whether it is aquatic, terrestrial, or semi-terrestrial. The body
of an anuran has the shape and proportions that we recognize as most advantageous for an animal that dwells in
both land and water. The aim of the following exercise is to describe the external features of a frog or toad, two
animals that are different in some characters but nevertheless exhibit the essential parts of a typical tetrapod
body.

1. Body and skin. The body is divided into head and trunk; there is no neck nor tail, unlike other
tetrapods. The flattened, obtusely tipped head offers less resistance when the animal swims in water.
The body is clothed in skin that is thin, smooth, and slimy in the frog, rough and “warty” in the
toad. The skin is commonly greenish, grayish, or brownish in color, depending on the species. It may
contain color patterns (colorations) that may consist of broad or narrow stripes, small or large spots,
and mottling features of importance in the identification of species.
 Remarks: the nictitating membrane is the third eyelid, which is well developed in birds. The second eyelid is
wanting in the frog. In man the third eyelid is represented by a fold of skin at the medial corner of the eye and
which is known as the plica semilunaris.
Behind the eye is a circular patch, the eardrum, tympanic membrane, or tympanum, which represents the
middle ear.

2. Head. The cephalic end narrows into a snout; the snout bears a pair of small openings, the external
nares (singular, naris), or nostrils. The nostrils communicate with the nasal cavity, which contains
the olfactory organ. The lateral side of the head bears the mouth opening. The mouth has a wide
gape that extends beyond the level of the eardrum; it is bordered above by the upper jaw and by
the lower jaw below. The eyes are large, each provided with an almost immovable, thick upper
eyelid and a movable, translucent lower eyelid, known as the nictitating membrane.

3. Trunk. The anuran trunk is short and thick, broad at the foremost end, bulging at the sides, and
narrow at the hips. In the toad, there is present a pair of swellings at the shoulders. These are
glandular masses known as parotid glands; their secretions are poisonous to people and other
animals. The dorsum bears a prominence at the middle, the hump. (The hump is formed by the
meeting of the long arms of the hip bone or ilium and the lateral extensions of the sacral
vertebra).Two regions may distinguish on the lower side or venter: the larger, soft-walled abdomen
or belly, and the smaller, robust breast or chest. At the posterior end, between the hindlimbs, is an
aperture, the cloacal opening or vent.

Remarks: in some texts, the opening is mis appropriately called anus, but the anus and the vent are two
different structures that have different functions. Whereas the anus serves as an outlet for feces only, the vent
serves also for the discharge of urine, sperm, or eggs.

4. Limbs. The limbs of each pair are similarly constructed, but they differ from each other in the
proportion of the parts, among other things. Each consists of three successive segments. In the
forelimb or arm, the segment nearest the midline is known as the brachium or upper- arm, the
segment nearest the midline is known as the brachium or upper-arm, the next segment, the –
antebrachium or forearm and the last segment, the manus or hand. In the hand may be
distinguished a carpus or wrist, a metacarpus or palm, and digits or fingers, of which there are
four.

Remarks: During the spawning or breeding season (the rainy months), the base of the first finger bears a
rough-skinned swelling known as the nuptial pad, that is used in mating. The pad subsides after the breeding
season; however, the base of the finger still remains swollen. This character, apart from size of the body,
distinguishes the male from the female frog, phenomenon that is called sexual dimorphism. In general, male
frogs are distinctly smaller than the female.

In the hindlimb or leg, the first segment is known as the femur or thigh, the second as the crus
or shank, and the third as the pes or foot. The foot contains three regions corresponding to those
of the hand, namely, the tarsus or ankle, the metatarsus or instep, and the digits or
 toes. The underside of the foot is called the plantar surface, that of the hand, the palmar surface.
DISCUSSION

AMPHIBIANS. The amphibians (Gr. amphi, both + bios, life) are the oldest living groups of tetrapods (Gr.
tetra, 4 + poda, foot). From reptiles, they are distinguished by their moist, permeable skin, unlike the reptilian
skin which is dry and scaly. There are three lineages of amphibians: the salamanders or urodeles, the frogs or
anurans, and the caecilians or apodans. Urodeles have elongate bodies, four equal-sized fore- and hindlimbs,
and a long postanal tail. Anurans have short forelimbs and long, stout hindlimbs, short stiff bodies, and no tail.
Caecilians lack both pairs of limbs, have elongated somewhat segmented bodies, and no tail. At first glance, the
three lineages look different from one another, however, they show many unique characters in common.
These include, for example, the structure of the skin, which functions in gas exchange; the pedicellate
(footlike) teeth; and the structure of the levator bulbi muscle, which causes the eyeball to bulge upon
contraction, except the caecilians that have such poor eyes. Anurans have a body form that differs most. They
have inflexible bodies and remarkably long hindlegs that are well suited for both leaping and
swimming locomotion. "It is tempting to think that the variety of locomotor modes permitted by their
specialized morpholo8Y may be related to their success" (Pough et al., 1996).

Sexual Dimorphism in a Frog

Sexual dimorphism refers to the difference in some external features, which distinguish the two sexes of
species. As general rule, male frogs are distinctly smaller than the female. In nature, during the breeding season,
the males generally advertise their presence by vocalizing mating calls. Sounds are produced by a voice-organ
or larynx, the lining of which is thrown into a pair of folds, the vocal cords. The croaking sound is produced
when air forced from the lungs makes the cords vibrate. The male has a pair of vocal sacs, which are inflated
like balloons and act as resonators during croaking. In the Taiwanese Frog, the mature males are easily
distinguished by the darky pigmented vocal sac, which lies near the angle of the jaw, and the rough-skinned,
blackish swelling at the base of the first and third digits. The swellings on the base of the digits function as a
nuptial pad during the breeding season. At this season, the male mounts at the back of the female and remains
in this position (called amplexus) for days until the spawning ends.
Description Guide to the Frog Dissection

Frogs belong to the class Amphibia. Amphibians have adaptations for living in terrestrial as well as aquatic
environments. Frogs are among the most commonly studied organisms in biology. Although many differences exist
between humans and frogs, the basic body plans are similar. Humans and frogs both belong to the phylum
Chordata. By studying the anatomy of the frog, you will be better able to understand your own body. In this
investigation you will observe the external features of a preserved frog and identify parts of its external anatomy.
You will also dissect the preserved frog to observe its internal anatomy and make comparisons to human anatomy.

Safety: Put on disposable plastic gloves. Treat the preserved animal, preservations solution, and all the equipment
that touches the organism as potential hazards. Do not touch your eyes or your mouth with your hands. Be careful
when handling sharp instruments. Always cut away from your body and away from others. Return or dispose of all
materials according to the instructions of your teacher. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after carrying
out this investigation.

Materials needed for dissection: Preserved frog, lab gown, surgical gloves, surgical; mask, dissecting tray or
dissecting pan, dissecting pins, dissecting scissors, dissecting probes, and lab safety goggles.

Preserved frog Lab gown Surgical gloves and mask Dissecting scissor

Dissecting pan Dissecting pins Dissecting probes safety goggles

External Anatomy of the Frog

Before starting any dissection, it is important to look around at the external anatomy, or anatomy visible
outside the body. Our frog can be divided into the dorsal, or top side, and the ventral, or bottom side. Many frogs
have patterned skin on their dorsal side and a white or yellow ventral side to camouflage them in their aquatic
habitat. Frogs have two forelimbs in the front, or anterior end, and two powerful hind limbs in the rear, or posterior,
for swimming. Each forelimb has four toes, but the hind limbs have five toes with webbing in between. The
webbing creates resistance in the water, allowing frogs to be agile swimmers. The head is at the anterior end of the
frog, containing the sensory organs the frog needs to navigate its environment. Its two eyes are located on the top of
its head. Although this might seem strange to us, frogs live a submerged life. Having eyes on top, rather than in the
front of their head allows them to see while they swim and stay mostly submerged in water. You also can notice
the frog's version of our
ears, called tympanic membranes, on both sides of its head. These organs allow the frog to detect vibration as
sound. Rotate your frog, and you will see an opening at the posterior end called the cloaca. This opening allows
for waste, eggs, or sperm to be discharged. It is a multipurpose opening that serves the same purpose as our anus,
urethra, and genital openings.

1. Obtain a preserved frog. Rinse the frog with water to remove excess preservative. CAUTION: The
preservative used on the frog can irritate your skin. Avoid touching your eyes while working with the frog.
Dry the frog with paper towels and place it in a dissecting tray. (See Fig.2)

2. Identify the dorsal and ventral surfaces and the anterior and posterior ends of the frog. Notice the
color on each surface of the frog. (See Fig.3)

3. Locate the forelegs and the hindlegs. Each foreleg, or arm, is divided into four regions: upper arm,
forearm, wrist, and hand. Each hindleg also has four regions: thigh, lower leg, ankle, and foot. Identify the
parts of the forelegs and hindlegs. Examine the hands and feet of the frog. If the hands have enlarged
thumbs, the frog is male. How many digits are on each hand and foot? Is your frog a male or female? (See
Fig.5)

4. Locate the two large, protruding eyes. Lift the outer eyelid using a probe. Beneath the outer lid is an inner
lid called the nictitating membrane. (See Fig. 4)

5. Posterior to each eye is a circular region of tightly stretched skin. This region is the tympanic
membrane, or eardrum. Locate the tympanic membranes on both sides of the head. (See Fig. 4&5)

6. Anterior to the eyes, locate two openings called the external nares (singular, naris), or nostrils. (See
Fig.5)

7. Hold the frog firmly in the dissecting tray. Using scissors, make a small cut at each of the hinged points of
the jaw. CAUTION: To avoid injury, cut in a direction away from your hands and body. Open the mouth as
much as possible. Under running water, rinse away any excess preservative.

8. The tongue is the most noticeable structure in the mouth. Observe where the tongue is attached and
note the two projections at the free end. (See Fig.1&6)

9. At the back of the mouth, locate the large horizontal opening, the gullet opening. In front of the gullet
opening, find a vertical slit, and the glottis. (See Fig.1)

10. Look for two openings on the backsides of the floor of the mouth. These are the openings to the
vocal sacs. They are present in male frogs but not in female frogs. (See Fig.1)
 Fig. 1 The Mouth of the Frog

11. Examine the roof of the mouth. Near the front center of the roof of the mouth are two small bumps.
These bumps are the vomerine teeth. On either side of the vomerine teeth are the openings of the
internal nares. Behind the vomerine teeth, observe two large bulges. These bulges are the eye sockets.
Run your finger along the top jaw. The teeth you feel are the maxillary teeth. The openings of the
Eustachian tubes are on either side near the back of the mouth. Insert a probe into an opening of one
Eustachian tube. (See Fig.6)

Fig. 2 Dorval view of the frog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-LqS5AVRio
 Fig.3

Dorsal view Ventral view

Fig. 4 External Anatomy of the Frog (Doral view)

 Fig. 5 External anatomy of the Frog (Dorsal view)

Fig.6 Anatomy of the Frog’s Mouth

Author: Dr. Eloisa A. Mallo

Reference:
R.M. dela Paz., et al (2005), Laboratory Guide on General Zoology, The Revised Edition ACLC Trading Enterprises.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N27Tj3B4k8&t=111s
https://youtu.be/z5wN9xelmhw
https://youtu.be/yjjwFTr7fGE
IV. Laboratory Report

A. Draw and describe the metamorphosis of the frog.

B. Draw and label the parts of the external features of a frog.

3. Give the functions of each part of the external features of the frog.

Structure Functions
Hind limbs They use their hind legs mostly to propel themselves
through the water while swimming, using their front legs to
steer. Swimming fast means escaping from predators and
catching more prey, and those long, muscular hind legs
are key to the frog's success.
Forelimbs Frog forelimbs are typically short as the hind limbs are the
principal limb pair generating propulsion. Moreover, while at
rest most of the body weight is also displaced towards the hind
limbs in frogs.
Digits A collection of small bones makes up a frog's digits, or its
fingers and toes. Most of the time, a frog has five toes on its
back legs and four toes on its front legs. The length and shape
of the toes has a big impact on how the frog moves.
Tongue In addition, the frog tongue is attached to the front of the frog's
mouth, allowing it to launch almost the entire tongue out of
its mouth. It launches incredibly fast. A frog can shoot out its
tongue, capture an insect, and pull it back into its mouth within
Maxilla either of a pair of bones of the upper jaw of vertebrates
between and in front of the maxillae.
Mandible The mandible is the largest bone in the human skull. It holds the lower
teeth in place, it assists in mastication and forms the lower jawline
Vomerine teeth Vomerine teeth are two rough bumps on the roof of the
frog's mouth. These function in holding and capturing prey. ...
The vomerine teeth are small projections in the top of a frog's
mouth and appear in pairs of tiny clusters on their mouths'
roofs. Amphibians swallow their prey whole, so they do not
need teeth.
Maxillary teeth Sharp teeth in the maxilla of a frogs mouth that function in holding
captured prey.
Esophagus The esophagus is the tube that leads from the frogs mouth to the
stomach. Open the frogs mouth and find the esophagus, poke your
probe into it and see where it leads.
Nictitating membrane Frogs are among many species that have a third eyelid, or
nictitating membrane. The membrane likely evolved to help the
frog survive on land and in the water. It lubricates the eyes and
provides a level of protection.
Tympanic membrane is the circular patch of skin directly behind its eye that we
commonly call its eardrum. It functions much like our eardrum
does –the tympanum transmits sound waves to the middle and
inner ear, allowing a frog to hear both in the air and below water
Epidermis is composed of stratified squamous epithelium, wherein the
stratum corneum is composed of a very thin layer of keratinized
cells Cells in the epidermis of tadpoles are ciliated in most of
the frog species studied and cilia regress leading up to
metamorphosis
External nares External nares are located on the top of a frog's snout, and
look like small slits. These make it possible for the frog to float
on the surface of the water, leaving its external nares above the
water level for inhaling oxygen.
Internal nares located on the roof of the mouth. They connect the nostrils to
the mouth. Air is drawn into the internal nares from the
external nares, then passing through the mouth, through the
trachea to the lungs.
Glottis a slit-like opening on the floor of the pharynx, is a valve that
 controls airflow in and out of the respiratory passages. The
glottis opens directly into a boxlike larynx. This voice box
occurs in all amphibians but is anatomically most complex in
frogs.
Cloaca also known as the vent -- serves as the exit cavity for the
excretory, urinary and reproductive systems. Male and
female frogs both have cloacas, which their respective
reproductive tracts use as the vehicle for the passage of sperm
and eggs.

1. Describe the mating behavior of the frog.

2. Describe the difference between a toad and a frog.
3. Describe the texture and color of the skin of the frog.
4. Describe the difference between cold blooded and warm-blooded animals.
5. Describe the classification of the frog.
6. Describe the sexual dimorphism of a frog.
7. Describe the body regions of the frog.
8. Enumerate the safety measures and materials need for frog dissection.