When I was a kid, my grandpa would let us go down by the pond and catch frogs. We loved them as kids. They hopped around, made funny noises and had really long tongues that would fly out and get their next meal which was usually a fly.
It seems, however, that we weren’t the only ones that loved frogs. Frogs are the subjects of books, movies and cartoons. Frogs have never symbolized negativity. They were harmless and fun to watch. Over time, the frog has become a popular animal and people seem to love them so much they are willing to get one tattooed on their body.
Frogs have played a role in human spirituality for many years now. They represent qualities that are admirable. There are also many varieties of frogs which makes them perfect to be tattooed. Frogs come in all colors, sizes and shapes and will look which means your frog tattoo will be unique in itself. You can make it anything you want it to be in many styles. The frog is the perfect subject to be creative with.
Before we talk about the symbolism of the frog and the different tattoos we have seen, we feel it is important to understand more about the frog. In this post, we will dig into the frog and some great facts about this amphibian.
We will talk about what it symbolizes and what it means to those who have the frog tattoo. We will also talk about some different variations of the frog tattoo, so you can get some ideas about what you might want to do. You should have a better understanding of the frog when all is said and done.
About the Frog
A frog is a broad term and defines an animal that is a member of the order Anura. Frogs are primarily carnivorous, are tailless amphibians and have short bodies. The oldest frog ever discovered is called the “proto-frog” and is a fossil of a frog that came up in Madagascar early Triassic.
However, molecular clock dating says the frog’s origins may go back 265 million years to the Permian. There are around 5,000 recorded species of frogs and around 85% of all amphibians. They are extremely diverse and fascinating.
Frogs have an interesting life cycle and they go through some very big changes along the way. Frogs start as an egg laid in the water in large masses. From there, the egg hatches into a tadpole and focuses on eating, growing and surviving. Tadpoles have a tail to move through the water and gills to breathe.
They only live in water at this point. The tadpole then sprouts legs and then some arms. Their body is getting bigger and their head is more pronounced. At this point, it still uses gills to breathe and the tail to propel through the water. From there, the tadpole turns into a froglet. At this point, it is using its lungs to breathe and has almost absorbed its tail completely. Then it is off to adulthood. There are many changes happening and this might lead to some important symbolism down the road.
As we mentioned before, there are thousands of different frogs and some cool facts about them. The Surinam toad lays up to 100 eggs and then places them all on her back. Her skin will start to grow around the eggs forming a honeycomb-like structure. When the babies hatch, they start crawling out of the back.
Another interesting frog fact involving the life cycle comes from Darwin’s frog. When these frogs hatch, the male swallows all of them and holds them in his vocal sac for around 60 days and then coughs them up when they have grown.
Frog Tattoo Meaning
Since we’re done with the fun facts, let’s talk about what the frog tattoo symbolizes. When getting a frog tattoo, there are a few different things the frog alone can represent. These include fertility, abundance metamorphosis, transformation, rebirth, cleansing, renewal, ancient wisdom and life mysteries.
As you can see, there is a lot of symbolism to choose from. Before you get this tattoo, you should think about what it means to you and what the frog tattoo will represent. You may even want to invoke some of these traits by getting the frog tattoo that’s okay too. Either way, you’ll have a cool-looking tattoo.
Frog Tattoo Variations
There are many types of frogs so as you can imagine, there are plenty of ways you can get a frog tattoo. Below are some of the more popular choices when getting your frog tattoo.
Tree Frog Tattoo
The red-eyed tree frog is one of the coolest-looking frogs in existence if you ask us. This little green frog with big red eyes is one of the most popular frogs to have tattooed. For a frog, one might consider this frog handsome and a cool fact about the red-eyed tree frog; Their bright green color blends in with the leaves where it lays motionless for long periods of time. If they feel threatened, they will instantly open their big eyes which have a tendency to startle their predators.
Bullfrog Tattoo
The bullfrog is big in comparison to most frogs. It used to only be found in North America, but you can now find these frogs worldwide. You will see these frogs in green, brown or grey colors and their skin is bumpy and has a camouflage pattern to blend into its surroundings. They are called the bullfrog because of their call that sounds “cowish”.
Tribal Frog Tattoo
The tribal frog is another way someone will get the frog tattoo. Because of its prehistoric lineage and the history behind tribal tattoos, the version of the frog tattoo goes well with one another. If you are a fan of the style, the frog tattoo is a perfect option.
Kermit the Frog Tattoo
We can’t forget Kermit the Frog. Kermit was the most well-known Muppet and made his first appearance in 1955. People with an affinity toward the Muppets or who watched them as a kid might have a great reason to get the Kermit the Frog tattoo. Kermit is a legendary character and there will be no question who is tattooed on your body.