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How long do frogs live?

Kalie Hoffmann, age 11, St. Louis

Cricket frogs may live only one to two years, while chorus frogs may live two to three years. Treefrogs often live three to four years. Larger frogs, like bullfrogs and green frogs, can live up to 9 or 10 years.

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Are all catfish able to “fin” a person? And is it true that if you rub the fish’s stomach on the wound it will help with pain and healing?

Abbey McAfee, age 11, New London

All catfish have sharp stout spines in their dorsal and pectoral fins. The dorsal fin is the one on the back, and the pectoral fins are where its arms might be—if a catfish had arms. Catfish lock these spines when they are alarmed. Touch the tip of one and you’re stung or finned, as you say. The fleshy barbels near a catfish’s mouth look like stingers, but these just contain taste buds and are harmless.

Madtoms, minnow-sized members of the catfish family, have a bit of venom in their spines that’ll bring tears to your eyes and may cause an allergic reaction.

No one can say for sure that catfish slime has any medicinal value. Putting a cold fish on a painful wound might help reduce swelling and numb the pain, but you’d risk getting stung again. It’s likely an ice cube or a cold towel would work as well.

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Why do hen turkeys sometimes have beards?

Curtis D. Taylor, age 10, Wentzville

About 3 to 8 percent of hen turkeys grow beards, but we don’t know why. The beard’s bristles come from a patch of skin called the papilla (pa-peel-a).

All turkeys have papilla, but few hens grow beards from them. A turkey’s beard grows continuously throughout its life. Beards on female turkeys are usually no longer than 7 inches, while the record gobbler beard is almost 17 inches.