Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project

Powder blue reed frog (Heterixalus madagasariensis)

Cute Frog of the Week: February 20, 2012

It’s pretty evident that this frog is quite a stunning find. Native to Madagascar, the powder blue reed frog’s color varies from tan to light blue on their backs, and they often appear whitish in bright sunlight. Their abdomens are a very pale whitish-yellow, while the undersides of their limbs are orange. A dark band sits between the eye and snout.

Fairly common, these semi-arboreal frogs prefer to live in a variety of areas ranging from drier sandy lowland dunes/forests and along rainforest edges, to deforested areas around croplands, villages and more urban habitats along the eastern coast of the island.

These are small and agile frogs that can jump over a large distance, though they tend to sleep for most of the day among vegetation.

Photo by Gonçalo M. Rosa 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/

Defenders of Wildlife has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban the importation of live frogs unless they are accompanied by a health certificate verifying that they are free of the chytrid, which killed the frog shown here. (Photo by Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute)

The global amphibian trade has been indicted as the culprit in the spread of the deadly chytrid fungus. A study published in New Scientist  calls for an amphibian quarantine to help slow the disease’s spread.

The study sequenced the genomes of 20 samples of Bd, collected in Europe, Africa, North and South America and Australia. They found that 16 of the 20 samples were genetically identical.

The researchers say the explanation for this is simple, that world-wide trade in amphibians enabled the spread of this disease.

The researchers suggest that countries quarantine all imported amphibians and only allow them to stay if they are not infected.

Defenders of Wildlife, a partner in the Panamanian Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project, has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban the importation of live frogs unless they are accompanied by a health certificate verifying that they are free of the chytrid fungus.

“Billions of frogs are traded internationally each year for human consumption, and that industry is responsible for depleting wild populations, spreading deadly disease, and allowing invasive species to destroy the health of native ecosystems,” said Alejandra Goyenechea, counsel for the international conservation programs for Defenders of Wildlife.

Defenders is working with the upcoming CITES Animals Committee to ensure that the international trade of frogs is not detrimental to their survival and with CITES Parties to bring awareness on the international trade of frog legs with our report.

–Cindy Hoffman, Defenders of Wildlife

Tomato frog (Dyscophus antongilii)

Cute Frog of the Week: February 13, 2012

It’s easy to see how the tomato frog got its name, considering its eye-catching coloration and relatively large size. Males tend to be yellow-orange in color and grow to around 2.3 – 2.6 inches in length, while females are a brighter orange-red and can grow to be around 3.3 – 4.2 inches in length.

Originally from Madagascar, these frogs are a favorite of tourists and locals alike, especially in the town of Maroantsetra. Here, they inhabit gardens, ponds and ditches. The locals refer to their low-pitched call as the onomatopoetic word “sangongon,” with the word spoken aloud sounding similar to the actual call itself.

But don’t try to pick one up! These frogs are known for their sticky skin secretions that they can release when frightened. This substance gets into a potential predator’s eyes and mouth, making it very difficult to hold onto and eat the frog. It also contains a toxin that can cause skin irritation in humans. In addition to secreting yucky goop, these frogs puff themselves up when a predator comes around to make themselves even more difficult to hold onto and swallow.

This species has been listed as near-threatened since 2002 since it lives in a relatively small area, but adapts well to disturbed habitats. Pollution and pesticide use are potential threats, as well as people harvesting and collecting them for trade, which they are no longer allowed to do. Now, most tomato frogs kept as pets by experienced enthusiasts were bred in captivity.

Photo by Gonçalo M. Rosa 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/

Gina Della Togna, an SCBI PhD student and native Panamanian, is one of the researchers in charge of the sperm collection procedure. (Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute)

With nearly one-third of all amphibian species at risk of extinction as the result of the deadly chytrid fungus, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo has taken a bold step toward preserving amphibian genes and the world’s incredible amphibian biodiversity. Researchers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, DC, have begun to collect sperm samples from the Zoo’s collection of Panamanian golden frogs (Atelopus zeteki), which are extinct in the wild.

Although researchers have collected sperm samples from other amphibian species such as Mississippi gopher frogs and leopard frogs, there are no publications detailing sperm collection methods from Panamanian golden frogs. SCBI’s colleagues at the Maryland Zoo have aided in the process, providing advice to the SCBI researchers about the method to collect the frogs’ spermatozoa using hormonal stimulations.

“We currently have three other species of Atelopus in captive assurance colonies in Panama,” said Brian Gratwicke, an SCBI conservation biologist who leads the Zoo’s amphibian conservation program to curb global amphibian declines. “If we can freeze some of their sperm, golden frogs will be a model to secure the long-term genetic integrity of other toad species in similar situations.”

Gina Della Togna, an SCBI PhD student and native Panamanian, is one of the researchers in charge of the sperm collection procedure. Even though this is still a fairly new endeavor, Della Togna said she felt that it was easy compared to collecting sperm from mammals. After hormonal stimulation, spermatozoa are excreted in the urine from the frog’s cloaca, a multipurpose opening from which feces, urine and gases are expelled. This is in contrast to mammals, which possess specialized structures for the expulsion of waste and reproduction.

A Panamanian golden frog sperm

Although sperm collection from this species has been successful, finding the most efficient and repeatable stimulation protocol is critical. Then, identifying the right cryoprotectant and freezing method will be another challenge. Researchers suspect that the cell component most likely responsible for the movement of the sperm, called a mitochondrial vesicle, has a unique structure compared to that of other animals.

“The mitochondrial vesicle is a very fragile structure,” Della Togna said. “Protecting this structure will definitely be one of our greatest challenges.”

Even in the face of numerous challenges, the research team overseeing the sperm collection and storage of the samples remains optimistic.

Pierre Comizzoli, an SCBI gamete biologist supervising the PhD project  is enthusiastic about the prospect of this endeavor and is charged with studying the complex golden frog sperm structure with Della Togna.

“It is always exciting to discover new biological mechanisms,” Comizzoli said. “Spermatozoa from each species have unique traits that needs to be well understood before developing preservation protocols.”

Other than its genetic and natural significance, the Panamanian golden frog is a meaningful symbol of culture for Panamanians. Pre-Columbian peoples used to make golden “huacas,” or sacred objects, in the image of these frogs, along with creating legends about these renowned frogs, which endure in the Panamanian countryside today, Della Togna said.

“This species does not exist anywhere else in the world,” Della Togna said. “You will find pictures and sculptures of it in local markets, in indigenous handcraft sales, and on lottery tickets, among places. Hopefully this project will help to ensure that one day you will be able to see them once again on the banks of Panamanian streams where they belong.”

–Phil Jaseph, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Johnstone's whistling frog (Eleutherodactylus johnstonei)

Cute Frog of the Week: February 6, 2012

Named after Robert S. Johnstone, the Chief Justice of Grenada who helped aid in the collection of the first specimens in the early 20^th century, the Johnstone’s whistling frog is the most widely distributed frog in the eastern Caribbean.

Small and non-distinct, these cute little guys are dull brownish-tan to grayish in color. Their eyes are golden-brown, and they have slightly darker ‘V’-shaped markings, also known as chevrons, on their shoulders.  Sometimes these frogs will also have a pair of darker dorsal stripes that run down their backs. Their legs have a darker blotchy or marbled pattern, and their fingers and toes are not webbed, but do have relatively large adhesive disks to help them climb. Males are also generally smaller than females.

Johnstone’s whistling frogs mate from around June to August, and the male’s whistling call has two notes: a quick lower note that rises sharply to a longer higher note. Parents will then guard the clutches of eggs that are laid for about 14 days before they hatch. Offspring mature via direct development within the egg, skipping the tadpole phase and emerge as tiny versions of the adults.

These frogs can be found on most of the Lesser Antillean islands in the Caribbean, including Anguilla, Barbados, Montserrat and St Lucia. They have also recently been introduced to Bermuda, Jamaica, Panama and Venezuela as stowaways on boats that travel to the different islands. They are not endangered and are highly adaptable to changing environments. So adaptable in places, that they may be becoming invasive and pushing native frogs out. Further research is needed to verify this, however.

Photo by Jeroen Wisman 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/

Citizen science observations of the cane toad (Bufo marinus) in Florida are helping track the invasive species’ northward progression. (Photo by Brian Gratwicke, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute)

“Peep. Peep. Peep.” It’s this distinctive call that gives a tiny frog the name spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer). Since the frogs are one of the first to emerge from their winter hideouts in New England, it’s one of the first and most distinctive signs of spring. For many, it’s enough to just listen to the chorus of hundreds of frogs around a vernal pool, but did you know that you can be part of an important scientific project too?

Citizen science is a way that scientists can involve average citizens who have no formal science training in what can be very complicated scientific work. Some notable examples from recent years include SETI@home (looking for extraterrestrial communications), GalaxyZoo (categorizing galaxies) and FoldIt (a game to improve protein folding simulations).

One of the oldest citizen science projects still running today is the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas bird count. Every year since 1900, bird enthusiasts from around the country have gathered and counted every bird they can find in the early winter. This data is easy for anyone to gather, but the geography covered and sheer mountain of data collected allow scientists to assess the health of many bird populations that they would otherwise be unable to study.

Frogwatch USA is a similar project run by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Its goal, much like the National Audubon Society’s annual bird count, is to monitor frog populations across the country. More than 10,000 Frogwatch USA volunteers helped monitor 7,872 sites from 1998-2010. There are volunteers from every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is truly a national amphibian survey.

The 2010 Data Summary shows how valuable all of this citizen scientist help can be. Using the data gathered, researchers will be able to better establish species ranges. For instance, the spring peeper (mentioned above) is considered an eastern species, rarely found west of the Mississippi River. Some volunteers observed them as far west as Missouri and Texas, farther west than previously thought!

This same army of volunteers also provided invaluable information on certain frog species monitored by researchers and government agencies. Two species of concern, the northern cricket frog (Acris crepitans) and crawfish frog (Rana areolata), were observed by volunteers who provided breeding and distribution information. Observations of the cane toad (Bufo marinus) in Florida are helping track the invasive species’ northward progression.

Citizen science is meant to be easy for the average person to get involved, and Frogwatch is no exception. Local chapters hold training and information sessions annually in late winter or early spring. Then, when you’re sitting out by that vernal pool, listening to the chorus of frogs, jot down what you’ve heard and report your observations. It’s that easy.

Now that you know how to be part of a burgeoning frog research study with little formal training, what are you waiting for? Hop to it!

To get involved in Frogwatch USA or find a local chapter, visit the AZA’s webpage at http://www.aza.org/frogwatch/

To brush up on the frog calls in your local area, the US Geological Survey has a great quiz here: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/Frogquiz/

- Andrew Franks, Zoo New England

Leaf litter toad (Rhaebo haematiticus)

Cute Frog of the Week: January 30, 2012

Can you be-leaf that this is a frog? If you don’t look closely, you might just miss the litter frog if you come across it in the forest. Even though it is relatively large in size, with females that can grow up to 3 inches in length, it practically disappears among leaf litter and tree bark. This ‘dead leaf’ pattern on its back is excellent camouflage and is most often brown or purplish in color with darker blackish and lighter yellow-orange blotches. Their toes are also webbed, but their fingers are not.

These frogs range from eastern Honduras and Costa Rica to Columbia and northwestern Ecuador. In general, these frogs are most commonly seen in Costa Rica, though their population fluctuates and their overall numbers seem to be decreasing.

Litter frogs are nocturnal and live in either tropical forests or humid, moist woodland areas along streams or rivers. They breed during the wet seasons from March to July, and prefer to do so in rocky freshwater pools along the edges of streams where their twilight chorus could easily be mistaken for birdsong. Once the breeding season is over, they often move elsewhere to slightly drier areas.

The main threats to this species are habitat degradation and destruction due to agriculture, wood extraction and cattle ranching. The species is locally threatened by dams in Venezuela and by oil pollution in Colombia. Chytrid fungus also seems to be affecting this species.

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/

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