American Bullfrog
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The American Bullfrog lives anywhere from Nova Scotia to central Florida, from the Atlantic coast to Wisconsin, and across the Great Plains to the Rockies. They prefer to live in still, shallow waters such as the edge of lakes or ponds, and the sluggish areas around streams and rivers. The bullfrog is the largest North American frog and weigh up to 1 pound. They are known for the great amount of meat on their hind legs and are often used for human consumption. Their mating call is loud and booming and can be heard from more than a half mile away. The males are extremely defensive and often wrestle over territory. The metamorphosis time between tadpole and frog has an extremely wide range. In southern areas, it takes only 79 days while in northern areas, it can take as long as three years. They have an interesting diet consisting of worms, insects, crayfish, fish, other frogs (including other bullfrogs), snakes, small turtles, and even small mammals and birds.
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Boreal Toad
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The Boreal Toad is a subspecies of the Western Toad. They are found in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Recently, their population has been declining due to chytrid fungus, an emerging amphibian disease. The disease changes the amount of keratin in the outer layer of the skin. This hinders their ability to absorb water and electrolytes. It is now considered an endangered species. In Colorado, it is known as the only alpine species of toad. The males don't have a vocal sac and therefore do not have a mating call. Their diet tends to consist of various insects and invertebrates.
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California Toad
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The California Toad can be found in the deserts, streams, grasslands, woodlands, and meadows near bodies of water in California. Rather than hopping, this toad tends to walk. They secrete a white, sticky poison from its warts and skin glands. The poison is not deadly, but it causes irritation in the eyes and will cause irritation if ingested. The toad is nocturnal at warm, low elevations and diurnal when at higher elevations.
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Darwin's Frog
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Charles Darwin discovered Darwin's Frog on his world voyage, hence its name. This frog lives in the forest streams of South America, mainly in Argentina and Chile. When the female lays its eggs, the male takes over. He guards them for around 2 weeks, keeping them in his vocal pouch. The tadpoles finish their development in his chin skin. When they are old enough, they hop out of his throat and swim away.
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Eastern Cricket Frog
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Eastern Cricket Frogs are found on the Eastern coast of the United States. They are generally 1/2 to 1 & 1/2 inches in size. Their colors vary, but they are typically brown/black with a bright green blotch. They live in or near shallow bodies of water with lots of sunlight. Their calls are said to be similar to that of two marbles being hit together.
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Firebellied Toad
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The European Fire-bellied toad is found in the wild of Europe. They are commonly kept as pets. When shedding, the toad puffs up its body so that the skin slightly rips, then it begins to tear off and eat it all. They can sometimes camouflage into their environment. However, when that doesn't work, they flip themselves over to show their brightly colored stomachs to predators. There is a poisonous mucus/slime on their underside which irritates the mouth of any animal that eats them.
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Glass Frog
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The Glass Frog is native to the Amazon Basin. These frogs are green in color and also have transparent skin, especially on their underside. A theory is that the transparent skin serves for protection. Light reflecting off of leaves shines through the frog and makes it harder for predators to see them. They live in trees in humid, mountainous areas and lay their legs on the leaves. When the eggs hatch, the tadpoles fall into the water below.
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Harlequin Toad
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The Harlequin Toad is native to Costa Rica. The species is dangerously close to extinction because of climate changes as well as the spread of a fungus. They have decreased to a single isolated population. The toad's colors are a warning sign for predators; it contains a poison that is 100 times stronger than potassium cyanide. The only animal that can harm the toad is a kind of parasitic fly which lays its eggs on the toad's legs. They then burrow inside, eat the toad's organs, and eventually kill it.
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Iberian Midwife Toad
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The Iberian Midwife Toad is found in Portugal and western Spain. Their habitats are typically temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, intermittent rivers, intermittent freshwater marshes, pastureland, and aquaculture ponds. The species' conservation status is considered as "Near Threatened" according to the IUCN. They are threatened by habitat loss, pollution, and chytridiomycosis. Females tend to be larger than males. After mating and breeding, the male will attach the egg mass to his hind legs and walk around with them until they are ready to be hatched.
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Jervis Bay Treefrog
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The Jervis Bay Treefrog lives in the east coast of New South Wales in Australia; ranging from the Queensland border to eastern Victoria. It is also known as the curry frog because of the odor it emits. They are considered large compared to most treefrogs, up to 55 mm in length. They are strongly associated with coastal swamps. Up until 1994, this frog was considered the same as the Heath Frog. However, the Heath Frog is typically a larger frog and has orange spots on it rather than the Jervis Bay's yellow.
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Karpathos Frog
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Just like its name, the Karpathos Frog is endemic to the island of Karpathos in Greece. Their habitat stays close to one specific river near Olimbos in the mountains on the north side of the island. They are considered critically endangered as a result of habitat loss and because of its isolated, small range. They are considered one of the most endangered amphibians in the world and are highly sensitive to habitat change. Their threats include excessive freshwater abstraction, fires, and climate change. The Karpathos Frog is one of the only three amphibian species endemic to Greece.
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Leopard Frog
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There are about 14 species of the Leopard Frog. They are mainly green with black/brown spotting. Their spots can appear similar to leopard print which is what gives them their name. They are found from temperate and subtropical North America to northern Mexico; sometimes they can be found further south. They are also found in Europe.
One specific specie is the Northern Leopard Frog. This one is found all over Canada and northern U.S. You can find them right in your backyard if you live near a pond. They hibernate in the winter and mate in the spring. They used to be incredibly common and could be found at Canadian schools for students to dissect. However, now they are considered an endangered species. |
Morogoro Tree Toad
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The Morogoro Tree Toad is native to the tropical forests and grasslands of Tanzania. The toad has large glands around its eyes and limbs which can be a variety of colors. The color of the glands contrast to the rest of the toad's body. The eggs of the Morogoro hatch while still inside the female. They are released as fully formed, but small, toads which is rare among amphibians.
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Natterjack Toad
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Natterjacks are found in several regions. These areas include southwest and central Europe, rarely in Britain, southwest Ireland, pockets of Norfolk and Lincolnshire, along the coast between Lancashire and Dumfries, and areas of Hampshire and Surrey. However, they were introduced into Hampshire and Surrey, and are not native there. They are claimed as the noisiest amphibian in Europe. They are poor swimmers and will drown in deep waters if they cannot get to the shore quick enough. They have short limbs and rarely leap. Because of this, they replace leaping with running and are commonly called Running Toads.
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Ornate Horned Frog
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The Ornate Horned Frog lives in the rainforests of South America. It is an aggressive frog and will attack animals larger than itself. When they feel threatened, they jump at the enemy and bite them. When hunting, they wait for their prey to come to them. Their diet consists of other frogs, lizards, mice, and large insects.
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Poisin Dart Frog
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Poison Dart Frogs live in the rain forest habitats of Central and South America. They're generally found in trees, under leaves, logs and rocks. Their size is only from 1/2 to 2 inches long, so they are hard to spot. They can be a wide range of colors, and their bright colors warn predators of their poison. Their diet is what builds up their poison, which consists of invertebrates, especially certain species of ant. Their name originates when hunters tipped their arrows with the frog's poison. Poison Dart Frogs are highly at risk because of deforestation. The Blue Poison Dart Frog is the most endangered because of the pet-shop market.
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Red Spotted Toad
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The Red-Spotted Toad mainly live in the southeastern deserts of California. They are nocturnal and remain underground during the daylight. They hibernate during the winter and during dry periods. Typically, they tend to stay near water sources. They are good climbers, and they walk slowly and rarely hop. Similar to other toads, they use glands which secrete a poison for defense. Males are very defensive of their breeding grounds and often wrestle other males. The Red-Spotted Toad is the only toad in North America which lays eggs singly, rather than all together, beneath water.
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Surinam Toad
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The Surinam Toad is found in the tropical rain forests of the Amazon. This toad can grow to 20 centimeters. Its eyes are extremely small compared to other toads and it has a flat body. It does not have teeth or a tongue. To attract mates, the Surinam strikes two bones in its throat together to make a clicking noise. Their reproductive techniques are quite strange. The male attaches to the female, forming an ampluxus, in a body of water; they jump out of the water several times. After each jump, the female releases eggs which implant into the skin. The eggs move further and further into the body and eventually become fully formed toads inside skin pockets. During birth, they burst out of the skin.
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Tomato Frog
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The Tomato Frog is native to the island of Madagascar. Adults tend to be fairly large - bigger than a person's fist). Their color varies anywhere from light orange to a bright dark red. Females tend to be more brightly colored than males. When threatened, the frog will puff up its body. If the predator put the frog in its mouth, the frog secretes a thick substance which gums up the eyes and mouth. The substance is not deadly but will trigger allergic reactions. The Tomato Frog will burrow into the ground and wait for passing insects. Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates including crickets, waxworms, and mice. They are a nocturnal species. They are included on the endangered species list because of deforestation and the pet trade. They are protected under the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
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Upland Chorus Frog
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The Upland Chorus Frog is native to south-eastern USA, including the states of New Jersey, Illinois, Texas, and Florida. In many areas that it lives, it is the first amphibian of the year to begin its calls. Its considered as a symbol for the beginning of spring. Its distinguishing features are three black, parallel stripes down its back and a white stripe along its lower lip. They tend to hide under damp places during the day and go hunting for food at night. However, males do not feed at all during the breeding season. Their diet consists of mainly insects as well as snails, detritus, and algae. Although the Upland Chorus Frog is a rapid swimmer, their defense mechanism is to suddenly stop swimming and sink to the bottom of the water when they come into contact with an object.
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Vietnamese Mossy Frog
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The Vietnamese Mossy Frog is found in the tropical forests and marshes of northern Vietnam. As you can see, the frog's body resembles moss and it can easily hide away from predators. When predators come its way, it curls in its legs so that only the mossy body is visible. Large pads on their feet allow them to climb trees easily. Their diet consists entirely of insects. The frogs lay their eggs on cave walls, and the tadpoles fall into the water below once they hatch. This type of frog is a popular pet in Asia.
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Wood Frog
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The North American Wood Frog lives in many places worldwide. It is one of the few frogs that can be found living in Alaska and above the Arctic Circle. Wood Frogs are one animal of many that can freeze without dying. During the winter, the frog buries itself and hibernates. Its breathing and heartbeat completely stop and about 65% of the water in its body turns to ice. It spends about two or three months of the winter frozen. They begin looking for a mate as soon as they unfreeze since they have little time. Their tadpoles develop especially fast since the summer is so short.
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Yosemite Toad
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The Yosemite Toad is a species of true toad. They are endemic to the Sierra Nevada in California. Their habitats spread from the montane forests of El Dorado County to the subalpine Fresno County. The colors and patters on their body get more and more divergent as they mature. Their population has declined substantially, and they are endangered and soon-to-be threatened. They have an especially tuneful and pleasant sounding mating call, which goes along with their specific name, "canorus"(meaning melodious).
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Despite many efforts, I couldn't find frogs or toads for the letters Q, X, and Z. If you have information on these things I left out, contact me and I will research and add those in.