How does a frog eat a mouse? - briefly
The frog snaps a sticky, projectile tongue onto the mouse, retracts it into the mouth, and then uses strong jaw muscles to swallow the prey whole.
How does a frog eat a mouse? - in detail
A frog captures a mouse through a series of coordinated actions that begin with sensory detection and end with enzymatic breakdown.
First, visual and tactile receptors locate the rodent near the water’s edge or on a moist surface. The frog’s large, forward‑facing eyes provide depth perception, while mechanoreceptors on the tongue tip sense subtle vibrations.
Second, the amphibian rapidly extends its tongue. Muscular contraction of the hyoid apparatus propels the tongue forward at speeds up to 1 m s⁻¹. The tongue surface is coated with a sticky mucus that adheres instantly to the prey’s fur and skin.
Third, once contact is made, the tongue retracts, pulling the mouse into the mouth. The jaw muscles close, and the frog’s powerful maxillae press the animal against the palate.
Fourth, the frog positions the mouse for ingestion. The oral cavity expands, allowing the prey to pass the glottis without obstruction. The frog then swallows whole; the esophagus contracts in peristaltic waves that move the mouse toward the stomach.
Fifth, digestion commences in the stomach, where gastric glands secrete hydrochloric acid and proteolytic enzymes such as pepsin. The acidic environment denatures proteins, while enzymes cleave peptide bonds, reducing the mouse to a nutrient‑rich chyme. The small intestine absorbs amino acids, lipids, and minerals, and waste is expelled through the cloaca.
Key physiological features that enable this process include:
- Highly elastic tongue and hyoid bone for rapid projection and retraction.
- Sticky mucus containing glycoproteins for secure adhesion.
- Strong jaw muscles and flexible cranial kinesis for handling large prey.
- Acidic gastric secretions and potent enzymes for efficient breakdown of vertebrate tissue.
Overall, the frog’s feeding mechanism combines precise sensory input, ballistic tongue deployment, and robust digestive chemistry to consume and assimilate a mouse in its entirety.