I found this little tree frog stuck to the side of the outboard motor on our boat yesterday (the boat is on land right now). So, I snapped a quick photo or two, touched his back with my finger and went on my way. I don't know why I touched him ... for some reason I wanted to know what this particular frog felt like.
He felt clammy. Very clammy.
Anyway, after downloading the photos, I noticed the round spot behind his eye. I hadn't noticed this when I touched him, but the spot is very pronounced in the photo, so I thought I should look into it. After all, if I'm going to be touching frogs (and I don't know if this will be a regular thing or not, but just in case), I ought to know what's what.
Science has never been my strongest subject. I always liked science, but, I tended to lean (heavily!) toward other, less "science-y" subjects. In fact, I opted to take Psychology in college for my "science" credits just because I could and it was much more appealing to me at the time than biology or (gasp!) physics.
But, things, as they often do, change and I find myself more and more interested in science these days. I really, really wanted to know what the round spot behind this little tree frog's eye was....
In case you are now wondering too, it's his "Tympanum". The Tympanum is an external hearing structure located behind the eyes in frogs and toads. It transmits sound waves to the frog's inner ear. It's how he "hears".
And now you know.
Don't you feel smarter? I know I do!
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September 22, 2013
Absolutely LOVE this photo! Really fantastic!!
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September 22, 2013
Thank you TJ!
September 23, 2013
I confess my jealousy again. I think you should ship a few dozen tree frogs to me, but since I don't live by water and really don't have any bugs to sustain them, that probably would be bad. LOVE that you touched him. LOVE THAT. Of course, stellar photography. But, then again, none of your stuff is anything less that stellar. I like it because it makes me thing things and feel things when I look at your work.
I think the hummingbirds are finally gone. Two disappeared, but I had one hanging around. The day before yesterday, he came over to by the back steps and buzzed around me for a while. Hummingbirds are so LOUD. I've been talking to them, telling them how fantastic they are. Maybe he was saying goodbye. I did not see any yesterday nor have thus far today.
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September 23, 2013
Thanks Myrtle! I'd ship you some if I could. Even though I touched the little frog, I don't think I'm up to capturing one yet. I'll have to work my way up to that...slowly! lol!
Hummies are on the way out here too... we still have a few stragglers and I think some are passing through on their way south, but things are much quieter here too :-(