Frogs, like other animals in the class Amphibia, are covered with smooth and moist skin to keep them drying off. However, you may be curious if they grow any hair on their skin and what it looks like.
Do frogs have hair? The answer is NO. Frog skins lack hair and fair follicles that are responsible for the growth of hair. Instead, these amphibians have slippery or mucous skin. Because the skin is so porous, it helps the frogs in breathing, and having the thick keratin required for hair growth will only end up suffocating them.
In this article, we will cover more details about whether frogs have hair. You will discover what makes up their skin, why they lack hair, and whether there are any frog species with hair on their bodies.
Do Frogs Have Hair?
Frogs don’t have hair. They don’t have hair follicles on their skin structures, and this means it’s 100% impossible for them to grow any kind of hair.
Instead, they feature moist and smooth skin. This is usually covered with a mucous or slimy coating to keep the frog moist and prevent dehydration.
In the place of hair, frogs have cilia. These are extremely thin, hair-like structures on the frog’s body. However, you might mistake them for hair strands. Cilia aren’t visible with your naked eye.
The microscopic strands are responsible for protecting the frog’s skin as well as helping propel them through the waters when swimming.
The amphibian’s body is also covered by glands responsible for its vibrant colors. Some of these glands also produce toxins to help the frogs survive predation.
However, keep in mind that there are a few exceptions. Some frog species have their bodies covered with hair, which serves various purposes (we will discuss more about hairy frogs later in this article).
Why don’t frogs have hair?
Frogs don’t have hair because they just don’t need it to survive in their natural habitats. If they had hair, it will cause problems when it comes to breathing, drinking water, or simply surviving in the wild.
Below are several reasons why frogs do not hair like other animals:
Frogs rely on their skin for breathing
One of the reasons frogs don’t have hair is that they use their semi-permeable skins for breathing. The porous nature of their skin allows substances to pass through easily, including oxygen.
This explains why frogs can stay submerged underwater for long periods, as they can absorb water and oxygen through their skins.
As such, having hair on their skin will greatly hinder oxygen absorption, which is essential for their survival in the wild.
They’re cold-blooded animals
As you already know, most mammals use hair on their bodies for thermoregulation. This same hair also protects them from various elements such as the sun’s UV rays and harsh temperatures.
Fur in some animals, for instance, adds a layer of insulation on the animals.
When it comes to frogs, they are ectothermic or cold-blooded, which means they regulate their body temperature relative to their surroundings.
By changing locations, they can either cool themselves or get the warmth they require. Sun provides these animals with the necessary warmth.
They may even change their skin color to receive adequate solar radiation. As such, they don’t need hair for thermoregulation.
Slimy skin offers adequate protection to these animals
Hair also plays the role of protection in various animals. But frogs have a slimy skin coating and mucous glands to offer them protection against harmful microorganisms.
This is crucial as most frog species inhabit humid and damp environments that are filled with harmful algae, bacteria, and fungi. The slimy coating is the reason these frogs always look wet.
Still at it, some frogs can protect themselves by producing poisonous secretions via glands on their skins. A good example is the poison dart frog, which produces potent venom that can kill even humans.
Therefore, this protective layer acts in the place of fur or hair, keeping the animals shielded from harmful microorganisms and substances that may affect their health.
Are there any hairy frogs?
Yes, the most popular hairy frog is the Wolverine frog (Trichobatrachus robustus) which also goes by the name hairy frog or horror frog.
It gets its common name from the hairy structures covering its body as well as thighs of breeding males.
These hair-like structures aren’t hairs in the real sense but trichomes that are classified as dermal papillae. In layman’s language, these structures are merely physical extensions of the frog’s skin.
It also gets its name Wolverine due to its sharp foot claws that protrude by breaking their skins—just like in the sci-fi movie Wolverine.
This frog becomes hairy during the mating season as the male develops a thick and brittle fringe along its thighs and flanks. These hairs are essentially mass strands of skin populated with blood vessels.
The structures are usually temporary and act as eternal gills and breathing boosters when necessary.
The male frog is responsible for guarding the eggs and tends to stay underwater without coming out in the air to catch a breath. The hair-like structures help them breathe for longer periods underwater.
They simply increase the surface area used for absorption by creating an external area that connects the dermis and epidermis. The arteries included in these hairy structures help the frog absorb more oxygen from the environment via the skin.
Other frogs with hair-like structures on their body include:
- Thorny Tree Frog: This is a newly discovered Vietnamese frog. Males have thorny or tiny sparks that run through their heads and back.
- Emai Mustache Toad: This species grows stripes on its upper lip during the breeding period.
Does frog have fur or skin?
Frogs have skin but not fur. Fur is associated with mammals but frogs have smooth skin that stays moist (due to a mucous coating), helping prevent dehydration. Since their skins are semi-permeable, they rely on them to take in oxygen, water, and other substances.
Do glass frogs have hair?
Glass frogs don’t have hair or hair follicles, just like other frog species. They’re known for their translucent skins which enable you to see their internal organs.
But most importantly they have moist skin that helps keep them moist and hydrated at all times.
Although you may see some hair-like strands on the frog’s skin, these aren’t actual hairs.
They’re simply dermal spines that they use for camouflaging against predators and protecting the frog skin.
FAQs:
No. wolverine frogs have actual hair. They don’t even have hair follicles in the first police. What they feature are hair-like structures that are essentially projections of their skin. These structures help the frog absorb more oxygen and water and stay longer periods underwater. The frog is considered hairy because these strands resemble actual hair.
Frogs do not need hair and it is the reason they do not have it in the first place. The presence of hair will give the frogs a lot of trouble when it comes to breathing, drinking water, or even surviving in their natural habitat. The mucous coating on the frog’s skin and its porous are sufficient for its survival in the wild.
Unlike mammals, which rely on their hair/fur as an insulation layer, frogs are cold-blooded animals. This means their body temperature depends on their surroundings. As such, they can keep warm by basking in the sun or cool themselves by moving to cooler environments.
Conclusion
Frogs don’t have hair simply because they don’t gave hair follicles that produce hair. However, this isn’t a disadvantage to them as they don’t require hair to survive in their natural environments. Their smooth and moist skin plays a crucial role in protecting them against harmful substances, taking in water and oxygen. Frogs also do not need hair for thermoregulation because they’re ectothermic and can adjust their body relative to the environment.
However, there are a few exceptions such as the wolverine frog, which grows hair on its flanks and thighs during the mating period. However, a closer look has indicated that these are not hairs but simply the projections of their skin. These help increase surface area for absorption as they need to absorb more oxygen, enabling them to stay underwater for prolonged periods of time.
Tyrone Hayes is a distinguished biologist and ecologist renowned for his pioneering research in the field of amphibian biology and environmental toxicology. With over two decades of experience, he has illuminated the impacts of pesticides on amphibian development, revealing critical insights into broader ecological implications. Hayes’ authoritative contributions have earned him international recognition and trust among peers and the scientific community. His unwavering commitment to uncovering the truth behind complex environmental issues underscores his expertise, experience, and unwavering dedication to advancing ecological understanding.