Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project

Researchers recently confirmed that the fungus causing the lethal disease chytridiomycosis is present on nonamphibian carriers, such as this blunt-headed tree snake, in natural environments. (Photo courtesy of STRI)

The blunt-headed tree snake (Imantodes cenchoa) not only eats frogs and their eggs, it also carries the killer fungus that has wiped out more than 100 amphibian species worldwide.

A new study by Vanessa Kilburn and David Green from Canada’s McGill University with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s Roberto Ibáñez, in-country director of the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, confirms for the first time that the fungus causing the lethal disease chytridiomycosis is present on nonamphibian carriers in natural environments.

The team surveyed 13 species of lizards and 8 species of snakes from sites across Panama using a genetic test to identify fungal DNA in samples taken from the reptiles’ skin with a cotton swab. They found evidence of the disease on up to 32 percent of lizards (Anolis humilis) and on three different species of snakes.

The irony of a frog-eating snake that carries a killer frog disease is that it may eliminate its own food supply, leading to its own demise.

–Beth King, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Cane toad (Rhinella marina)

Cute Frog of the Week: January 23, 2012

This toad, although cute, is deadly. The cane toad (Rhinella marina) is highly toxic to many animals. It is most toxic as a tadpole; as an adult its toxicity affects different species and even individuals within a species differently. This nocturnal toad’s toxin that is secreted from its skin is capable of killing freshwater crocodiles and is even harmful to humans.

The cane toad does have one predator that is immune to its defensive toxin: ants. Ants that are not affected by its toxin can attack the frog at will. Some freshwater fish can also withstand coming in contact with the toxin, and show no ill affect from spitting the cane toad out after trying to swallow it.

Although the cane toad looks harmless with its speckled skin and blue-ringed eyes, it is considered a pest in northeastern Australia, the southern United States and the Caribbean. It is an invasive species in those areas with few natural predators.

Photo by Alejandro Arteaga via Flickr.

Every week the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project posts a new photo of a cute frog from anywhere in the world with an interesting, fun and unique story to tell. Be sure to check back every Monday for the latest addition.

Send us your own cute frogs by uploading your photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/cutefrogoftheweek/

This photo shows Bastrop State Park, what had been prime habitat for the endangered Houston toad. The photo was taken on January 13, 2012, slightly more than three months after the devastating wildfire that scored more than 34,000 acres and destroyed 40 percent of Houston toad habitat in the Park. (Photo courtesy of Houston Zoo)

Last September, a tropical storm in Louisiana, combined with a cold front to the north of Texas pushed an exceptionally dry and windy air mass into the central part of the state.  These weather conditions, combined with drought-stressed vegetation in a fire-suppressed ecosystem created the perfect conditions for one of the worst wildfires in Texas history.

What is now known as the Bastrop County Complex fire, burned through a total of 34,300 acres including an area near Austin, the state capitol known as Lost Pines and in Bastrop State Park.  The area, prime habitat for the endangered Houston toad, experienced what is called a “stand replacing” fire, meaning it totally destroyed the forests and sterilized the soil.  The fire dealt a harsh and potentially fatal blow to the Houston toad, whose largest and healthiest populations dwell in the park and adjacent ranch land.

Last November, an assessment team of local, state and federal agencies issued a fire recovery plan.  On Friday, January 13 representatives from the Texas Forest Service, Texas State University, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Houston Zoo and others gathered at a workshop to discuss next steps, ranging from short and long-term revegetation strategies and erosion control, to post-fire land and wildlife management. Support for the recovery effort was plainly evident as more than 250 concerned area residents turned out for the workshop.

The Houston toad’s future in the Lost Pines area is grim. The fire destroyed 40 percent of the Houston toad’s habitat in Bastrop County. The loss of tree canopy and screening cover is, of course, concern to a variety of wildlife species, but most notably the Houston toad, which tends to occupy areas with 60 percent to 100 percent canopy cover.  Upland forests in the Lost Pines area serve as occupied and dispersal habitat for the Houston toad and cover/shade is a necessity to facilitate distribution without desiccation.

Rachel Rommel, the Houston Zoo’s Conservation Communications Manager introduces a group of Capital Area Boy Scouts to Houston toads before the Scouts launched in the first of many efforts to restore Bastrop State Park, laying mulch and leaf litter in scorched Houston toad habitat in the Park. (Photo courtesy of Houston Zoo)

But first steps are being taken toward recovery.  On Saturday, January 14 Rachel Rommel, the Houston Zoo’s conservation communications manager led a group of Capital Area Boy Scouts in the first of what will be many efforts to restore scorched areas of Bastrop State Park, laying mulch and leaf litter in an effort to add organics to the soil and restore habitat for insects and toads.

Concurrently, Houston Zoo conservation staff is encouraging landowners with toad-appropriate environments in neighboring Austin and Colorado counties to welcome Houston toads that were head started at the Houston Zoo to their properties.

The 2011 fires were a terrible blow for the Lost Pines habitat and the Houston toad, but as long as there are toads at the Houston Zoo and Texans who care, there is still a chance for this endangered species to thrive again in the wild.

–Brian Hill, Houston Zoo

Green poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus)

Cute Frog of the Week: January 16, 2012

What clothing designer wouldn’t want the fashion sense of these flashy frogs? But be careful! Their beautiful color patterns are a warning signal to predators that says: “Hey! You’ll regret eating me!!!” Okay, maybe not exactly that…but they are one of the world’s most poisonous amphibian species.

Green poison dart frogs have distinct green and blackish-brownish coloration all over their bodies, though the greenish color can vary from bright green to golden to even blue. Their patterns also vary, from stripes to marbled lines to dots.

The frogs are native to Central America, but visitors to Oahu, Hawaii may also see them because these little frogs were introduced to the island in order to control the bug population. Researchers believe that the types of insects that these frogs eat have a direct effect on how poisonous they are. In fact, native hunters used the poison from these frogs on the tips of their arrows and darts.

Despite the fact that males are territorial and females physically fight each other for the right to mate, they are very good parents. A male’s mating call sounds like an insect buzzing, and after attracting a female, she will lay eggs on a nest of moist leaf litter arranged by the male. He will then watch over them there, cleaning and rotating them as necessary. Once the eggs hatch, the males will carry their tadpoles on their backs to a nearby pond or stream and release them. They will then be on their own and have to fend for themselves. A male may mate with multiple females and will still take care of all its offspring.

Green poison dart frogs are not currently considered threatened and they are a popular pet species for experienced enthusiasts.

Photo by Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Every week the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project posts a new photo of a cute frog from anywhere in the world with an interesting, fun and unique story to tell. Be sure to check back every Monday for the latest addition.

Send us your own cute frogs by uploading your photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/cutefrogoftheweek/

Frogs may once again be sending us a warning, this time about a potential threat likely in your kitchen and bathrooms. Take a moment to think about the antibacterial personal care products you use on a daily basis. Triclosan is an ingredient found in products marketed as antibacterial and antimicrobial such as hand soap, toothpaste, deodorant, cutting boards, and even yoga mats and toys, and it could pose a health risk. Recent studies show triclosan to be an endocrine disruptor, harming the health and reproduction of amphibians and other aquatic life. It’s becoming a common contaminant in our water systems because so many products containing the ingredient are washing down the drain. Triclosan has also shown up in blood, urine, and breast milk samples of people worldwide, as well as indoor dust samples. This could cause a host of other health problems in humans, including the possibility of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

In light of these studies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now participating in a scientific and regulatory review of triclosan, but says at this time, it doesn’t have sufficient safety evidence to recommend changing consumer use of products containing triclosan. However, the FDA says there isn’t any evidence triclosan added to everyday soap and body washes provides extra health benefits over plain old soap and water. Results of the FDA’s review are expected this year.

You can check the ingredient labels on your cosmetics, soaps, toothpastes, and other household products for the inclusion of triclosan or search the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Household Products Database for a listing of products by brand name.

–Katie Borremans, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Etheridge's robber frog (Eleutherodactylus etheridgei)

Cute Frog of the Week: January 9, 2012

Daring to be different, Etheridge robber frogs (Eleutherodactylus etheridgei ) are part of a sub-family of frogs whose young hatch as little frogs instead of tadpoles. And also unlike many other frogs, these little guys prefer rocky hillsides and dense forest to big ponds. Predators might mistake their grayish green bodies for tiny pebbles and overlook their would-be prey. Unfortunately, there are other big troubles for this little guy, including deforestation. The frog is native to Cuba where buildings and developments for tourists’ attractions continue to disturb its home.

Photo by Ariel Rodriguez via ARKive.

Every week the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project posts a new photo of a cute frog from anywhere in the world with an interesting, fun and unique story to tell. Be sure to check back every Monday for the latest addition.

Send us your own cute frogs by uploading your photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/cutefrogoftheweek/

Caretta robber frog (Diasporus diastema)

Cute Frog of the Week: January 2, 2012

The Caretta robber frog is also known as the common tink or dink frog, because of the amazingly loud and musical “tink” sound that the male makes at night during the mating season. This sound has been compared to tapping a wineglass with a piece of silverware. Because their call is so loud and identifiable, they make sure to hide from predators before beginning to sing to attract females. There have also been studies that show that a dominant male will usually begin singing, followed by the next dominant male, and so on in a given area. This calling order can also help throw off predators hunting them by sound.

This frog has a large range and can be found mostly on humid lowlands and the slopes of Central America in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. These nocturnal amphibians are very adaptable to change and are able to deal well when their habitat is disturbed by either other animals or human activity. The Caretta robber frogs have even shown that they can change color from day to night. During the day, they are a grayish-brown with spots while they hide, then, when they come out at night, they can change slightly to become pale pink or tan in color.

This frog generally lives in trees, and tends to climb and walk more than hop. They have specialized sticky disks on the ends of their fingers and toes that allow them to hang onto leaves. They also like to lay their eggs in bromeliad plants that grow towards the top of trees, which often have long, stiff leaves and showy flowers.

Some scientists believe that the Caretta robber frog is actually a mixture of several other species. It is very common and currently not endangered, though slight population declines have been observed in some places.

Photo by Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Every week the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project posts a new photo of a cute frog from anywhere in the world with an interesting, fun and unique story to tell. Be sure to check back every Monday for the latest addition.

Send us your own cute frogs by uploading your photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/cutefrogoftheweek/

We are grateful for all of the support that we have received this year and look forward to another terrific year of saving some of Mother Nature’s most valuable gifts.

If you’re feeling in the holiday spirit, please consider giving frogs a little boost by:

• Donating money to the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project. Even the smallest donation can help us provide a safe haven for frogs.
• Text FROG to 20222 to give $5 to the project (message and data rates apply).
• Help us spread the word, whether on Facebook, Twitter or at your holiday dinner party.
• Plan a trip to Panama to volunteer for the project. You’ll play a pivotal role in saving amphibians and have the experience of a lifetime. Don’t believe us? Check out what former volunteers have had to say.

Happy holidays from the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project!

Green climbing toad (Incillius coniferus)

Cute Frog of the Week: December 26, 2010

Most of us normally don’t imagine toads as arboreal creatures because we normally have to avoid stepping on them on the ground while gardening or hiking in the woods. But the green climbing toad is quite adept at, well, climbing. This nocturnal toad can be found high up in trees and shrubs, ranging from humid lowlands in eastern Nicaragua to Ecuador, though most have been found in Central America.

These toads have a stout body with small skin folds across the chest as well as on their heels and knees. They can be found in a variety of colors from yellow-green to olive green, and are sometimes even a dull gray to brown. Their color patterns often tend to be either solid or have contrasting lighter and darker blotches and/or gold spots.

In addition, they are covered in warts, some of which are dark in color and can even be somewhat spiky in texture. Their long fingers and toes are slightly webbed and have tiny horizontal ridges on them. Their fingers and toes are also different lengths.

The green climbing toad is not endangered, but the largest threat to this species is the loss of its habitat from deforestation, mining, logging and urbanization.

Photo by Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

Every week the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project posts a new photo of a cute frog from anywhere in the world with an interesting, fun and unique story to tell. Be sure to check back every Monday for the latest addition.

Send us your own cute frogs by uploading your photos here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/cutefrogoftheweek/

Defenders of Wildlife's Cindy Hoffman gets in the holiday spirit this year with oragami frogs.

If you love frogs and toads like I do, you probably have a few around the house or garden. Frogs play an important role in nature by controlling insects. But they have been worshiped for generations for other reasons. The Egyptians looked upon the frogs as a symbol of life and fertility and have their own frog goddess known as “Heqet.” The Chinese worship the “three legged frog” for bringing wealth and good fortune. Frog decorations are used to attract wealth and prosperity. These frogs are also closely associated with the art of feng shui. And Celtic lore associates the frog as a symbol of magic and a form that initiates the “leaping” from one world to another.

This week, as I decorated for the upcoming holidays gatherings at my house, I thought it would be fun to decorate with frogs. I found this great website that shows how to make paper frogs, so I thought I would give it a try.

As we celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, the Winter Solstice and the New Year, why not incorporate frogs into your festivities? And make a special new year’s wish that the good folks dedicating their lives to finding a cure for chytrid fugus hit the jackpot this year. We need our frogs around.

–Cindy Hoffman, Defenders of Wildlife