Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) photo: iStockphoto/Mark Kostich
Here is a recent link to an article in Science Daily about new research on Bd. Published in the journal PLos Biology on March 25th, scientists working in South and Central America have come up with the “spreading pathogen hypothesis”. This theory has Batrachochytrium dendrobaditis spreading in a wave like fashion. The article explains how there have been many thoughts on Bd, some related to climate change and global warming. The bottom line is that the fungus can be spread through a number of ways. Finding ways to treat massive numbers of amphibians and the environment may be the only way to keep Bd from decimating amphibian populations.
The Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) is probably the most common salamander to most of the Northeastern U.S. As far as I’m concerned, it’s beauty is unmatched by an amphibian in New York. The juveniles, like the one above are called eft’s. The eft grows out of it’s larval stage in the pond and can be seen wandering the forest. They will roam as a toxic skinned eft for several years before they reach sexual maturity. They morph again into an aquatic adult and return to the pond to breed. In the adult aquatic stage, one can tell the males from the females by the broader fin like tail. Often the male has larger hind limbs. In the water, out on land, and in the water again! What a complex life cycle!
This is the time of year when you can find frogs on any rainy night crossing roads in Western New York. Spring is finally here when you first hear the Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer). The sound of Peepers calling is a sure sign of warmer nights. Imagine these nights without the calls that we take for granted. In some parts of the world, the sounds of frogs calling has already ceased. Be sure to take advantage of these nights and take a walk to see how many different types of frogs you can see.
The Bornean Flat-Headed Frog (Barbourula kalimantanensis) is an endangered frog only known from two locations in Indonesia. In fact, according to the Global Amphibian Assessment, previously it had only been found twice – 20 years apart. Recently, it has been re-discovered and it was found not to have lungs! There are only a few amphibians known not to have lungs, none are frogs. Just a few salamanders and the caecilians. Read about this amazing new discovery here!
The Agile Frog (Rana dalmatina) is critically endangered on the British isle of Jersey off the coast of France. In this You Tube post, John Cleese describes the threats to the species, which include habitat loss and pollution. Certainly we can see a common theme as to why amphibians need our help! Cleese also describes the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust’s efforts to headstart newly morphed froglets back into the wild – a practice that has helped many amphibian and reptile species gain strength in numbers over the years.
I took this image today of a Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum), in a small pond in Livingston county. Often after a rain (like last night), females will lay clusters of eggs. The clusters can contain 50 to 250 eggs. The eggs are protected by a jelly that swells as it absorbs water. The eggs should hatch within 20 to 60 days. Females lay the eggs after being inseminated with spermatophores deposited by males. Usually, there are many males and it is possible that females are inseminated by more than one male. I am not sure if this is a male or a female. There is usually fierce competition between males and they will lay spermatophores over spermatophores. You can see the spermatophores in the image appearing as cloudy white.
The Golden Dart Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is probably the most poisonous frog in the world. Often it is listed as the most poisonous vertebrate. Native to Columbia, this frog is endangered, and only found in a few locations near the Pacific coast. The major threats to this frog include deforestation to make room for agriculture and human development. As toxic as this frog is, there is a snake (Leimadopis epinephelus) that is immune to it’s poison. This frog can make up a large part of its diet.
