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Introduction

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Selected amphibian type

Various types of frog

A frog is any member of a diverse and largely carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek ἀνούρα, literally 'without tail'). The oldest fossil "proto-frog" Triadobatrachus is known from the Early Triassic of Madagascar (250 million years ago), but molecular clock dating suggests their split from other amphibians may extend further back to the Permian, 265 million years ago. Frogs are widely distributed, ranging from the tropics to subarctic regions, but the greatest concentration of species diversity is in tropical rainforest. Frogs account for around 88% of extant amphibian species. They are also one of the five most diverse vertebrate orders. Warty frog species tend to be called toads, but the distinction between frogs and toads is informal, not from taxonomy or evolutionary history.

An adult frog has a stout body, protruding eyes, anteriorly-attached tongue, limbs folded underneath, and no tail (the tail of tailed frogs is an extension of the male cloaca). Frogs have glandular skin, with secretions ranging from distasteful to toxic. Their skin varies in colour from well-camouflaged dappled brown, grey and green to vivid patterns of bright red or yellow and black to show toxicity and ward off predators. Adult frogs live in fresh water and on dry land; some species are adapted for living underground or in trees.

Frogs typically lay their eggs in the water. The eggs hatch into aquatic larvae called tadpoles that have tails and internal gills. They have highly specialised rasping mouth parts suitable for herbivorous, omnivorous or planktivorous diets. The life cycle is completed when they metamorphose into adults. A few species deposit eggs on land or bypass the tadpole stage. Adult frogs generally have a carnivorous diet consisting of small invertebrates, but omnivorous species exist and a few feed on plant matter. Frog skin has a rich microbiome which is important to their health. Frogs are extremely efficient at converting what they eat into body mass. They are an important food source for predators and part of the food web dynamics of many of the world's ecosystems. The skin is semi-permeable, making them susceptible to dehydration, so they either live in moist places or have special adaptations to deal with dry habitats. Frogs produce a wide range of vocalisations, particularly in their breeding season, and exhibit many different kinds of complex behaviors to attract mates, to fend off predators and to generally survive. (Full article...)

Selected frog article

Hyalinobatrachium ruedai

The glass frogs belong to the amphibian family Centrolenidae (order Anura), native to the Central American Rainforests. The general background coloration of most glass frogs is primarily lime green, the abdominal skin of some members of this family is transparent and translucent, giving the glass frog its common name. The internal viscera, including the heart, liver, and gastrointestinal tract, are visible through the skin. When active their blood makes them visible; when sleeping most of the blood is concealed in the liver, hiding them. Glass frogs are arboreal, living mainly in trees, feeding on small insects and only coming out for mating season. Their transparency conceals them very effectively when sleeping on a green leaf, as they habitually do. However, climate change and habitat fragmentation has been threatening the survival rates of the family. (Full article...)

Selected salamander article

The greater siren (Siren lacertina) is an amphibian and one of the five members of the genus Siren. The largest of the sirens and one of the largest amphibians in North America, the greater siren resides in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States. (Full article...)

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Picture slideshow

Image 1Blue Mountains tree frog
Image 2Marsh frog
Image 3Common frog
Image 4Iberian midwife toad
Image 5Litoria chloris
Image 6Limnodynastes dumerilii
Image 7American toad
Image 8Agalychnis callidryas
Image 9Ecnomiohyla rabborum
Image 10Panamanian golden frog
Image 11Male Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris aka Triturus vulgaris) during breeding season in the Netherlands.
Image 12Albanian water frog
Image 13White-lipped tree frog
Image 14Southern Brown tree frog
Image 15Fire salamander
Image 16Golden toad
Image 17Agile frog
Image 18Atelopus certus
Image 19Poison dart frog
Image 20Epirus water frog
Image 21Balearic green toad
Image 22Surprise, its an amphibian. This is a genus of South American Caecilians, blind and snake-like, which hunt through leaf litter. Photo from Wildsumaco Reserve, Ecuador.
Image 23Leaf green tree frog
Image 24Limosa harlequin frog
Image 25Common toads during amplexus
Image 26Dendropsophus microcephalus
Image 27Fire salamander
Image 28Blue poison dart frog
Image 29Phantasmal poison frog
Image 30Fire salamander
Image 31Spanish painted frog
Image 32Frogs
Image 33Duttaphrynus melanostictus
Image 34Lithobates clamitans
Image 35Emerald-eyed tree frog
Image 36Edible Frog
Image 37Magnificent tree frog
Image 38Italian tree frog
Image 39New England tree frog
Image 40Eastern newt
Image 41Fire-bellied toad

Selected toad article

The Mongolian toad (Strauchbufo raddei), also known commonly as the piebald toad or the Siberian sand toad, is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae. The species is endemic to northeastern Asia. It was formerly placed in the genus Bufo, then for a few years in Pseudepidalea until finally moved to its own genus Strauchbufo. (Full article...)

Selected caecilian article

Luetkenotyphlus is a genus of caecilians in the family Siphonopidae.

Species recognized (as of October 2019):

Luetkenotyphlus brasiliensis (Lütken, 1851)
Luetkenotyphlus fredi Maciel, Castro, Sturaro, Silva, Ferreira, Santos, Risse-Quaioto, Barboza, Oliveira, Sampaio, and Schneider, 2019
Luetkenotyphlus insulanus (Ihering, 1911)

(Full article...)