Page 170 - Design in Nature

nests out of mud, which are filled with water to
form ponds, on the coasts of lakes or slow
flowing rivers. The frog makes a fragile layer
of film on the surface of the water to which the

eggs attach themselves. This way, the eggs stay
on the surface of the water in order to inhale
oxygen. Since a minute vibration caused by
another frog or a dragonfly’s flying past can
destroy this film and send the eggs to the
bottom of the water, where they would be left
to die without oxygen, the male frog guards

the eggs. While waiting, it kicks its feet in the
water in order to increase oxygen flow through
the membranes of the eggs.
Another species, called the glass frog due
to its transparency, does not keep watch over
its eggs. Allah inspires another method in these
frogs; they leave groups of eggs on the rocks
and plants of the tropical lakes or rivers. When
the eggs hatch, the tadpoles drop into the

water.

Glass Frogs