A group of frogs is most commonly called an army of frogs. However, frogs can also be referred to by other terms when they congregate or group together in different contexts.
Why are frogs grouped together called an army?
Frogs are most often referred to as an “army” when they are gathered together in large numbers. This term evokes the imagery of the frogs marching along in a regimented fashion. The word “army” is frequently used to describe a large coordinated group with a common purpose or goal. This meaning applies well to the way frogs seem to migrate en masse to breeding grounds or feeding areas.
Other Examples of Animal Group Names
Many other animal groups have distinctive collective nouns associated with them in the English language:
| Animal | Group Name |
| Crows | Murder |
| Fireflies | Swarm |
| Jellyfish | Smack |
| Rhinoceros | Crash |
| Porcupines | Prickle |
These terms vocally illustrate some attribute of how the animals gather together or interact as a group. The whimsical names add color to the language and specificity when describing animal behavior.
What are some other terms used for groups of frogs?
While an army is the most conventional way to describe a large assemblage of frogs, there are some other creative and obscure terms that can be used as well:
- Colony – A colony denotes a closely knit community working toward a common cause. The teamwork of frogs communally migrating or hunting applies here.
- Knot – This refers to a tangle or clustered mass. A knot may form when tadpoles swarm together.
- Nest – While less common for frogs than birds, this implies a settled habitat or spawning location.
- Flotilla – A nautical term that whimsically compares the frogs to a fleet of ships or boats.
Contextual Examples of Frog Group Terms
Here are some examples of how the different terms for groups of frogs may be appropriately used in context:
- There was an army of tiny frogs marching across the road after the heavy rainfall created ideal migration conditions.
- Peering into the pond, the children could see a colony of frogs had gathered to lay eggs and begin a new generation.
- The dense knot of squirming tadpoles propelled itself through the warm shallows hunting for food.
- That mossy bank along the river makes an ideal nest for the frogs to safely spawn in.
- A flotilla of lily pads drifted across the pond, each supporting a basking frog.
What does a group of toads called?
Toads, which are closely related to frogs, can also congregate in large numbers. Some potential terms for a group of toads include:
- A knot of toads
- A nest of toads
- A swarm of toads
- A confederacy of toads
The most common choice would be a knot or confederacy of toads. The word confederacy underscores how toads tend to gather for a shared purpose or goal, much like an army of frogs.
Differences between Toads and Frogs
Although they look similar, there are some key differences between toads and frogs:
| Feature | Toads | Frogs |
| Skin Texture | Dry, warty | Moist, smooth |
| Body Shape | Short, squat | Lean, elongated |
| Habitat | Mostly land | Mostly water |
| Locomotion | Crawling | Hopping, swimming |
However, toads and frogs both produce toxins, lay eggs in water, hibernate, and eat insects, worms, and other small prey.
What do you call a group of tadpoles?
Some options for terms to describe a group of tadpoles include:
- A school of tadpoles
- A swarm of tadpoles
- A knot of tadpoles
Tadpoles tend to congregate in large schools after hatching. Their constant wriggling motion also brings to mind the term swarm. And given their small size, densely packing together resembles a tangled knot.
The Tadpole Life Cycle
Tadpoles go through a complex transformation in their development from eggs to adult frogs:
- Eggs are fertilized by male frogs and laid in water by females.
- After hatching from eggs, tadpoles emerge. They initially have gills and tails.
- Over weeks to months, tadpoles develop legs and lungs as their gills disappear.
- Their tails shrink as frogs evolve. They leave the water once fully matured.
This metamorphosis allows tadpoles to start as aquatic organisms before adapting to life on land. Their schooling behavior provides protection while going through these drastic bodily changes.
What are baby frogs called?
Young newly hatched frogs are referred to as either froglets or polliwogs. Both terms are more specific ways to describe baby frogs than just using the generic term tadpole:
- Froglets – The term for recently hatched frogs after their tadpole stage, but before adulthood.
- Polliwogs – A folksy word used more often in the past to describe frog eggs and newly hatched tadpoles.
Froglets is the more modern and common name used by biologists and nature experts when discussing baby frogs post-metamorphosis. Polliwog is rarely used in scientific context now.
Stages of Froglet Maturation
Froglets undergo additional phases on their way to maturity:
- Emergent Froglet – The frog has just emerged from the water. Still has some external gills and tail.
- Little Froglet – The frog has absorbed its tail. Fully terrestrial but still very small.
- Older Froglet – Resembles an adult frog. But smaller with some faint patterning.
- Subadult Frog – A nearly mature frog close to its full adult size.
The emergent froglet phase connects the transition from aquatic-based tadpole to land-dwelling adult frog. It takes between 12 weeks to over a year to reach adult development depending on the specific frog species.
Conclusion
In summary, some key points about the terms used to describe groups of frogs include:
- The most common term is an army of frogs, describing their vast numbers marching on land or through water.
- Other possible terms are colony, knot, nest, or flotilla based on how frogs cluster in different settings.
- Toad group names like knot and confederacy draw parallels to frogs.
- Tadpole and froglet are specific terms used for the young life stages.
- The life cycle of frogs involves a dramatic metamorphosis across stages.
Understanding the terminology for frog groupings provides greater insight into how these amphibians behave in the wild across their development. Observing frog colonies, knots, flotillas, and armies interact can be an engaging way to connect with nature.
