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Amphibians. Flashcards

1
Q

What are the oldest land vertebrates?

A

Amphibians.

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2
Q

What is Ichthyostega?

A

An amphibian species that lived in Greenland 362 million years ago.

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3
Q

Are amphibians ectothermic?

A

Yes.

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4
Q

What is ectothermic?

A

Use sunlight energy (bask in the sun) or absorb energy from laying on warm surfaces.

Must spend time basking before they can become active.

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5
Q

What is herpetofauna?

A

(Term for reptiles and amphibians) expend much less energy than mammals and birds
Can go for long periods without eating (thus saving energy)

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6
Q

When did early amphibians move to land?

A

About 365 million years ago, approximately 50 million years after insects and100 million years after plants.

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7
Q

How do amphibians reproduce?

A

Reproduced in water through external fertilisation.

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8
Q

Why do amphibians need water?

A

They need water to keep skin moist and aquatic larval amphibians alive.

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9
Q

For how long were amphibians the only vertebrates on land?

A

40 million years.

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10
Q

What are the order of amphibians in the class amphibia?

A

Anura.

Caudata.

Gymnophiona.

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11
Q

What are anura?

A

Frogs and Toads (Greek: “without a tail”)

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12
Q

What are caudata?

A

Salamanders and Newts ( Latin: “with a tail”).

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13
Q

What are gymnophiona?

A

Gymnophiona: (Greek: “naked snake”) Caecilians (least studied and least known).

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14
Q

How many species of amphibians are there in Grenada?

A

4.

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15
Q

What order do the amphibians in Grenada fall in to?

A

All anura as they are all frogs and toads?

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16
Q

What does amphibia mean?

A

Double life.

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17
Q

Where do adult amphibians tend to live?

A

They tend to live on land but they lay their eggs in the water.

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18
Q

Do amphibians eggs have shells?

A

No. They are shell less. Big difference between amphibians and reptiles.

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19
Q

What is metamorphosis?

A

The process by which tadpoles change into adults.

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20
Q

What is the difference between the skin of amphibians and other land animals?

A

Amphibians lack hair, feathers or scales found on other land animals.

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21
Q

What do amphibians mainly eat?

A

Insects.

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22
Q

Describe the amphibians skin?

A

Skin is moist, naked, permeable, and used extensively for breathing.

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23
Q

Do all amphibians have lungs, if not how do they breathe?

A

Some amphibians lack lungs and breathe almost completely through their skin. They also absorb water through their skin.

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24
Q

Can amphibians be the first indicators of pollution?

A

Yes.

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25
Q

Are dry periods bad for amphibians?

A

Yes, because they can die from dehydration.

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26
Q

What are the 3 basic groups of salamanders?

A

Aquatic salamanders.

Semi-aquatic salamanders.

Terrestrial salamanders.

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27
Q

What do salamanders look like?

A

Salamanders have large, gaping mouths, tails, and four legs of about the same size.

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28
Q

Do salamanders hibernate?

A

Salamanders in cool climates may hibernate in the mud of pond bottoms or on land deep in the soil….metabolism slows considerably.

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29
Q

Do amphibians mate in a similar style to frogs?

A

Like frogs they do breed in breeding ponds, however they do not call for a mate like frogs do.

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30
Q

What do young (larval) salamanders look like?

A

Larval salamanders look like scaled-down adults. However, most have external gills that are absorbed during metamorphosis.

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31
Q

Are salamanders predators?

A

Larval and adult salamanders are predators and eat small invertebrates like worms and insects.

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32
Q

What is the difference between salamanders and lizards?

A

Salamanders have no scales, claws or external ear openings (unlike lizards).

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33
Q

What salamanders maintain their gills for life?

A

Axolotls retain their larval gills throughout their lives to enable respiration underwater.

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34
Q

How do other salamanders breathe?

A

Some salamanders lose their larval gills and develop lungs.

Most salamanders however lose their larval gills and do not develop lungs but respire through their skin.

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35
Q

What is a newt?

A

A newt is a salamander but not all aquatic salamanders are considered to be newts.

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36
Q

What is the difference between frogs and newts?

A

Newts are very similarly shaped to frogs but have a tail.

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37
Q

Can newts and salamanders regenerate missing body parts?

A

Yes.

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38
Q

What is the difference between how frogs and newts/salamanders lay their eggs?

A

Many salamanders and newts will lay/attach their eggs to plants as shown here versus frogs which generally lay free floating egg masses.

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39
Q

What are caecilians?

A

Caecilians are legless amphibians that look more like large moist worms (have annuli or rings like earthworms have) than frogs or salamanders.

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40
Q

What region can caecilians be found in?

A

Tropical regions.

Local habitat: Leaf litter and loose dirt in tropical forests, streams, ponds, lakes

Most are fossorial.

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41
Q

What is fossorial?

A

Underground tunnel systems

hard head and pointed snout allows for efficient burrowing .

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42
Q

What kind of eyesight do caecilians have?

A

Very poor eyesight and often no eyesight.

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43
Q

What kind of teeth do caecilians have?

A

Caecilians have extremely sharp teeth which they use to grab and hold various types on invertebrates (insect larvae, termites, worms, snails etc.) and even vertebrates smaller amphibians and reptiles etc.

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44
Q

What similarity do salamanders and caecilians share?

A

Like many salamanders, they have toxic glands in their skin to protect them from predators.

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45
Q

How do caecilians produce their offspring?

A

Some Caecilians lay eggs (oviparous) others produce live born young (viviparous).

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46
Q

What size do caecilians tend to be?

A

7 inches to 5 feet.

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47
Q

Are caecilians seen often?

A

No because they are fossorial.

48
Q

Do oceanic islands have many species of amphibians?

A

Typically no.

49
Q

Do frogs and toads have tails?

A

No but they have well developed hind legs for jumping and swimming.

50
Q

Do amphibians have a strict breeding season?

A

In temperate regions they do but not in tropical regions.

51
Q

Why is there no strict breeding season in tropical regions?

A

The warm temperatures and high rainfall in many parts of tropical areas make most times of the year acceptable for breeding.

52
Q

How do male frogs and toads mate?

A

By calling for a mate.

53
Q

Does each species of frog and toad have a unique call?

A

Each species has a unique call that allows them to recognize each other and the nature of the calls is often mediated by the environment.

54
Q

Where does the mating of amphibians take place?

A

Generally in the water.

55
Q

How do frogs in the caribbean keep their shell less eggs moist?

A

Frogs (ex. piping or tree frogs) in the Caribbean may use the cup-like leaves of Bromeliads or other plants which hold water for laying eggs. Some frogs create foam nests (Ditch frog (Leptodactylus valid)).

56
Q

How do they lay the eggs and how long before they hatch?

A

Eggs are laid in masses (globular or long strings).

Eggs hatch within a few days to a few weeks with temperature driving egg development.

57
Q

What do frog larvae look like?

A

Frog larvae typically have big, round bodies and long tail fins and are very different from adults.

58
Q

Do frogs in the caribbean have a larval stage?

A

No.

59
Q

Do tadpoles grow front or hind legs first?

A

Hind.

60
Q

What do tadpoles eat?

A

Tadpoles are mostly vegetarian, but in some cases will eat meat or even cannibalize other tadpoles.

These carnivorous individuals grow faster and develop larger mouths with teeth.

61
Q

How long is the time between hatching and metamorphosis?

A

The time between hatching and metamorphosis is typically 2 to 4 months but in the tailed frog it can last 4 years.

62
Q

What is the process of metamorphosis?

A

Gills are absorbed and lungs develop.

Tail is absorbed and eyelids develop.

A gaping mouth takes the place of the horny beak of the vegetarian tadpoles.

The shift in diet (from mainly herbivorous to more carnivorous) causes the digestive system to also change.

Frogs eat insects and other invertebrates, but large bullfrogs may eat small vertebrates.

63
Q

What is the family of the cane toad?

A

Bufonidae: True Toads

64
Q

What time of day are you likely to see a cane toad?

A

Night time. They are nocturnal.

65
Q

What size are cane toads?

A

Length: to 9 1/2 inches.

66
Q

What is the range of the cane toad?

A

Tropical in distribution.

Native range-Texas to northern South America.

67
Q

Is a cane toad a habitat specialist?

A

Habitat generalist—agricultural fields to coastal habitats, to urban settings.

68
Q

Are cane toads endemic to anywhere?

A

They tend to be an introduced exotic species around the world

69
Q

How many eggs can a cane toad lay?

A

Up to 35,000 at a time.

70
Q

Are cane toads common in Grenada?

A

Yes.

71
Q

What can cane toads excrete from their glands?

A

Cane toads have large parotid glands that squirt a bufotoxin that can cause vomiting, convulsions ,and collapse in vertebrates (can kill a dog).

72
Q

Do cane toads have horizontal or vertical pupils?

A

Horizontal.

73
Q

What are the diet differences between toad tadpoles and adults?

A

Tadpoles are vegetarians.

Adults are carnivorous.

74
Q

What is a cane toads predator?

A

Cattle egrets, Red-tailed hawks, Giant centipedes.

75
Q

What is site fidelity?

A

In Puerto Rico, toads returned to the same water holes again and again (demonstrating incredible site fidelity).

76
Q

What does a toad track/footprint look like?

A

Tips of toes leave round dots and then toes are dragged leaving drag marks.

77
Q

What is the scientific name for the cane toad?

A

Bufo marinus.

78
Q

What is the scientific name of the windward ditch frog?

A

Leptodactylus validus.

79
Q

Where is the windward ditch frog native to?

A

Grenada.

80
Q

When are you most likely to see the windward ditch frog?

A

At night as they are nocturnal.

81
Q

How does the windward ditch frog breed?

A

Breeds in aquatic habitats then builds foam nests to deposit the eggs.

82
Q

Has the windward ditch frog been made extinct on some Caribbean islands?

A

Yes.

83
Q

What is the range of the windward ditch frog?

A

Native species in St. Vincent, Grenada and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago and northern South America.

84
Q

What habitat does the W D frog live in?

A

This is a terrestrial frog that prefers forest edge habitat close to stream banks, but is well adapted to altered habitats.

They live around 750m above sea level.

85
Q

What will hunt the windward ditch frog?

A

Mastigodryas bruesi which is a critically endangered Colubridae snake.

86
Q

How does the windward ditch frog reproduce?

A

Species breeds in aquatic habitat (streams, ponds, drainage ditches etc.)

This species creates foam nests in which to lay the eggs
Larvae develop in the water.

87
Q

How is the windward ditch frog listed under IUCN?

A

Species is listed as a species of least concern under IUCN (but, could quickly become a species of concern).

88
Q

What is the windward ditch frog sensitive to?

A

Pollution.

89
Q

What threats is the windward ditch frog facing?

A

Like many species across the Caribbean and the world, habitat destruction through urbanization, and agriculture could impact this species.

Introduction of invasive exotic species.

90
Q

What is the scientific name of the endemic piping frog?

A

Pristimantis euphronides.

91
Q

How is the endemic piping frog listed under IUCN?

A

As an endangered species.

92
Q

Where are endemic piping frogs found in Grenada?

A

Grand Etang.

93
Q

What is scientific name of the invasive piping frog?

A

Eleutherodactylus johnstonei.

94
Q

Where can the invasive piping frog be found?

A

Can be found in rainforests, open, and disturbed habitats

May be competing with the endemic piping frog.

95
Q

How has the genus of the endemic piping frog changed?

A

Species recently moved from genus Eleutherodactylus to genus Pristimantis.

96
Q

What elevation are the endemic piping frogs found at?

A

From 300 meters to 840 meters in elevation.

97
Q

When are you most likely to see an endemic piping frog?

A

At night as they are nocturnal.

98
Q

Where do endemic piping frogs tend to live?

A

They are terrestrial.

Can be found in Grand Etang often sitting on leaves up to 2 meters off of the ground.

99
Q

How do endemic piping frogs reproduce?

A

Males call from perches up to about 1 ½ meters off the ground (on trunks of trees).

Eggs are laid on the ground and young hatch out as miniature adults (direct development).

Males and perhaps females guard eggs.

100
Q

Do we have a lot of information about the endemic piping frog?

A

No.

101
Q

What state is the population of the endemic piping frog in?

A

Population is in a decline but how steep that decline is remains unknown.

102
Q

What must be done to protect the endemic piping frog?

A

Population trend needs to be determined and habitat must be preserved.

103
Q

Why is the range of the endemic piping frog being threatened?

A

Range of this little frog continues to be reduced by habitat alteration and possible competition with the invasive species Eleutherodactylus johnstonei.

104
Q

What is the range of the invasive piping frog?

A

Range: throughout the Lesser Antilles and also introduced to Jamaica, Trinidad, Tortola (BVI), and mainland South America.

105
Q

What habitats does the invasive piping frog like?

A

moist habitat at higher elevations but also does extremely well in disturbed habitats.

106
Q

Are invasive piping frog nocturnal and terrestrial?

A

Yes.

107
Q

What do invasive piping frogs eat?

A

They are mainly carnivorous. Eating insects.

108
Q

Are the invasive piping frogs ubiquitous?

A

Yes they live below 600m.

109
Q

How do invasive piping frogs reproduce?

A

Peak of breeding season in July and August (earlier in the wet season).

More males calling during this time.

Males defend territories by displays and physical contact (fighting).

Eggs laid on the ground.

Breeds by direct development.

Both males and females defend nest.

110
Q

How are the invasive piping frogs listed by IUCN?

A

As a species of least concern.

111
Q

How do invasive piping frogs capture their prey?

A

Has been observed to sit and watch prey for long periods of time prior to capturing it.

112
Q

Up to how many times the length of their bodies can an invasive piping frog jump?

A

Up to 40 times.

113
Q

What will hunt an invasive piping frog?

A

Lizards and snakes.

114
Q

Where did the native frogs in Grenada arrive from?

A

Likely to have been rafted in from the Orinoco river.

115
Q

How is the chytrid fungus likely to be spread?

A

Perhaps spread by African clawed toad.

Easily spread through fungal spores in the water or by direct contact .

116
Q

How does the fungus affect frogs?

A

Fungus apparently affects the surface layers of the frog’s skin.

May release a toxin that is absorbed through the skin
Infected frogs die in a few weeks-entire populations in a couple of years.

117
Q

How much of the worlds frog populations are under threat of extinction?

A

Currently, over a third of the world’s frog populations are under threat of extinction (some already and recently extinct).

Wildlife (8 decks)

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