Category: AMPHIBIANS


12-17-14 Harlequin Tree Frog from Ron’s Amphibian Series

Filed under: AMPHIBIANS, RAINFOREST BORNEO — Leave a comment
December 17, 2014

TAXONOMY
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae

Genus/species: Rhacophorus pardalis

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Fingers webbed and bear expanded discs, outer edge of hand and forearm have wide flap of skin – all adaptations for gliding. Bright red hand and foot webbing make this frog easy to identify. Dorsal side tan to reddish-brown, often with spots. Flanks yellowish with black spots. Size: Snout to vent males to 5.0 cm (2 inches) females, to 7.0cm (2.75 inches).

 

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DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Known from peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Philippines. Found in subtropical primary forest, secondary forest and freshwater marshes from sea level to 1,000 m (3,281 feet). 

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REPRODUCTION: R. pardalis breeds at swampy forest pools.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List; Least Concern (LC) 

The most important threat to this species is logging.

Borneo Gliding Herps BO11

References

Encyclopedia of Life  eol.org/pages/1025363/details

IUCN Red List  www.iucnredlist.org/details/full/59012/0

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1q1

Ron’s flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/5170877230/in/set-72157620567930293

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12-16-14 Orange-spotted Frog from Ron’s Amphibian Series

Filed under: AMPHIBIANS, RAINFOREST BORNEO — Leave a comment
December 16, 2014

TAXONOMY
KINGDOM: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Rhacophoridae

Genus/species: Nyctixalus pictus

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Southern Southeast Asia. Found in shrub and lower tree strata in primary and secondary forests.

Nyctixalus pictus15762349568_83118c678d_k

REPRODUCTION: Breeds by larval development in arboreal water-filled cavities and in rotting logs.

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CONSERVATION: ICUN Redlist Near Threatened (NT)    The extent and quality of its habitat is declining very rapidly due to widespread forest loss within its range.

www.iucnredlist.org/details/58806/0

Borneo Nursery BO08

References  

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/15762349568/in/set-72157608456457315/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1pS

 

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11-3-14 Amazon Milk Frogs from Ron’s Amphibian Series

Filed under: AMPHIBIANS, FLOODED AMAZON — 1 Comment
November 3, 2014

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura (frogs)
Family: Hylidae (“tree frogs and their allies”)

Genus/species: Trachycephalus resinifictrix

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Light grey in color with brown or black banding,  Older frogs develop a slightly bumpy texture. The iris is golden with a black Maltese cross centered on the pupil. There is a vocal sac on each side of the head.  Reach 2.5 to 4 inches in length.

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Light grey in color with brown or black banding, Older frogs develop a slightly bumpy texture. Reach 2.5 to 4 inches in length.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT:  Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela.  Found in the canopy of tropical primary humid rainforests. They often inhabit vegetation which extends over permanent, slow-moving water.

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DIET IN THE WILD: Insectivorous

REPRODUCTION: Mainly in the rainy season between November and May. Clutches of about 2500 eggs form a gelatinous mass that floats near the surface of water or adheres to the inner wall of the tree holes. Tadpoles feed on conspecific eggs and vegetable detritus until metamorphosis in the tree holes.

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LIFESPAN Up to 25 years.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List; Least concern.

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 REMARKS: The “milk” in the name comes from the poisonous milky-coloured fluid these frogs excrete when stressed.

References

Ron’s flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/8353978767/sizes/l/in/set-72157608456457315/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-Mo

eol  eol.org/pages/1025259/details

Connecticut Beardsely Zoo  beardsleyzoo.org/amazonmilkfrog-fk1

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6-3-13 Lesser Siren aka Mud Siren from Ron’s Amphibian Series

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June 3, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Subclass: Lissamphibia Order:
Caudata Family: Sirenidae

Genus/species: Siren intermedia

Lesser Siren 3273984118_c0a5f9f844_b GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Adults: length to 25 cm (10 inches). Eel-like appearance, tiny eyes , external gills, minute front legs with 4 toes on each foot, rear legs lacking.The dorsal pattern that is usually an olive-green to grayish blue or black. Some individuals may have scattered spots on the dorsal surface.The ventral surface is lighter in color, a light gray color. Larvae black with red markings.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Southeast USA. Totally aquatic. Inhabit shallow, heavily vegetated freshwater lakes, marshes and swamps, often buried in mud or sand. DIET IN THE WILD: Benthic nocturnal feeders upon insect larvae, crayfish, worms, snails and small fish. Mouth lacks teeth; prey is crunched by siren’s horny beak and swallowed whole. Lesser Siren 4311989994_40f3fbda9e_b CONSERVATION STATUS : Threatened in Texas due to drainage of wetlands. Due to degradation of habitat, likely threatened elsewhere.

REMARKS: Able to estivate when their ponds dry up. The mucous coat covering their skin hardens into a parchment-like cocoon covering the body, excepting the mouth. When grasped by humans, vocalize yelps.

Lesser Siren aka Mud Siren Siren intermedia (Sirenidae) IMG_3147

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1-4-13 Green Treefrog from Ron’s Amphibian Series

Filed under: AMPHIBIANS, SWAMP — Leave a comment
January 3, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae

Genus/species: Hyla cinerea

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Bright yellow-green above, though some are reddish-brown to green, often with small golden spots. White to cream below with a prominent white lateral stripe
on each side.  Up to 6 cm (2.5 in) long.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Central to Southeastern United States. North to Virginia’s eastern shore, south to the southern tip of Florida, west to central Texas. Habitat: Forest habitats in small ponds, large lakes, marshes, and streams, especially in richly vegetated areas.

Green Treefrog 8593645003_ef71a3137d_o

DIET IN THE WILD: Insectivores: flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects

PREDATORS: Predators include snakes, birds, large fish, and other frogs. Predatory aquatic insects such as giant water bugs may take tadpoles. Green frogs in captivity are known to live as long as 6 years.

REMARKS: Active at night. During the day, adults are well camouflaged among grasses and other vegetation, especially when legs are tucked below the body and eyes are closed.

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Swamp SW07

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608456457315/

WordPress Shortlink : http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-LT

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1-4-13 Asian Horned Frog from Ron’s Amphibian Series

Filed under: AMPHIBIANS, RAINFOREST BORNEO — Leave a comment
January 2, 2013

TAXONOMY
Kingdom:  Animalia
Phylum:  Chordata
Subphylum:  Vertebrata
Class:  Amphibia
Order:  Anura
Family:  Megophryidae

Genus/species: Megophrys nasuta

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Have projections above each eye and nasal area, hence the name Horned Frog. Designed for camouflage; back is gray, tan, russet, or brown and darkens toward the side making the frog almost invisible among the forest leaf litter. The smooth skin resembles dead leaves.

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DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Borneo, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra. Lives in relatively cool damp environs. Optimal temperature is between 22–24° C. Found on the rainforest floors, usually near small streams.

DIET IN THE WILD: Crabs and scorpions are their main food; also take arachnids, nestling rodents, lizards and other frogs that live on the forest floor.5536565600_f6c87f37ec_b-1

 

REMARKS: Call is unmistakable: a loud, resonating, metallic honk or henk, somewhat reminiscent of an air horn. The Jahai, an aboriginal group from northern Peninsular Malaysia, call this frog “Kengkang,” onomatopoeic after its call.

Rainforest Borneo  BO08

flickr  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608456457315/with/4427840755/

WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-Mb

 

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4-20-12 Waxy Monkey Tree Frogs from Ron’s Amphibian Series

Filed under: AMPHIBIANS — Leave a comment
April 19, 2012

TAXONOMY

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Lissamphibia

Order: Anura

Family: Hylida  

Genus/species:  Phyllomedusa sauvagii

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Females grow larger, 3.24 in. (8.2 cm); Males – 2.8 in. (7.1 cm).  They have white spots and markings on their bellies and a white line that runs laterally around their bodies. P. sauvagii are bright lime green in color, though they can change color (becoming dark/olive) quite rapidly when stressed.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT:  Southeast Bolivia, northwest Argentina and Paraguay where hot, dry, windy, desert-like conditions are common. Inhabits dry prairie on savanna, shrub land and forested areas.  Also found in  trees and vegetation near temporary freshwater ponds and lagoons.

DIET:  Small insects such as flies and ants. 

REPRODUCTION: P. sauvagii make a coarse, leaf nest in which they lay their eggs. The nest hangs over water and when the eggs hatch, the tadpoles drop into the water where they develop into frogs.

MORTALITY: Can live for up to 8 years.

Waxy monkey FrogIMG_8772

REMARKS: Their feet are more like “hands” with opposable thumbs that allow them to grasp branches. They rarely jump (unless frightened) but prefer to climb/walk hand over hand, much like a monkey, with slow, methodical movements.

They secrete a waxy substance that they spread over their bodies to “seal in” moisture and prevent water loss. They also excrete semi-solid urates, which further allows them to minimize water loss.

LOCATION: Water Planet  WP45

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608456457315/

WORDPRESS SHORTLINK  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-va

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12-17-12 Red-eyed Treefrog from Ron’s Amphibian Series

Filed under: AMPHIBIANS — Leave a comment
October 30, 2011

TAXONOMY

Kingdom: Animalia

Class: Amphibia

Order: Anura

Family: Hylidae

Genus/species: Agalychnis callidryas

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:  Males are smaller (about 5 cm or 2.5 inches) than females (almost 7.62 cm or 3 cm). Both have neon green backs. With its bright orange-red suction toe pads it easily clings, climbs, and jumps among arboreal surfaces. Their distinctive bright red, bulging eyes provide highly developed parabolic vision. A reticulated pale nictitating membrane shields the frog’s sensitive eyes.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Southeastern Mexico, through Central America, to northwestern Colombia.  Lives near ponds or rivers in neotropical rainforests from sea level up to 960m. These nocturnal frogs are completely arboreal. During the day they remain motionless, blending in among the foliage. They live in warm (75-85°F, day; 66-77°F, night), humid (80-100%) climates.

DIET IN THE WILD: Carnivorous; crickets, moths, beetles, flies, grasshoppers and even smaller frogs.

REPRODUCTION: Males call from branches and leaves of trees above ponds in the rainy season; they vocalize in unison and threaten one another competing for females. Females with one or several males attached, climbs to a leaf above the water. Clutches of 11–78 eggs are deposited on the leaf, which usually is folded around the egg clutch. Hatchling tadpoles drop into the water where they become mid-water filter feeders

PREDATORS: Life span: 3–5 yrs. Preyed upon by birds, turtles, lizards, snakes, bats and other mammals.

CONSERVATION STATUS: Neither endangered nor threatened currently, A. callidryas has become the familiar icon for conservation of the world’s rainforests Global warming, deforestation, climatic and atmospheric changes, wetland drainage and pollution have caused dramatic declines and deformities in all amphibian populations including those of the neotropical rainforests.

Costa Rica Rainforest  CRO6

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157608456457315/with/3143683892/

WORDPRESS SHORTLINK  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-dZ

DAYTIME COLORS BELOW

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