1. Amphibian Diversity

2. Amphibians Term “amphibian” means “double life.”
During their life cycle, they live both in the water and on the land
When immature, they are fishlike and breathe through gills
As adults, they live on land and breathe through lungs and moist skin

3. Main Characteristics 3 main groups: Ectothermic -
Frogs and toads - Anurans
Salamanders and newts – Urodeles
Legless amphibians - Caecilians
Ectothermic -
Cold-blooded vertebrates whose body temperatures adjust with the outside environment

4. Vs. Frogs have: Toads have: smooth or slimy skin warty and dry skin
strong, long legs and stubby bodies with short webbed hind feet hind legs
two bulging eyes parotid glands behind eyes
lay eggs in clusters lay eggs in long chains
small teeth in upper no teeth
jaw

5. Salamanders & Newts Have long bodies, tails, and short legs
Only 440 species in the world
Seven species reside in Wisconsin, but most go entirely undetected by humans
Generally, the adults live on land and return to the water only for breeding

6. Metamorphosis

7. Main Characteristics,cont.
Adult amphibians live in moist areas. Why?
In addition to breathing through lungs, they also breathe through their skin
They have thin, semi-permeable skin that needs to remain moist
Their eggs lack hard outer shells and must be deposited or laid in water

8. Habitats for frogs and toads
forests
grasslands
lakes, ponds, marshes
rivers and streams

9. Where do they go in winter?
Most frogs bury themselves in the muddy floor of a lake or pond during the winter; whereas toads tend to dig down into the ground below the frost line.
Hibernation: a winter sleep during which time the animal can live on food stored in its body. The oxygen it needs can pass through its skin.
A few species in Wisconsin actually freeze solid during the winter.
Their body creates an “anti-freeze” that saturates their cells so they don’t freeze, although their breathing and heart stops

10. Amphibians’ Defenses
Hiding - best defense is to remain undetected by blending in or by hiding under rocks, logs, or underground

11. glass Frog
Red-eyed Treefrog
poison dart frog
White’s Treefrog
African Dwarf Frog
Horned Toad
Fire-bellied Toad

12. Amphibians’ Defenses
Hiding - best defense is to remain undetected by blending in or by hiding under rocks, logs, or underground
Fleeing
Some frogs and toads emit a fluid that creates a burning sensation in the mouths of some predators, and can even be poisonous to humans

13. Where have all the frogs gone? Global Population Decline
a significant concern during the past decade
frog declines widespread and well-documented (Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil, U.S. Rocky Mountains, Cascade Mountain Range in Washington, Oregon, and California)
possible causes include habitat destruction, increased UV radiation, acid rain, pollution and introduction of non-native species

14. Amphibian Malformations
1995 – large number found in a pond in Minnesota
Significant and widespread similar reports over the last 10 years
46 of Wisconsin‘s 72 counties have reported

15. Malformed Frogs & Toads

16. Dr. David Hoppe, University of Minnesota-Morris

17. Dr. David Hoppe, University of Minnesota-Morris

18. Dr. David Hoppe, University of Minnesota-Morris

19. Why Should We Care?
Play a very important role in the Earth’s ecosystem.
Major predators of insects
As high quality food/prey for birds, mammals, fish and reptiles

20. Why Should We Care?
Indicator of local environment – because they can absorb both oxygen and water through their skin, amphibians are particularly vulnerable to pollutants in the air or water and suffer from pollution even when they don't eat or drink it through their mouths.

21. Why Should We Care? Direct benefit to mankind:
Many have skin secretions that can be used for pharmaceutical purposes, including cancer fighting drugs and drugs used to prevent heart attacks.
For their aesthetic “beauty”

22. Frogs and Toads
12 species in WI
92 species
in USA
4,000+ species
in the world

23. Wisconsin’s Frogs and Toads
Wood Frog
Bullfrog
Blanchard’s Cricket Frog
Northern Green Frog
Pickerel Frog
Eastern Gray Treefrog

24. Wisconsin’s Frogs and Toads
Eastern American Toad
Western Chorus Frog
Cope’s Gray Treefrog
Mink Frog
Leopard Frog
Spring Peeper