PetSugar

Creature Features: Tree Frogs

PetSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:10:38 -0700

Tree frogs rarely leave the trees (sorry, I couldn't resist), but some facts have trickled down to me. Do you know anything about these lil creatures? Find out in this quiz.

Source

Take the quiz

Catch-and-Release, This Frog's the Size of Your Fingertip

PetSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:45:10 -0700

I keep looking at my finger, then back at this picture, then back at my finger . . . wow! Once found all over the continent, the European Tree Frog is endangered in Western Europe because of the negative influences of human activity on their natural habitats. This babe's just chillin' with his keeper at a German Zoo – the facility continues to breed the species in order to reintroduce them to the wild in Nuremberg and the city's surrounding areas.
To see another picture of five little tree frogs just sittin' in a tree, read more.

Source

Dog Eats Poison Toad... and Both Live to Tell the Tale!

PetSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:00:12 -0700

Bella got an unexpected treat when her dinner scraps included a poisonous cane toad. She swallowed the creature – that would normally kill a dog in about 20 minutes – WHOLE. I wouldn't believe what happened next if I didn't see it with my very own eyes here!

Seriously, I'm stunned that even the toad made it out alive . . . and even the pooch seems fine. Once again, it's another amazing tale of nature.

Source

The Scoop: Putting Frog Genes on Ice

PetSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Usually when I think of animal conservation, I think of protecting the animals' natural habitat, educating the masses on the need for conservation, and maybe even helping nature along with breeding, but I've never heard of putting them on ice!

In Moscow, a research team is trying to save the rarest of toad and frog species from extinction by freezing their sperm and eggs at minus 200 degrees for later use. With over 3,000 species on the endangered list, Natalia Sheshova from the Institute of Biophysics in Moscow says they are learning other ways to use science to their advantage as well:

“We’re learning to freeze embryo cells too, to give us a complete genetic picture. We hope that if a certain species does become extinct, we can retrieve the frozen cells and reproduce it.”

I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures!

Source

The Scoop: Froggie Without Lungs Found in Indonesia

PetSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:00:42 -0700

With only a few species of salamanders and worms known to be without lungs, a species of frog – the Barbourula kalimantanensis – was added to that very short list after being discovered in a remote province on Borneo Island. In August of last year, David Bickford, an evolutionary biologist at the National University of Singapore, was one of the few expeditioners to discover the unique amphibian. The small brown spotted frog, found along the fast moving rivers of the island, brings an interesting comparison from the researcher:

"These are about the most ancient and bizarre frogs you can get on the planet. They are flat and have eyes that float above the water. They have skin flaps coming off their arms and legs," describing them as "a squished version of Jabba the Hutt."

Straight out of a Star Wars flick, researchers say that the frog (although totally weird) is not a mistake – the species has evolved to adapt to the cold and oxygen rich rivers that it calls home. And this may sound totally crazy, but I would think that breathing through your skin can't be all that bad. I mean, you wouldn't have to worry about asthma, pneumonia, and lung cancer, but if your pores got clogged, would you have trouble breathing?

Source

Where's the Frog?

PetSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:00:33 -0800

I'm always amazed by the natural camouflage of many amphibians! From toads to frogs, the hoppers make me jump for joy. I've collected some pictures of these creatures from the touring Frogs: A Chorus of Colors exhibit – can you spot them in their recreated habitats? Check out the slideshow and see! Source

View Slideshow ›

2008 Is Year of the Frog

PetSugar — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:40:55 -0800

Happy National Zoo Day! While I am first to admit that animals should stay in their natural habitats whenever possible, oftentimes captive populations are the only hope for species that are in danger. The members of the American Zoological Association (AZA) are at the forefront of conservation efforts of endangered creatures – protecting and breeding animals in captivity helps species get back on its feet and monitors problems as well. If you're curious why they are calling 2008 the Year of the Frog, read more.

As you may have guessed, the AZA is kicking off a Year of the Frog campaign in 2008. The situation of many frogs (as well as toads, salamanders, and newts) is dire. In fact, it's estimated that at least one-third of known amphibian species are threatened with extinction according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN)! The combined effect of habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, and diseases cannot be addressed solely in the wild so, with the help of their staff members, zoologists, and researchers, the member zoos and aquariums are taking their efforts to the next level and focusing on frogs in upcoming year.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has listed thirty-seven amphibian species under the Endangered Species Act and, of special note, are our four amphibians on the critically endangered list: the Mississippi gopher frog, the Chiricahua leopard frog, the Wyoming toad, and the mountain yellow-legged frog (shown above). Stay tuned for more news on PetSugar about the AZA's efforts to engage the public in amphibian conservation and about their critical work as well.

Source

Creature Features: Kiss a Frog, Kiss a Toad?

PetSugar — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:44:39 -0700

Did you know that toads are technically frogs? Both frogs and toads are amphibians and belong to the same order, Anura, which means "without a tail." However, toads and frogs belong to different families. The term toad tends to refer to the "true toads".... which are members of the family Bufonidae, containing more than 300 species, whereas the term "true frogs" describes members of the Ranidae family with over 400 species. A tad tricky, huh? Basically, that just means there are actually differences between the true frogs and the true toads.

I bet you know more about true toads and true frogs than you think – test your knowledge with this quiz.

Take the quiz

Your Very Own Pet Panda: In the LINK of an Eye!

PetSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:30:05 -0700

Talented groomers can make dogs look like pandas, camels, and more - Telegraph UK
"Petting is Passé" . . . and other bits of wisdom from a pet masseuse?! - Paw Nation
Ikea baby changing table becomes a cute cat perch - moderncat
Hysterical behind-the-scenes look at Pet Fashion Week - People Pets
Chompasaurus on the underwater treadmill - The Frisky
Traffic puts a damper on frogs' sex lives - Discovery News
Nosy Frenchies ask: What's that slinking around? - The Daily Wag

Source: Ren Netherland/ Barcroft Media

Pet Pic of the Day: Ozzy's From Another Planet

PetSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:00:30 -0700

Look at those pretty peepers - one blue and one green - so not sure I agree with FrogsOblivious's grandpa, Ozzy doesn't look like an alien cat to me!