Frogs' amazing leaps due to springy tendons
Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 03:30
in Biology & Nature
The secret to frogs' superlative jumping lies in their tendons. Researchers, filming frogs jumping at 500 frames per second with special X-ray technology, show that the frog's tendon stretches as it readies its leap and then recoils, much like a spring, when the frog jumps. The finding could explain how other animals are exceptional leapers.