How High Can Frogs Jump?

Reviewed By Kyoko •  Updated: 12/18/21 •  6 min read
The contents of the OurFitPets.com website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition of your pet. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase this item or service, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own.

How High Can Frogs Jump

Online Veterinary 24/7
Chat With A Veterinarian Online

Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.

Have you ever wondered how high a frog can jump? Frogs are amazing animals. They have such long, strong hind legs, can eat anything that fits in their mouths, and so much more! Frogs are also able to live in a wide range of habitats!

If you’re wondering about how high a frog can jump, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve done some research to answer that question, as well as provide some interesting facts about frogs and their jumping!

How High Can a Frog Jump?

It all depends on the size and species of the frog. Each one is different; however, on average, most frogs are able to jump about two times their own height. There are frogs that can jump much higher, such as tree frogs. These frogs are able to jump about ten times their height!

Another fact that determines how high a frog can jump is its weight. Smaller frogs are able to jump much higher than larger frogs.

How Do Frogs Naturally Move?

Depending on the species of frog, most will hop or jump when it’s time to move or go after their dinner. If a frog’s in water, he will naturally swim. However, when a frog’s on land, he will jump or hop to get around.

In the water, frogs use their strong legs and webbed feet to propel themselves through the water. How cool is that? This is very similar to the methods used by humans when they scuba dive. The divers wear fins and use their legs in a similar way as frogs.

These are the natural movements for most frog species.

How Far Can a Frog Jump?

One question logically leads into another! If you know how high a frog can jump, you may naturally wonder how far a frog is able to jump.

Again, this depends on the frog species. Each species of frog has a slightly different structure. While all frogs tend to have long back legs, some frogs can jump farther than others.

However, you can generally say that frogs are able to jump about thirty times the length of their body. Smaller frogs, of course, can jump even farther!

There are also certain flying/gliding frogs found in Asia, the Rhacophorus, that can jump even farther than the average frog. This is due to the frog’s body structure. Rhacophorus frogs have webbed toes, which act as a parachute to slow their descent. This feature helps the frogs to glide as they descend. How cool is that?

How Does a Frog Jump?

Frogs have great jumping abilities due to their strong leg muscles and tendons. As a frog prepares to jump, the tendons stretch out as far as possible. This causes the leg muscles to shorten, which causes energy to be transferred to the tendons. The frog is by now ready to jump; as he jumps, the tendons recoil and release energy into the jumping action of the frog.

So, the frog’s jumping ability is due to strong muscles, which are also helped by their leg tendons. The tendons, as described above, act as a type of spring or coil, storing the energy the frog needs to jump high or far. A frog wouldn’t be able to have his superpower jumping ability without his tendons!

What About Frogs Hopping?

When it comes to hopping, there’s no question that frogs also have this ability. But how do they hop? Well, the answer depends on the structure of the frog.

For instance, some frogs that have longer legs usually jump rather than hop. Their long legs and strong tendons help them jump long distances. Jumping, for these frogs, is a much faster and more efficient travel method.

On the other hand, frogs that have short legs tend to hop. For them, hopping is a much more efficient way to travel, especially for shorter distances.

Can Frogs Jump Out of Water?

That’s a great question, and the answer will amaze you! Frogs have another superpower, which is the ability to jump straight out of the water. This ability allows them to catch prey and breed.

Why Do Frogs Jump or Hop?

Jumping or hopping is the main method most species of frogs use to get around. While they can swim and some can glide through the air, most frogs must hop or jump to travel from one place to another. You might equate a frog’s jumping/hopping to our walking and running.

Frogs will jump or hop to get from one body of water to another. They also jump after prey or to get away from predators.

One interesting note is about frogs getting away from their predators. When a frog is trying to escape being another animal’s dinner, the frog will use a zigzag pattern as he hops or jumps to make a getaway. This makes it easier to avoid being prey because the predator may not be able to anticipate the frog’s next move.

Can Frogs Jump Backward?

That’s a great question! No, frogs don’t have the ability to jump backward. They may appear to jump back when they’re on unstable ground (such as mud or slippery rocks). However, in that case, they usually flip over. They really aren’t capable of jumping backward.

What Was the Longest Jump in the World?

The information that we could find was about Rosie the Ribeter (don’t you love that name?). She was an American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) who jumped an astounding 21 feet, 5.75 inches, back in 1986 at the Calavera County Jumping Frog Jubilee.

According to the rules of the competition, the frog can take up to three jumps. That’s it!

How impressive Rosie was able to make this accomplishment! She’s gone down as one of the greats in frog jumping history!

So, there you have it! Frogs have an amazing ability to jump far and high, both! Their jumping ability comes from the frog’s structure. Their jumping/hopping ability is tied to their tendons, which act like coils or springs. Remember that larger frogs can jump higher, while smaller frogs have the ability to jump farther.

No matter how you look at it, frogs are amazing animals, and it’s fun to learn more about these wonderful critters!

How High Can Frogs Jump?

(Visited 251 times, 6 visits today)
Online Veterinary 24/7
Chat With A Veterinarian Online

Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.

Kyoko

Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!

Keep Reading