Cricket frogs, native to Virginia and North Carolina (USA), demonstrate an incredible ability to “run” across the surface of the water.. These amphibians challenge scientific understanding of animal physics and behavior.

However, scientists have revealed the secrets of frogs' superpower to jump across bodies of water.. A new study has found that these tailless creatures stay afloat through a series of fast jumps, SciTechDaily writes..

Understanding the skills of cricket frogs improves human understanding of animal locomotion and has potential implications for the development of advanced robotics and amphibious drones, scientists say.

Mechanical engineering professor Jake Socha led a research team that is investigating the cricket frog's unique skill of jumping on water, called skittering..

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Cricket frogs are known to be one of the smallest frogs in North America, easily fitting on the thumb of an average adult..

To observe the cricket frog in motion, members of Jake Soch's team used high-speed videography. They recorded the frog jumping on land and in water, observing the movement of its legs.

Researchers have discovered that frogs actually drown with each jump when watched in slow motion..

However, in nature they seem to float on water due to the speed of their movements..

By watching the frog in slow motion, team members could follow the movement as it retracted and extended its limbs. Experts also noticed that the angle of the frog's body to the waterline played an important role, giving it the ability to balance in the water.

The team observed frogs performing eight jumps in a row, each of which was completed in less than a second.. And this is an extraordinary skill, experts emphasize..