What Is an Amphibian?What Is an Amphibian?

• Vertebrate– Animal with a backbone

• Cold-Blooded – Use their surroundings to warm up or cool

down

• Amphibian = 2 Lives– 1st in the water--breathing with gills

• Lay eggs→hatch→metamorphose

– 2nd on land--breathing with lungs

What is an Amphibian?What is an Amphibian?

• Frogs and Toads• Newts and Salamanders

Where do Frogs Live?Where do Frogs Live?• Rivers and streams• Lakes, ponds and

marshes• Grasslands• Forests

Global Amphibian Global Amphibian DistributionDistribution

• 6,307 species of amphibians world-wide

Frogs in TexasFrogs in Texas

• 63 species of amphibians in Texas– 42 species of frogs and toads

• 4 species threatened• 1 species endangered• 1 extirpated

– About 30 species of salamanders• 6 species threatened• 2 species endangered

Frogs vs. ToadsFrogs vs. Toads

• Smooth or slimy skin• Strong long legs

with webbed feet for jumping and leaping

• Lay eggs in clusters• A Group of frogs is

called– An ARMY of frogs

• Warty and dry skin• Stubby bodies with

short hind legs for hopping

• Lay eggs in chains• A Group of toads is

called– A KNOT of toads

What do Frogs Eat?What do Frogs Eat?

• Frogs are Carnivores– Carnivores eat other animals – Frogs eat

• Insects• Snails• Spiders • Worms• Small fish• Other small aquatic and terrestrial animals

Life Cycle

RespirationRespiration• Frogs can breath through their

skinThat’s why their skin needs to be

moist!!

Why are they Important?Why are they Important?• An important part of the Ecosystem

– They eat insects and other small animals and other animals eat them

• Provide Benefits to Humans– Source of Medicine– Control insects and insect-borne diseases

• Indicators of Environmental Health– Permeable skin can absorb and concentrate

toxins making them sensitive to environmental changes

• Role in Culture and Religion

What’s Happening to What’s Happening to Frogs?Frogs?

• 32% of the world’s amphibian species are threatened with extinction.

• Up to 122 species may have gone extinct since 1980.

• At least 43% of all species are declining in population size.

Habitat LossHabitat Loss

• Ponds and wetlands are being filled in to use the land for other purposes

• Rainforests are being cut down to create land for farming and ranching

• Habitat is being destroyed to build roads and buildings

Habitat FragmentationHabitat Fragmentation

• Habitat fragmentation is the breaking apart of habitat in smaller pieces.

• Once they leave their pond, frogs and toads may travel across land to many different habitats to eat or hibernate.

• However, if a large road or a town is built, then the frogs may not be able to travel back to a pond to lay their eggs.

• No eggs→no new frogs!

PollutionPollution

• Rain can wash chemicals and pollutants into streams, ponds, rivers and lakes.

• The chemicals don’t only pollute the water but also seep into a frog’s skin.

• These chemicals can affect tadpole development and behavior, development of male frogs, and the number of tadpoles produced.

DiseaseDisease

• Chytrid Fungus– A fungus that is believed to slowly suffocate

frogs by attacking the skin through which they breathe

– The chytrid fungus is spreading rapidly and affecting amphibians worldwide.

• Malformations• Frogs that have extra or missing limbs• Caused by…

– Genetics– Parasite disruption of limb formation– Chemical contamination– Viruses– Ultraviolet radiation– Physical trauma (from predators or people)

American bullfrog found in American bullfrog found in

San Marcos RiverSan Marcos River

Climate ChangeClimate Change

• Climate change is a big buzz in our society today. But how will it really affect frogs?

• It can change the amount and timing of rain events– If rains don’t come at the right time, then

frogs might not be able to breed• It can change temperatures

– Temperature changes can also affect breeding and development of young

• The golden toad in Costa Rica is thought to have become extinct because of climate change

What can You do?What can You do?

• Watch out for frogs!– Become familiar with frogs in your area– Use pesticides carefully and sparingly– Create frog habitat in your yard– Keep cats and dogs away from

amphibians– Be wise in your use of water and fossil

fuels so that amphibians and the rest of us will have good habitats in the future!

What else can YOU do?What else can YOU do?• Get Involved!!

– Participate in a Leap Year activity at a local zoo or aquarium.

• www.aza.org/Promotions/LeapDay_TX/ – Participate in the National

Wildlife Federation’s “Record the Ribbit” on May 3.

• www.nwf.org/ribbit– Contact Texas Parks and Wildlife

to become a citizen scientist through Texas Amphibian Watch.

• You can become an Amphibian Spotter

• You can Adopt-a-Frog Pond– Listen to frogs at night– Check for frogs with malformations

• www.tpwd.state.tx.us/amphibians/

SourcesSources

Image Image AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Slide 1Clockwise from left top corner:•Horned Marsupial Frog - Tania Boniske•Magnificent Tree Frog - Kevin Johnson•Dendrobates tinctorius - Richard Gibson•Strawberry Poison Frog - Joe Milmoe•Dyeing Poison Arrow Frog - Gerry Marantelli•Lemur Leaf Frog - Ron Holt•Red-eyed Tree Frog - Ron Holt•Cacao Robber Frog - Miravilis Swarovsky•Grainy Cochran Frog - Ron Holt•Dainty TreeFrog - Lydia Fucsko

Slide 2•Morrocan Toad - Kevin Johnson•Tigar Salamander - Hoberg•Two-toned Poison Frog - Joe Milmoe

Slide 3•Newt – Amphibian Ark•others – Herps of Texas•http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/

Slide 4•River, Prairie and pond – TPWD•Forest – Amphibian Ark•Marsh – Texas Coastal Wetlands

Slide 5www.GlobalAmphibians.org

Slide 6Herps of Texas

Slide 7•Green and Golden Bell Frog - Lydia Fucsko•Common Toad - Richard Gibson•Common Frog spawn - Aleksander Niwelinski•Common Toad spawn - Eugene Bruins

Slide 8•Frog eating spider – Amphibian Ark•Little Water Frog Eating a bird - Aleksander Niwelinski

Slide 9 (order they appear)•Common Toad - Richard Gibson•Common Toad - Eugene Bruins•Red-eyed Tree Frog, eggs - Ron Holt•Common Toad, Tadpoles - Aleksander Niwelinski•Southern Brown Tree Frog tadpoles, feeding - Lydia Fucsko•Marbled Treefrog, Larvae - Ron Holt

Slide 10•www.thefrog.org

Slide 11•Amphibian Ark

Slide 12•Panamanian Golden Frog – GerryMarantelli•Red-eyed Tree Frog - Ron Holt•La Palma Glass Frog - Ron Holt•Dainty TreeFrog - Lydia Fucsko•Cane Toad - Lydia Fucsko•Amphibian Ark•Two-toned Poison Frog - Richard Gibson•European Tree Frog - Richard Gibson

Slide 13•San Jose Cochran Frog - Ron Holt•Panama Golden Frogs – Paul Crump•Panamanian Golden Frog - Ron Gagliardo•Eleutherodactylus museosus - Brad Wilson•Crucifix Toad - Taronga Zoo•Hourglass Treefrog - Ron Holt•Asian Common Toad - Richard Gibson•Morrocan Toad - Kevin Johnson•Strawberry Poison Frog - Joe Milmoe•Banded Horned Tree Frog - Ron Holt

Slide 14•Amphibian Ark

Slide 16•TPWD

Slide 17•Top pictures – A Thousand Friends of Frogs•Lower picture – Melba Sexton

Slide 17•Top pictures – Herps of Texas•Bottom picture – Charles Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Slide 18•Strawberry Poison Frog - John Clarke•Asian Common Toad - Richard Gibson

Slide 19•TPWD

Useful LinksUseful Links

• www.tpwd.state.tx.us/leapyear/• www.tpwd.state.tx.us/amphibians/• www.amphibianark.org• www.globalamphibians.org• cgee.hamline.edu/frogs/• www.aza.org/YearoftheFrog/• www.exploratorium.edu

Presentation designed by Heather Cardella Dammeyer