Frog Butt: Everything There is to Know

Although you may have had a detailed look at frog anatomy in high school, you may not have paid much attention to the frog’s butt.

That’s probably because you dissected a Leopard Frog which does not have buttcheeks like the photo you saw on Social Media.

So, do frogs really have “Frog butts”?

As a general rule, frogs do not have well-defined human-like buttcheeks since frogs do not sit on their rear ends at a 90° angle as humans do. Frogs generally have a pointed or rounded vent (or butt). However, some frogs do have what look like human-like buttcheeks.

Let’s have a look at everything there is to know about a frog’s rear end, including some myths and incredible facts you may never have thought about.

The Frog Butt Photo is Real

You may have seen a photo of a frog butt that looks much like a human rear end on social media. The photo is real and is of a Common Rain Frog’s vent.

But most frogs have a slightly pointed or round rear end that does not have cheeks:

A frog’s rear end is usually enveloped by their long legs that help them climb or swim:

But some toads have what may look like bum cheeks underneath their rear end:

However, never hold frogs like the girl in the picture above.

Some Frogs Have Human-Like Butt Cheeks 

Frogs generally do not have human-like butt cheeks since frogs do not sit on their rear ends at a 90° angle as humans do. Frogs generally have a pointed or rounded vent. However, some frogs do have what look like butt cheeks on their posterior or rear underbelly.

Here are examples of some frogs that have what may look like small human-like bum cheeks, from an observational standpoint:

Most of the frogs in the list above tend to be larger in size compared to a wide variety of frogs that are tiny.

Smaller frogs generally do not have well-defined posterior, rear “butt cheeks”, or they are too small to observe.

Some frogs have chubby hind legs that may look like rear ends like this African Clawed Frog:

Some frogs have chubby hind legs that may look like a bum where their legs join together at their vent:

However, most frogs do not have defined rear-ends like humans, and rather have pointed or rounded rear-ends.

The Scientific Term For “Frog Butt” is Vent

The “cloaca” is a common terminal chamber of the genital, urinary, reproductive, and gastrointestinal systems in frogs. The vent is the external opening of the cloaca and is the exit point for feces, urine, and sperm or eggs depending on the gender of the frog. 

This means frogs have one exit way for urinating, defecating, and reproducing by amplexus: their vent.

Although in human terms, the “butt” generally refers to buttcheeks, not all frogs have well-defined rear ends like the one in the picture above.

Human buttcheeks are very practical since they provide extra cushioning when we sit.

But frogs do not sit on their rear ends.

Rather, they tend to rest their body laying on their belly and all fours.

We need the extra cushioning on our rear ends, frogs generally do not.

Learn more about frog anatomy in this complete guide on our blog.

Some Bugs Can Escape A Frog Butt Alive 

An aquatic beetle called Regimbartia attenuata is capable of escaping the vent of a frog,  like the Pelophylax nigromaculatus, by provoking the frog to excrete and help it escape its digestive system.

Most bugs cannot escape a frog’s stomach because of the PH levels and acidity.

But, since frogs swallow their prey live and whole, some bugs like the Regimbartia attenuata, are capable of escaping the vent of 5 different frog species within 6 hours of being eaten. 

The scientist who carried out this study tried putting wax on some of the beetle’s legs and those that had wax on their legs did not manage to escape the frog’s vent.

He used this trick to demonstrate that the beetles probably use their legs to escape the frog’s digestive system.

Some Frogs Use Their Butt to Communicate

Red-Eyed Tree Frogs defend their territories by shaking their rear ends through a process called “tremulation.” If a male Red-Eyed Tree Frog enters the territory of another Red-Eyed Tree Frog, they may enter into a vibrational battle for the territory. 

Red-Eyed Tree Frogs may shake their rear ends, their whole bodies, and the branches around them to fend off other males.

The dominant male winner stays in the territory to wait for female frogs to mate with. Shaking their bum is a way for these frogs to communicate and show dominance.

Questions Related to Frog Butt

Do all Frogs Have Defined Buttcheeks? Most frogs do not have well-defined buttcheeks similar to those of humans. Most frogs have a pointed or rounded rear-end since frogs do not sit on their rear ends like humans.

What is Another Meaning Of “Frog Butt”? “Frog Butt” also refers to a human’s heart-shaped rear end that is generally flat, saggy, and undefined. This is a derogatory term that is generally intended as an insult.

Sources

Active escape of prey from predator vent via the digestive tract, Shinji Sugiura,  VOLUME 30, ISSUE 15, PR867-R868, AUGUST 03, 2020 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.06.026

NBC News, Scientists Get Frog to Shake His Booty