MAY 16 • 2024 | 53

Efraim Harari

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www.thejewishworldofwonderskidsmagazine.com 

Exploring thE Wild World of AnimAls is prEsEntEd By:

What Is That Bubble 
Under a Frog’s Mouth?

the second of the ten makkos that hashem brought 
upon mitzrayim was Makkas Tzefardei’a, the plague 
 
of frogs. 

All of the makkos were intended to teach the Jews, 
as well as the Egyptians, that there is a Creator Who 
is directly concerned and involved in the affairs of 
humankind. the greatest proof that hashem, our 
Creator, cares about what we do is His justice system, 
particularly the way He acts with middah k’neged 
middah — measure for measure. 

how was the plague of frogs an act of middah 
 
k’neged middah? 

According to the Chida, it was because the 
Egyptians would make their babies scream and cry 
in order to track down the Jewish infants, who the 
Egyptians would then kill. Another explanation given 
is because the Egyptians had caused the Jewish mothers 
to scream and wail in anguish when their babies were 
thrown into the sea. As a punishment for this, hashem 
subjected all of Mitzrayim to the deafening and frightening 
croaking noises of the frogs. (Zevach Pesach, Malbim) 

Yet a third explanation is that the constant croaking of 
the frogs was a punishment to the Egyptians for causing 
the Jewish laborers to cry and moan. (Tosafos)

T

he bubble under a frog’s mouth is actually called a vocal 
sac. Vocal sacs are pouches of elastic skin membranes 
located beneath the floor of the frog’s mouth and 
are used as inflatable amplifiers. Vocal sacs enable frogs to 
amplify their famous, loud croaking sounds. When a vocal 
sac expands into its bubble-like shape, it makes the frog’s 
voice louder. When fully expanded, the vocal sac can be up 
to three times as big as the frog’s head!

most frog species have vocal sacs, but 
usually it is only the male frogs that have 
them. And while most frog species 
have just one vocal sac, there are 
some that have two — one on each 
corner of the mouth. 

the vocal sacs come in quite 
handy when the male frogs need 
to croak loudly enough to claim their 
territory. A croaking sound warns other 
males that a particular spot on the pond 
is already taken. depending on the species, 
frog calls can be heard up to one mile away!

It is interesting to note that frogs don’t all sound the same. 
A frog’s croak is unique to its species, and frogs can even 
identify the croaks of other frogs within the same species.

Torah Talk 

Not all frogs croak! 
Some chirp, whistle, ribbit, 
peep, or grunt instead.

No CroakINg ZoNe

JUST FOR KIDS

MAY 16 • 2024 | 53

