#832: Whistling Tree Frog

In memory of Lazarus.

There are several species of frog commonly referred to as Whistling Frogs, but two species in particular come from Australia: Litoria ewingii and Litoria verreauxii. They are named for their call, although it does not much sound like a whistle. Neither species grows more than 45 mm in length and both lead a semi-arboreal existence, ascending to the trees once they have assumed their adult form. Ewingii has been introduced to New Zealand, where it is locally common.

Lazarus came to us in the mid-90s, taken from an abandoned bath tub on my uncle's farm, and making the journey in a large jar filled with water. The rest of his life was spent in a terranium, normally housed in the cool of our bathroom. In the early years, he would whistle when we showered, but eventually gave up when his songs went unanswered. His name came from an incident when, upon arriving home from school, I found him lying in his swimming tub, motionless. Even shaking his tub had no effect. I left a note for my mum (along the lines of "think frog might be dead?"), then went out with some friends. When I got home, my mother had left another note: "frog is fine, croak, croak" and he was. Lazarus never hibernated, and when the flies upon which we fed him disappeared with winter, I would feed him meal worms, warming him in my hands first (frogs, being ectotherms, become sluggish in the cold). I know now that you are not supposed to handle frogs due to chemicals, but Lazarus lived a full 15 years with us, gradually getting slower and less adept at hunting his living prey as he aged. I do feel a little sad for him, he spent his entire life in the terranium, never knew the love of a frog-woman, and his diet was fairly limited. I would not keep frogs inside again - now we have a pond in our garden. I released the tadpoles into it, saw some of them assume their adult forms and hope that they are still out there, somewhere, succesfully avoiding predation by cat, starling and hedgehog. At least Lazarus never had to worry about that.

#765: Tree Frog

There are numerous species of Tree Frog, a term given to any species that, as an adult frog, follows an aboreal lifestyle. Probably the most recognisable is this Red-eyed Tree Frog of Central America. These red eyes act as a deterrent to predation, for he opens them wide if danger nears, suprisingly any potential predator and giving the frog the opportunity to free.

#712: Spadefoot Toad

The Spadefoot Toad of America is named for the ridge of keratin on his feet, which help him to dig. A similar Family live in Europe, bearing the same name, but are not closely related. He makes his home in arid environments, burrowing  beneath the soil to find moisture. He can remain underground for months. After the rains begin to fall, he surfaces to feed on insects such as ants and grasshoppers and to breed. Due to the ephemereal nature of the desert pools, tadpoles must develop swiftly if they are to survive and they can hatch, grow and metamorphose within 14 days. Remarkedly, some Spadefoot tadpoles follow the typical vegetarian diet, whereas others become carnivorous, even predating their siblings (although they prefer not to).

What is the difference between frogs and toads?
Generally speaking, frogs are more adapted for an aquatic or humid environment. They have longer legs, smoother skin and are slightly slimy due to the mucus they excrete. Toads are adapted to drier habitats. They have nobbly, thicker skin and stockier limbs. In fact, all toads are frogs, as they are members of the same Order, but not all frogs are toads.

#676: Poison Dart Frog

The Golden Poison Dart Frog is one of the most deadly animals in the world. Their alkaloid toxin is derived from their diet - consisting of insects, wiht the culprit potentially being a Melyridae beetle  - and becomes concentrated in the frog's skin. Contact with one of these bright little fellows will cause nerve failure that forces the muscles to remain in a contracted state, which can lead to heart failure. The only animals capable of eating a Golden Poison Dart Frog is the golden-bellied snakelet - and even they are not completely immune. In captivity, their diet will lead to them eventually becoming harmless but the toxins can remain for years in wild caught specimens.

 It is calculated that the toxins from one frog can kill up to 20 people.

Definition: An animal is considered Venomous if it delivers the toxin to the victim via active means, such as fangs or spines. Creatures are considered Poisonous if the toxin is delivered via consumption or other less deliberate means.

#660: Rocket Frog

There are several species of Rocket Frog, select members of the Litoria tree frog Genus, found in Australia  - this fellow is the Striped Rocket Frog. His range encompasses most of coastal northern Australia, from the top of Western Australia around to Sydney. Here he can be found in swamps, ponds and flooded grasslands. Ephemeral ponds are used for breeding. Rocket Frogs can be distinguished by their longer hind legs, which allow him to make leaps of around 2 m - about 35 times his own body length.

Creature Feature #553: Oxapampa Poison Frog

Today is  the 7th annual “Save the Frogs” day. So, I figured I would track down a frog that started with O. This was not as easy as you might think, being that I have already drawn the Ornate Horned Frog. Luckily, thewebsiteofeverything introduced me to this fellow, the critically endangered Oxapampa Poison Frog.

The Oxapampa Poison Frog is found only in a patch of montane rainforest in Peru, near - you guessed it - Oxapampa. He was first discovered in 1998. diurnal in habit, he likely forages on terrestrial insects and has been found sleeping beneath leaf litter, near water. Most of the other frog species within his range favour nocturnal foraging. Due to logging and the cultivation of chili peppers, his habitat is badly fragmented and the introduction of rainbow trout to the region put him further at risk.

Here’s a chance to help save the frogs and receive beautiful art in this stunning hardback book “Amphibian Love”:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/amphibian-love-an-artbook-for-the-frogs/x/603003

Or you can just go here and donate or learn more: http://www.savethefrogs.com/

Creature Feature #543: Ornate Horned Frog

The Ornate Horned Frog is sometimes known as the "Pacman" frog for her diet - which consists not of ghosts, but of anything large enough to fit in her mouth. This includes rodents, lizards, fish, other frogs, spiders and insects. An ambush predator, she sits motionless, relying on her camouflage, and waits for prey to blunder past. She has a reputation for being fearless and will fight back against attackers, no matter their size. She is naturally found in Argentina, but has also been introduced into the pet industry.

She is classified as "Near Threatened" in the wild.

Creature Feature #449: Mantella

Mantella are a Genus of frogs, endemic to Madagascar, and the Malagasy equivalent of Poison Dart Frogs. Measuring no more than 2-3 cms in length, they are irridescent in colour. This advertises the toxic nature of their skin to potential predators. This does little to deter predators, however, with snakes and other reptiles being observed eating the frogs with no apparent side effects. Many of the species are endangered, some critically, as they are threatened with habitat loss and over-collection for the pet trade. This fellow is known as a Blue-legged Mantella, for obvious reasons. Currently classified as endangered, demand and subsequent poaching may lead him back to critically endangered.