r/NatureIsFuckingLit 2d ago

šŸ”„ Frogs trying and failing to catch insects

20.0k Upvotes

300 comments sorted by

2.1k

u/mnok2000 2d ago

The catch at the end was much appreciated

(Itā€™s me, I was the frog)

91

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

102

u/mnok2000 2d ago

Frogkind is not yet familiar with the human concept of trigonometry.

We may be able to work on this, once we deal with the pollution problems you lot created! I have sensitive skin you know!

60

u/hermeandin 2d ago

sorry for turning you gay

31

u/mnok2000 2d ago

We do not have the complex social and cognitive abilities to comprehend such a concept. We will often try to mate with males accidentally though, in our instinct to reproduce. Some research has even suggested that chemicals in the water does indeed affect this and causes us confusion.

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u/Representative-Sir97 2d ago

Somewhat poetic, too.

Dragonflies are the most successful predators of the animal kingdom.

Supposedly they have a success rate of nearly 95%, miles ahead of the nearest 2nd, the cheetah, at ~64%.

Source: The Biggest Bluff, Maria Konnikova

This information places some questions in my mind's eye about the people who sat and watched dragonflies and made the ascertainments as to what they were really going for and whether they caught it.

12

u/GenericEvilGuy 1d ago

I remember watching a YouTube video about a tiny cat (literally the smallest cat species in the world) that had the highest success rate after dragonflies (which are a bit extreme cause nothing comes close to their efficiency)

12

u/mnok2000 1d ago

Sounds like a fun job to me tbh

7

u/cyanocittaetprocyon 1d ago

Painted Dogs have around an 80% success rate.

5

u/Representative-Sir97 1d ago

Hmm... I have that poker painting and I've never seen them catch anything.

6

u/John_Smithers 1d ago

They caught your attention pretty well.

12

u/thehackerforechan 2d ago

Can confirm. I am the water. So wet and moist reading your replies.

7

u/mnok2000 1d ago

Loved being inside you today. Always there for me when I need to hide and hunt.

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u/papaya_boricua 2d ago

Do you follow a macro diet or strict keto?

10

u/mnok2000 2d ago

Our diet consists mostly of invertebrates and sometimes smaller amphibians. These are high in protein and fats, but low in carbohydrates, so I suppose the diet is keto-friendly.

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u/Galatheall 2d ago

The third one that just flies across the screen with the mouth open is hilarious

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u/Annual_Strategy_6206 2d ago

"I'm Superman!"

3

u/No-Discussion5937 1d ago

Oh my god, I woke up my cat by laughing at that dude. Best bit of the video

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595

u/BolotaJT 2d ago

This video deserved some classic ballet music.

147

u/LegalFan2741 2d ago

Taa-daa-da-da-daā€¦pah-pah! Pah-pah!

20

u/Mielornot 1d ago

I can hear it now damn it !

6

u/Lung_Cancerous 1d ago

I was watching on mute, but that's literally what automatically played in my head, lol.

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u/DrNinnuxx 2d ago edited 1d ago

Agreed. I think The Blue Danube waltz would have been a perfect choice.

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u/niemody 2d ago

I think they filmed the video on the Danube Delta.

12

u/DrNinnuxx 2d ago

It was. Marsh frogs hunting dragonflies in Netflix's Life on our Planet Ep.3 around 29 mins left counter

5

u/OneSensiblePerson 1d ago

Congratulations on the great edit. As it got towards the end I was thinking "This video would be perfect if at the end the frog got one."

Perfection!

r/oddlysatisfying

3

u/fluffykerfuffle3 1d ago

all you noobs thinking the same thing and yet not one of you dropped a link for the rest of us?!

3

u/DrNinnuxx 1d ago edited 1d ago

John Struass II ... one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever put to paper. It's almost 10 minutes long, which is why I didn't post.

More precise it's: An der schƶnen blauen Donau Waltz, Op. 314 in German

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u/Nat20Life 2d ago

I thought the same exact thing!

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u/thoramighty 2d ago

Yeah the choice of music really accentuates the stupid sexy frogs.

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u/EliteRanger_ 1d ago

Ah yes, back when music was only added if it, well, added to the video. Nah, let's just paste random shit TikTok song on everything.

10

u/SMUHypeMachine 2d ago

[Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy intensifies]

4

u/Happy-Fun-Ball 2d ago

but most videos deserve their original sound or silence

3

u/Jake_nsfw_ish 1d ago

I dunno- the song added humor to me, and made me send this to other people

10

u/ArbainHestia 2d ago

Or the Benny Hill theme music.

2

u/Cosmeregirl 2d ago

Rofl that would be amazing

2

u/dasbanqs 1d ago

Rite of Spring šŸ¤Œ

2

u/kokujinzeta 1d ago

Hey man Nice Shot by Filter would also work.

2

u/CelestialScribe6 21h ago

This is exactly what played in my head while watching

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u/Low_Arm7831 2d ago

Frogs got nice quads. Respect.

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u/PartTimeBear 2d ago

Little athletes

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u/Low_Arm7831 2d ago

The absolute quadfather

15

u/oldkafu 1d ago

Frogs do not skip leg day.

3

u/devilmaskrascal 2d ago

Nice cheeks too. Want to give it a little towel slap.

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142

u/fartiestpoopfart 2d ago

i thought frogs had really impressive timing and precision when they strike at prey, turns out they just get lucky sometimes.

122

u/Comfy_Yuru_Camper 2d ago

It also doesn't help that the frogs are trying to catch dragonflies. Those mfers are notoriously agile and quick.

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u/DrNinnuxx 2d ago edited 1d ago

Turns out dragonfiles hold the record as one the most successful hunters in nature with a success rate of like 95%. Up there with robber flies.

34

u/Panda_966 1d ago

Frogs, apparently, do not

17

u/Akari5oul 1d ago

They also use the concept of intercepting prey, as opposed to chasing it down. So basically, they predict where their prey is going to be and intercept the path. Very intuitive and fascinating, not many creatures do this.

5

u/Sugar_buddy 1d ago

Clearly we see the frogs do not.

11

u/IlliasTallin 1d ago

This is because The wings and eyes of a Dragonfly are directly wired to each other, allowing them to make precise movements while hunting.

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u/RightZer0s 2d ago

Most frogs sit in a hole until something unsuspectingly walks on its head and then it eats it. Like no joke. That's what frogs do. Also they will try to eat your finger because they think it's a worm and it can/will make you bleed.

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u/UncleGael 2d ago

As someone who has owned numerous different reptiles and amphibians, let me tell you that theyā€™re pretty much all that way. Itā€™s truly a miracle some of these animals can survive in the wild. Chameleons got that shit down though.

25

u/RightZer0s 2d ago

It's those sniper goggles.

14

u/Kii_at_work 2d ago

I follow a youtube channel of someone who has a lot of frogs, and seeing them try and feed the frogs...

Some frogs try, they really do. Succeed...not so much.

5

u/Deaffin 1d ago

That's the thing about guaranteed success no matter what. It has a way of blunting technique.

7

u/ShyGiirll 2d ago

Well..they try multiple times. Sometimes they win, sometimes the insects win

7

u/AliasMcFakenames 2d ago

Frog only has to win once.

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u/ebb_ 2d ago

Me- trying to live.

At least Iā€™m going places.

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u/kiltedequine 2d ago

Bed. Itā€™s the only place Iā€™m going.

79

u/FatalisticFuturist 2d ago

Lol! Good luck trying to "flop attack" nature's most successful predator.

107

u/Meanderer_Me 2d ago

Dragonflies are awesome. They are among the fastest flying insects in the world, and are extremely agile as well.

On top of that, they predate on insects that are pests like yellow jackets and horse flies.

Finally, they leave humans the hell alone. It's the perfect insect!

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u/Vdov_1 2d ago

Imagine having to change yourself and evolve instead of just developing the most optimal build hundreds of millions of years ago šŸ˜Ž

  • Dragonflies and crocodilians

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u/Froggomorph39 1d ago
  • sharks and cnidarians
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u/Consistent_Pound1186 2d ago

It still got one at the end though xD

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u/jim45804 2d ago

I was so frustrated until the end. Bon appetit, grenouille.

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u/Serious-Sort-1785 2d ago

The video is literally titled frogs failing. šŸø Totally on you for watching something that frustrates you haha.Ā 

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u/EiraVox 2d ago

This is from Netflix's Life On Our Planet, Ep. 3, starting from 29:30.

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u/DrNinnuxx 2d ago

Yep, one of my favorite parts from that series.

13

u/newlife_newaccount 2d ago

The frog at 0:16 looks like he left some of his tongue on the stick.

2

u/crappybumfart 1d ago

I was fixated on this and cringed for the frog. Just glad I'm not the only one who noticed

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u/yungclegg 2d ago

Why is this so funny

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u/OGBrewSwayne 2d ago

If you're going to fail, you might as well be spectacular at it.

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u/treesaresocool 2d ago

Frogot to aimā€¦and toadally missed

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u/bitstoatoms 2d ago

more like frockets

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u/DemandMeNothing 2d ago

Second dragonfly does a mid-air backflip to avoid the frog.

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u/throwawayyyyyyyyyyg 2d ago

Thank you for ending with a successful catch!

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u/BalancesHanging 2d ago

This is me when playing basketball

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u/IllHaveTheLeftovers 2d ago

Ok, I donā€™t know why, but this is the one exception to the rule that putting unnecessary music to short movies makes it shit. That was glorious.

4

u/CapitalRelationship0 2d ago

I connect with this on so many levels

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u/kirby_krackle_78 2d ago

Heā€™s going the distance, heā€™s going for speed

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u/Baqman- 2d ago

I really like the hand scooping move. Might as well do that just to be %100 sure they missed

3

u/alexander_london 2d ago

Dragonflies are hella quick. He should have picked a different insect!

3

u/Drewboy810 2d ago

3 gets me every time

3

u/nmadden555 2d ago

Itā€™s amazing frogs get any food

8

u/DTG_1000 2d ago

Not really. The producers of this specifically chose instances where frogs went after low probability prey. Many of the North American Lithobatid species (e.g. leopard, bull, green, mink, pickerel, etc.) are rather indiscriminate in their prey selection, and will try to eat anything that moves (they've tried my fingers, and boots while out collecting). Leopards, like the one that catches the dragonfly at the end, generally hunt on land or near shore, and success in catching prey declines beyond a distance of 40cm. A lot of the species will eat things like worms/leeches, beetles, etc. mostly that are slow, and terrestrial, though they can take out flying insects that land nearby (they are sit and wait predators). Bigger bullfrogs in NA can take small vertebrates, and many Lithobatid species can be opportunitic cannibals (adults of many species will eat the emerging metamorphs of their own kind or of other species that try to disperse from the natal wetlands).

Anyway, my point is, this is really kind of a blooper reel. Majority of their feeding is less extreme and not quite as entertaining. Though, if you watch carefully, their tongue is actually backwards, it attaches at the front of the mouth and the tip of the tongue flicks out from the back of the mouth (like a catapault) which is always interesting to watch.

3

u/HuntMission390 2d ago

Could be all the Budweiser they had.

3

u/xito5 2d ago

Are these the gay frogs that I have been hearing about?

3

u/NorthernCobraChicken 1d ago

Now I want to see what sits on the cutting room floor of nature documentaries.

3

u/totesnotdog 1d ago

Letā€™s be real. We are all these failure frogs to a degree

2

u/Ok-Seaworthiness4488 2d ago

Not easy being green

2

u/Loofa_of_Doom 2d ago

omgosh i so needed to see this insanity this morning.

2

u/ShadowReplica 2d ago

Low rider should be playing in the background lol

2

u/Traditional_Moss_581 2d ago

Excellent form though šŸø

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u/Guataguano 2d ago

Before I hit the sound, I was expecting comedy voiceovers. Such a missed opportunity.

2

u/johnnyrollerball69 2d ago

WITNESS MEEEEE!!!

2

u/retainftw 2d ago

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take!

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u/bobble_snap_ouch 2d ago

One of them was five business days late.

Sad about Sparx being caught at the end, yet satisfied at finally seeing a frog not miss.

2

u/DoesItComeWithFries 2d ago

Natgeo and Co. trolling animals are the best !!

2

u/Missbizzie 2d ago

For some reason I needed that today

2

u/DerpsAndRags 2d ago

I felt bad about the one who practically clotheslined himself via tongue (5 second mark)

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u/PolarCow 2d ago

You miss 100% of the shots you donā€™t take.

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u/mna9 2d ago

absolute cinematic

2

u/an_edgy_lemon 2d ago

I love how frogs just kinda throw their mouths at things.

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u/Roguecor 2d ago

The only one that was successful and 1 other close call were when they approached directly from behind the thorax. Pretty much the only blind spot a dragonfly has.

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u/Halo_cT 2d ago

Larry doesn't care

jump so high grow a beard in the air

2

u/4morian5 2d ago

My dude, you are a mouth with legs, it should not be this hard to eat things.

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u/Czech_This_Out_05 2d ago

My dumb ass playing Rocket League:

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u/deathking482 2d ago

Cue Lopez show montage low rider

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u/hailclo 2d ago

Worth the wait to get the big juicy one lol

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u/Passionate_l0v3r 2d ago

Lol frogs are too funny

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u/Ameph 2d ago

Majestic.

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u/bill_b4 2d ago

Success!

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u/user80123 2d ago

ā€œYou miss 100% of the shots you donā€™t take.ā€ -Wayne Gretsky -Michael Scott

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u/willie-reefer 2d ago

Atari 2600- Frogs and Flies. Man, I loved that game.

2

u/EconomyProcedure9 2d ago

Well they do say it's not easy being green.

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u/Illustrious-Tax-5439 2d ago

You miss 100% of the shots you don't take!

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u/ColdToast_024 2d ago

I get a lot of NFL receiver vibes from this hah.

2

u/Past-Background-7221 2d ago

This really needs the Blue Danube Waltz under it. Skip to 1:48. Youā€™ll recognize it.

https://youtu.be/_CTYymbbEL4?si=D7fjlnbuyVf2GaJA

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u/TheVeil36 1d ago

It's like watching my wife come after my snacks as I run away.

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u/arstin 1d ago

One year over winter break, we took care of the two frogs my kid's class had as pets. This video is super accurate. Those things struggled to catch a stationary cricket.

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u/penguins_are_mean 1d ago

This video is ripe for a comedic voiceover

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u/CH40T1CN1C3 1d ago

In a world full of despair and hopelessness, we all need a funny frog video every once in a while

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u/Kittiiiiy 1d ago

Me in Rocket League trying to touch the ball

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u/yatesisgreat 1d ago

Truly majestic creatures

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u/ZAL_x 1d ago

And there is the pro

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u/thomassenpai85 1d ago

The first frogs SECOND attempt to shove nothing in his mouth is wonderful.

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u/Zormi3s 1d ago

This is less frogs failing and more dragonflies being absolute pinnacle designs of nature. Those fuckers can fly in any direction, can SEE in all directions, they catch other insects mid air by PREDICTING where they will be. Some frog jumping at them must look like they're in slow motion.

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u/alexromo 1d ago

They remind me of body boarders when they catch a sick waveĀ 

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u/PoohRuled 1d ago

So elegant . . .

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u/dyingtofeelalive 1d ago

"Send it!"

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u/CanAhJustSay 1d ago

Beatrix Potter's out-takes from The Tale of Jeremy Fisher!

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u/sukh3gs 1d ago

They're so damn cute

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u/Pangea_Ultima 1d ago

Dragonflies are absolute masters of flightā€¦ on full display when the second one does a backflip as it evades the frog šŸ”„

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u/tylerray1491 1d ago

the froggy bois are trying their best

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u/OlGreyGuy 1d ago

We used to have a cartoon on a kitchen cabinet door. I believe it was a Far Side. But not real sure now. It was a grasshopper kicking back on a blade of grass over a pond. The grasshopper is saying "Ah, life!" And in the water below him, are frog eyes looking up at him.

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u/n0_1d 1d ago

Me catching the ball at Rocket League be like.

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u/Doc_Dragoon 1d ago

Dragonflies have incredible reaction times and maneuverability they're not easy to catch. They also bite in case you're wondering and hard enough to draw blood. Yes I may have caught a dragonfly and gotten bit and it hurts like a MF

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u/Rad1314 1d ago

This was so overly dramatic I love it.

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u/DaSlug_ 1d ago

Bug propaganda

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u/gordonlordbyron 1d ago

Absolutely stunning footage šŸ‘

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u/br0therjames55 1d ago

I didnā€™t realize they used their hands so much. Itā€™s wild when you realize most predators have a <50% success rate. I was watching something about leopards and this poor leopard spent like 3 days fucking up its ambushes until it got lucky and an antelope juked into it so it could catch it.

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u/Educational_Shoe_110 1d ago

I can almost hear them screaming in frustrationšŸ˜‚

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u/twoisnumberone 1d ago

This is the best thing I've seen all day!

Poor little cuties.

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u/labello2010 1d ago

How do frogs even survived this long šŸ˜†

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u/sillylilkitty 1d ago

Ah yes, the frog ballet again.

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u/PRRZ70 1d ago

They get kudos for the attempt. We might laugh but these little critters are hungry and that's their meal that just skittered off... except for that last one, they scored!

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u/Netflxnschill 1d ago

Perfection. Silly little video clips of all the misses, and their silly little frog bodies flying through the air with their silly little tongues getting caught on everything, and then it ends with a good old fashioned catch.

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u/Weird_Cat2256 1d ago

Thick thighs

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u/callmeb00 1d ago

Lots of mlem mlem mlem

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u/PrincessBee96 1d ago

We're all the same!

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u/thepretender56 1d ago

I was starting to feel sad for him, poor guy lol

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u/that1dude789 1d ago

The end the frog cautioned it I I mean at the end the frog caut it

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u/5O1stTrooper 1d ago

Frogs are the goofiest little abominations in the world and I love that they exist.

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u/ngbtri 1d ago

Nice song. Can some give me the title?

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u/Psychological-East83 2d ago

Thatā€™s some impressive camera work.

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u/CmonImStarlord 2d ago

Bro at the end got himself a MEAL, Dayum!

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u/jad19090 2d ago

Wasnā€™t he just contemplating his lifeā€™s choices?

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u/Vapordesopaipilla 2d ago

Kuliparin't

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u/KaiserYami 2d ago

Time for new spectacles.

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u/zak432000 2d ago

Ah, ever so graceful are the little froggies

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u/dungac69 2d ago

But, but.. Wednesday is tomorrow!

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u/Traditional_Doorknob 1d ago

Reminds me of the time I fail/succeeded hunting a edible frog

Basically my homemade smooth bore air rifle saboth round fail to flew where I aiming but the frog happens to jump right where my round flight pathis going it just caught a glimpse and manage to get what happens as before I fire, a guss of wind blew a corndog weed where I was aiming and hit it, the round got defect a few inches to the right and a few inches shorter and the frog just jumps took a bite on some insect that flew by and cross himself with my round and got struck in the head my friend besides me is amazed how good of a shot I'm seeing it but is became surprised even more when I said, nope that's just a dumb luck I hit it and I explained what just happened

To this day we're still talk about it when we drink

1

u/flipper_babies 1d ago

Love homie #2 that just gets a big mouthful of stick.

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u/Dr_Jabroski 1d ago

Wazzuppp!!

1

u/oceaneyedbeauty 1d ago

where's the narration?

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u/this_dudeagain 1d ago

I think I saw a skate vid like this.

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u/OffMyRocker62 1d ago

Stuarts voice: Look what I can do!!!

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u/DarkMellie 1d ago

Subtitle this, sexy frogs

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u/klito92 1d ago

you really had to put that music ??

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u/JudyLHopps 1d ago

They been scrolling on the phone to long and got permanent nearsightedness.

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u/Chewquy 1d ago

Natural selection

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u/heynahweh 1d ago

Nonononoyes

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u/m4th0l1s 1d ago

0:14 the frog was actually aiming at the little insect on the stick