Written for:  Carpe Diem #1449 – River Frog

Kajika Frog (River Frog or “Singing Frog” or “River Deer”

Kajika or “singing frog” is the Japanese singing frog, known for its “fififi” call, is brown or gray-black. Other frogs merely croak or call, but this frog sings. In Japan it was once common to keep the singing frog in a special box, the better to hear its beautiful song, which, it is said, has a cooling effect in the heat of summer. The singing frog has webbed hind- but not fore-feet; the tips of fingers and toes have truncated discs, the better for gripping wet stones. The skin on the back is grainy. Males are 3-4.5 cm long, females are bigger, at 4-8 cm.
You can find them in mountain streams bordered by woodland, from Honshu to Kyushu, ideally streams with plenty of fist-size stones.

cycling home
accompanied by the song of…