photo: John M. Adamski

The Vietnamese Mossy Frog (Theloderma corticale) is a master of disguise. Native to North Vietnam and possibly China, it is no surprise that it’s habits are not well known in the wild. Just come to the Zoo and try to find one! One of the most cryptic frogs I know, it is thought to lay it’s eggs in rock cavities of steep cliffs. The adults just look like an ordinary piece of moss when they close their eyes.

photo: John M. Adamski

The Blue and Yellow Poison Dart frog or Dyeing Dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) is one of the most colorful frogs I have ever seen. Native to areas in and around the Guiana shield, the Dyeing Dart frog is a rainforest species that can be found in small pockets at altitudes of around 350 meters or more. Soil erosion is one of this frog’s biggest threats, causing them to be often found at sea level. Tribal people rubbed the poisonous frogs on the feathers of young parrots causing the feathers to change colors from the chemical reaction of the poison and the feathers – hence the name Dyeing Dart frog. At the Seneca Park Zoo, during feeding time, these frogs often twitch their toes in anticipation of receiving insects!

photo: Peeling Productions

Make sure to stop in at the Seneca Park Zoo to see the new Frogs! exhibit. The exhibit, on loan from Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland, is a part of the larger Chorus of Colors exhibit that has been on display nationally at the American Museum of Natural History and the National Aquarium in Baltimore among others. The Frogs! exhibit features 5 beautiful habitats that are home to 7 species of frogs and 36 individuals. Over the next few weeks I will feature each species and explain how crucial these animals are to our environment. We are lucky to have the opportunity to host this exhibit which shows frogs in such a beautiful light. I can already see that this will be a popular attraction!

Make sure to download the newest edition of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Bulletin. You can download the PDF file here. The whole issue is dedicated to amphibians and the global amphibian crisis. Many of the articles in the bulletin were written by folks from AZA institutions.

photo: John M. Adamski

Researchers have proposed to describe priority regions for amphibian conservation in Latin America. The study was published in PLoS ONE this week. What is different about this study is that it prioritizes regions for conservation and also considers the biological traits of the species there. For instance, the species were separated into two major groups, those that have an aquatic larval stage and those that don’t. The researchers believe that the developmental stages of amphibians need to be considered in order for conservation measures to be successful.

Amphibians are master predators. Just take a look at this Tomato Frog (Dyscophus guineti) grab these crickets! What would we do without these animals taking care of insects for us? Amphibians are part of a chain that keep everything balanced and in check. Here you can see that amazingly long and sticky tongue grab the cricket. Also, if you notice, the eyes close as the frog swallows it’s prey. Some evidence suggests that the large bulging eyes of some frogs actually aid in pushing food items down the throat from the inside of the mouth. The frog is at no risk of injury to it’s eyes from the prey item either. This is not true for all frogs, the African clawed frog comes to mind.

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.

photo: John E. Adamski

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!

photo: John M. Adamski

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.

photo: AP, released by David Bickford

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!