A scientific expedition to Angola’s remote Lisima plateau has uncovered dozens of species that were previously unknown to science. Seen as one of Africa’s last great biodiversity blank spots, the in-depth exploration of the upper Cassai catchment area on Angola’s eastern plateau revealed eight undescribed dragonfly species, three new grasshopper species, and around 60 new moths and butterflies. The findings, […]
Tag: Tree Frog
Captive-bred Panamanian golden frogs released to the wild
Since 2009, no one has seen a Panamanian golden frog in the wild. These bright yellow frogs disappeared completely when an amphibian fungal disease, chytridiomycosis, swept through Panama reaching El Valle de Anton, the last stronghold of golden frogs. Researchers at the Smithsonian Institution predicted these declines based on the pattern of disease spread, but […]
Galápagos had no native amphibians. Then it was invaded by hundreds of thousands of frogs
On the way to her office at the Charles Darwin research station, biologist Miriam San José crouches down near a shallow pond shrouded by vegetation and reaches deep into the foliage, pulling out a small green plastic box recorder. She left it there overnight to capture the infamous croaks of a Fowler’s snouted treefrog (Scinax […]
Hopes high as hundreds of critically endangered frogs survive release into wild in Victoria
Hundreds of captive-bred, critically endangered frogs are managing to survive after being released at a fast-flowing mountain stream near Mount Beauty in Victoria, with some moving a “considerable distance” from the release point. More than 600 spotted tree frogs have joined dwindling wild populations in the Kiewa River, as part of a Zoos Victoria conservation […]
Colombian tree frog found by Sheffield florist highlights invasive species threat
A tiny tree frog hitchhiking in a bunch of roses to Sheffield from Colombia has inspired a study into invasive species reaching the UK’s shores. Dr Silviu Petrovan, a researcher in the University of Cambridge’s zoology department and a senior author of a paper published today in the journal BioScience, had his interest piqued when […]
From local pond to outback dunny, Australia’s biggest frog count is here – and researchers need your help
They moan, hum, whistle and click, and can be found almost everywhere, from the neighbourhood pond to the most remote outback dunny. From Friday to 17 November, people across the country are encouraged to take part in FrogID week, Australia‘s biggest frog count. The annual event, now in its seventh year, aims to collect thousands […]
Glue in the face: How frogs’ sticky secretions defend them from attack
Many of us are familiar with the story of The Frog Prince, where a princess kisses a frog, and to her surprise, it transforms into a human prince. In reality, many frog species produce poison in their skin, the effects of which can range from mild nausea to death, so this display of affection is […]
Mediterranean Tree Frog
Hyla meridionalisAnura – Hylidae – Hylinae Shot in reeds next to a canal in the south of France. This species is close to the European tree frog, the 2 essential differences being: the shorter dark brown spot behind the eye and the hing legs practically not webbed.Aren’t they as cute and attractive as apple candy?!! […]