Class Amphibia

1
Class Amphibia
http//spongebob.ncsa.uiuc.edu/mike

• Scales absent
• Skin smooth or warty
• Larvae, adults distinct

http//www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/
http//www.mybitoftheplanet.com/2002/
http//fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/
http//fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS
2
Class Amphibia

• Larvae
• Gills
• Algivores, predators
• Aquatic

• Adults
• Lungs
• Predators
• Semiaquatic or terrestrial

3
Order Caudata, Family Ambystomatidae(Ambystoma
tigrinum tiger salamander)

• Identification adult
• Tail (Caudata)
• Costal grooves (Ambystomatidae)
• Yellow spots or blotches on dorsum (sometimes
  absent)
• Length to 21 cm

http//biodiversity.wku.edu/salamanders/Salamander
_Images
/
Illustration from Christoffel et al. 2001
4
Ambystoma tigrinum tiger salamander

• Identification larva
• Featherlike gills
• Legs absent (early stages) or present (late
  stages)

http//fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS
5
Ambystoma tigrinum tiger salamander

• Habitat
• Adults near/in ponds, or underground
• Larvae in ponds
• Diet
• animal prey, including invertebrates and other
  salamanders (adults and larvae both carnivorous)

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology
6
Ambystoma tigrinum tiger salamander

• Reproduction
• Male deposits spermatophore, female picks it up
  with cloaca (fertilization in reproductive tract)
• Mass of 30-50 eggs laid in spring (pond breeders
  begins in March)
• Larvae metamorphose June-August

Ambystoma tigrinum egg mass
http//www4.ncsu.edu/haddad/tigereggs.jpg
7
Ambystoma tigrinum tiger salamander

• Distribution
• Statewide
• Conservation status
• Fairly common
• Declining due to habitat loss, pollution

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/
8
Order Anura
http//spongebob.ncsa.uiuc.edu/mike

• Smooth or warty skin
• Adult lacks tail
• Larva lacks external gills (legs appear during
  metamorphosis)

http//www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/biospeleolog
y
http//www.mybitoftheplanet.com/2002/frogmar_files
/
9
Order Anura, Family Bufonidae(Bufo americanus
American toad)
http//spongebob.ncsa.uiuc.edu/mike

• Identification adult
• Paratoid glands
• Warty skin (1-2 warts per spot)
• Call a long trill
• Length to 9 cm

Illustration from Christoffel et al. 2001
10
Bufo americanus American toad

• Identification larva
• Dark-colored
• Eyes dorsal
• Small (to 2.4 cm)

http//fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/
http//www.learner.org/jnorth/images/graphics/
11
Bufo americanus American toad

• Habitat
• Adults usually near ponds can be far from water
• Larvae in temporary or permanent ponds
• Diet
• Adults eat invertebrates
• Larvae are algivores/detritivores

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/
12
Bufo americanus American toad
http//www.uri.edu/cels/nrs/paton/toad/

• Reproduction
• Breed April to May
• Eggs fertilized by male as they are laid (all IA
  Anura)
• Eggs in strings
• Larvae morph into toads in July

Bufo americanus eggs
http//www.visualsunlimited.com/images/watermarked
/301/301530.jpg
13
Bufo americanus American toad

• Distribution
• Statewide
• Conservation status
• Abundant
• Other
• Antipredator defenses include toxin (from
  paratoid glands), urination, puffing up body
  (used against Thamnophis that is unharmed by
  toxin)

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/
14
Order Anura, Family Hylidae(Pseudacris
triseriata western chorus frog)

http//snr.unl.edu/herpneb/images/

• Identification adult
• Small suction cups on toes
• Striped dorsum (variable, often broken)
• Smooth skin
• Length to 3.9 cm
• Call sounds like rubbing finger along comb

http//www.herpjournal.com/
15
Pseudacris triseriata western chorus frog

• Identification larva
• Body not uniformly dark-colored
• Eyes on lateral region of head
• Tail fin rises above body
• Tail fin with little or no pigment
• Dorsal area of tail musculature dark, ventral
  region lighter
• Intestinal coil visible
• Length to 3.7 cm

http//www.fs.fed.us/r4/amphibians/images/
Illustration from Conant and Collins 1991
http//www.pwrc.usgs.gov/tadpole/psestr2t.jpg
16
Pseudacris triseriata western chorus frog

• Habitat
• Adults in woodlands, near breeding sites
• Low shrubs, in water along wetland margins
• Larvae in wetlands (ephemeral to permanent)
• Diet
• Adults eat small invertebrates
• Larvae eat algae

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/amphibians
17
Pseudacris triseriata western chorus frog
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/amphibians

• Reproduction
• March-early April
• Eggs usually in small, loose masses
• Larvae metamorphose in 2-2.5 months
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/amphibians
18
Pseudacris triseriata western chorus frog

• Conservation status
• Common

http//www.cortland.edu/herp/keys/images
19
Order Anura, Family Hylidae(Pseudacris crucifer
spring peeper)

• Identification adult
• Suction cups on toes (cups wider than toes)
• Smooth skin
• X-pattern on dorsum
• Length to 3.2 cm
• Call a series of birdlike peeps

http//www.bio.sdsu.edu/pub/tod/herpetology/anuran
s/
20
Pseudacris crucifer spring peeper

• Identification larva
• Eyes lateral
• Tail fin may rise high above body
• Tail fin clear, or pigmented along outer margin
• Tail musculature area unpigmented
• Length to 3.4 cm

http//gruagach.home.mindspring.com/tadpoles/pseud
acris.crucifer.t.jpg
21
Pseudacris crucifer spring peeper

• Habitat
• Wooded areas and edges low vegetation or on
  ground
• Larvae in wooded wetlands (ephemeral to
  semi-permanent)
• Diet
• Adults eat invertebrates
• Larvae filter feed on algae, detritus

22
Pseudacris crucifer spring peeper
http//www.cortland.edu/herp/keys/images/frogs/pcr
ucilg.jpg

• Reproduction
• April to May
• Small woodland pools
• Eggs laid individually often occur in small
  clusters
• Larvae morph in 2-3 months
• Distribution
• East IA, scattered in central IA

Eggs
http//www.cmnh.org/collections/vertzoo/frogs/fig1
5.gif
23
Pseudacris crucifer spring peeper

• Conservation status
• Common in east IA, but declining (habitat loss)
• Rare or absent elsewhere

24
Order Anura, Family Hylidae(Hyla versicolor and
Hyla chrysoscelis gray treefrog)

• Identification adult
• Suction cups on toes (cups wider than toes)
• Warty skin
• Gray to green body
• White spot below eye
• Inner legs orange
• Length to 5.1 cm
• Call a trill

http//www.duke.edu/cwcook/pix/gtf1378.jpg
25
Hyla versicolor/chrysoscelis gray treefrog

• Identification larva
• Eyes lateral
• Middle of tail fin high
• Tail usually reddish
• Tail ends in flagellum
• Length to 3 cm

http//www.uri.edu/cels/nrs/paton/LH_treefrog.html
http//wwknapp.home.mindspring.com/docs/gray.tfrog
s.html
Illustration from Conant and Collins (1991)
26
Hyla versicolor/chrysoscelis gray treefrog

• Habitat
• Adults arboreal (wooded areas, edge habitat) on
  ground during breeding
• Larvae in wetlands (ephemeral to semi-permanent)
• Diet
• Adults eat invertebrates (flying insects caught
  in mid-air)
• Larvae eat algae, detritus

http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/
27
Hyla versicolor/chrysoscelis gray treefrog

• Reproduction
• May to July
• Eggs usually in small, loose masses
• Larvae morph in 2-3 months
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//www.kbs.msu.edu/ACWA/natres/
28
Hyla versicolor/chrysoscelis gray treefrog

• Conservation status
• Common
• Other
• Overwinter under logs, similar structures
• Antifreeze in blood (glycerol) prevents tissues
  from freezing

29
Order Anura, Family Hylidae(Acris crepitans
cricket frog)

• Identification adult
• Suction cups on toes not easily seen
• Triangle often on head
• Somewhat warty
• Length to 3.8 cm
• Call resembles sound of stones clicking together

http//www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc/services/dep/
herps/photos/
30
Acris crepitans cricket frog

• Identification larva
• Eyes dorsolateral
• Tail tip usually black
• Tail dorsal musculature
• with black bands
• Length to 4.4 cm

http//fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/coastal20plain20cricke
t20frog20tadpole.jpg
Illustration from Conant and Collins 1991
31
Acris crepitans cricket frog

• Habitat
• Adults near any freshwater habitat (prefer
  permanent waters)
• On ground hop into water when threatened, then
  return to water edge
• Larvae in waters near adults
• Diet
• Adults eat tiny insects
• Larvae eat algae

http//www.duke.edu/cwcook/pix/
32
Acris crepitans cricket frog
http//www.duke.edu/cwcook/pix/

• Reproduction
• March-early April
• Eggs laid individually attached to plants
• Larvae metamorphose in 7 weeks
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/amphibians
33
Acris crepitans cricket frog

• Conservation status
• Common in central, southern Iowa
• Declining throughout entire range
• Pollution, flooding, UV light
• may be destroying populations
• Other
• Poor climbers
• 100 individuals in pond can consume 480,000
  insects a season

34
Order Anura, Family Ranidae(Rana catesbeiana
bullfrog)

• Identification adult
• No suction cups on toes
• No dorsolateral ridge
• Dorsum green, sometimes with netlike markings
• Length to 15.2 cm
• Call a series of bass notes (rummm, jug-o-rum)

http//www.biomuncie.org/Wildlife/Bullfrog.jpg
Christoffel et al. 2000
http//frogphotos.home.mindspring.com/photos/bullf
rog1.jpg
35
(No Transcript)
36
Rana catesbeiana bullfrog

• Identification larva
• Eyes dorsal
• Black dots on body, tail fin
• Intestinal coil not visible
• Length to 16.2 cm

http//fisc.er.usgs.gov/c1258_Dodd/circ1258_plates
_20b.jpg
http//www.samford.edu/schools/artsci/biology/vert
zoo-03s/pages/37.htm
37
Rana catesbeiana bullfrog

• Habitat
• Permanent water bodies (lakes, ponds, rivers)
• Diet
• Adults eat invertebrates and vertebrates,
  including other anurans, birds, small mammals
• Larvae eat macroalgae, aquatic plants

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/
38
Rana catesbeiana bullfrog
http//www.hawthornevalleyfarm.org/fep/amphibia/bu
llfrog20tadpole.jpg

• Reproduction
• June-July
• 10,000-20,000 eggs in mass
• Larvae metamorphose in 2 years
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/amphibians
39
Rana catesbeiana bullfrog

• Conservation status
• Abundant
• Exotic in central IA indigenous
• to eastern, southern IA
• Other
• Males highly territorial (3-m radius) wrestle
  invaders
• Adults, larvae overwinter at bottom of ponds,
  lakes
• Predaceous habits threaten other anuran
  populations

http//www.batraciens-reptiles.com/rana_catesbeian
a.jpg
40
Order Anura, Family Ranidae(Rana pipiens
northern leopard frog)

• Identification adult
• Dorsolateral ridge
• Large spots on body (rarely unspotted)
• Length to 9 cm
• Call a long, rattling snore with clucking grunts

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/images/Fro
gs_Toads/
41
Rana pipiens northern leopard frog

• Identification larva
• Eyes dorsal
• Flecks often present (not well-defined dots)
• Intestinal coil often visible
• Length to 8.5 cm

http//fisc.er.usgs.gov/c1258_Dodd/circ1258_plates
_22a.jpg
Illustration from Conant and Collins 1991
42
(No Transcript)
43
Rana pipiens northern leopard frog

• Habitat
• Ponds, streams, rivers, lakes
• Adults found considerable distances from water
• Hibernate in deep water
• Diet
• Adults eat invertebrates
• Larvae eat algae, small plants, detritus

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/
Unspotted burnsi form
44
Rana pipiens northern leopard frog

• Reproduction
• March-April
• Spherical or elliptical egg mass
• Larvae metamorphose in 3 months
• Distribution
• Statewide

http//animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/amphibians
45
Rana pipiens northern leopard frog

• Conservation status
• Common
• Declining (habitat loss, roadkills, pollution,
  collecting)
• Atrazine may cause deformities, reproductive
  failure
• Other
• Many cross roads during rains
• Can absorb dew to remain moist

http//www.denniskalma.com/rana20pipiens.jpg
46
http//www.amphibiaweb.org/aw/images/leopardpieter
johnson.jpg
47
Order Anura, Family Ranidae(Rana clamitans
green frog)
http//www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/biospeleolog
y/rclamitansmo.jpg

• Identification adult
• Dorsolateral ridge
• Spots small or absent
• Length to 9 cm
• Call like a plucked banjo string

http//www.kbs.msu.edu/ACWA/natres/natrgrh/frogtoa
d/green.gif
48
Rana clamitans green frog

Illustration from Conant and Collins 1991

• Identification larva
• Eyes dorsal
• Body and fin mottled (no well-defined dots)
• Intestinal coil not visible
• Length to 10.0 cm

http//cars.er.usgs.gov/pics/db_frogsandtoads0591.
jpg
49
Rana clamitans green frog

• Habitat
• Permanent water body (wetlands, ponds, rivers,
  lakes)
• Adults common along water edge
• Diet
• Adults eat invertebrates, small fish
• Larvae eat algae, small plants, detritus

http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/
50
Rana clamitans green frog

• Reproduction
• May-July
• Eggs in floating sheets
• Larvae metamorphose in 2nd year
• Distribution
• Eastern half of IA

http//fisc.er.usgs.gov/c1258_Dodd/circ1258_plates
_22a.jpg
http//www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/amphibians
51
Rana clamitans green frog

• Conservation status
• Common along Mississippi River, rare in central
  Iowa
• Rarely co-occurs with R. catesbeiana

http//www.cortland.edu/herp/keys/images/frogs/rcl
amilg.jpg