NARRATION
Animals have evolved many ways to get from A to B. Some fly, others swim and frogs jump.
But what interested Professor Richard Essner and his colleagues from Southern Illinois University was how jumping evolved. To find out they compared the jumping styles of primitive and more evolved species using a specialised jumping arena and high-speed camera.
First in the ring, representing the evolved frogs, is Bombina orientalis. A superb froggy jump.
Next is this little guy - Ascaphus Montanus - one of the most primitive living frogs. And flop
They belly flop because they can't rapidly cycle their hind limbs. This could explain their unique trot-like swimming style which differs from the usual frog-kick.
Closer to home, Dr Phil Bishop from the University of Otago has been investigating how primitive New Zealand frogs move in relation to their more advanced Aussie cousins.
The Australians look rather elegant compared to the belly flopping Kiwis.
The belly-flop landings of the primitive frogs show that during their evolution frogs mastered takeoffs before they perfected landing.
Topics: Nature
- Reporter: Dr Maryanne Demasi
- Producer: Roslyn Lawrence
- Researcher: Roslyn Lawrence
- Camera: Video Courtesy of Dr Richard Essner, Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA
Video Courtesy of Dr Phil Bishop Senior Lecturer Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin NZ
Video Courtesy of Cory Byers, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA - Editor: Dylan Behan
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