Amphibian Prac

Question 1

3 orders

Answer 1

Gymnophiona - caecilians
Caudata/Urodela - salamanders and newts
Anura - frogs and toads

Question 2

Characteristics

Answer 2

Tetrapod verts
Ectothermic
Moist, smooth skin without scales, feathers or hair
Gelatinous eggs lacking amnion
2 life stages:
- aquatic (larvae with gills)
- terrestrial (adults with lungs)

Question 3

Squeakers

Answer 3

Arthroleptidae
Arthroleptis
Dorsal diamond-shaped hourglass, third finger elongated, no webbing
Habitat: leaf litter in forests and swamps
Males produce high pitched call, eggs are laid in leaf litter, direct development

Question 4

Tree frogs

Answer 4

Arthroleptidae
Leptopelis
Large head, protruding eyes, conspicuous tympanum, terminal discs on digits
Habitats: tropical forests, savanna, grassland
Males call loudly and use physical combat, eggs are laid in mud burrows and tadpoles migrate to water

Question 5

Rain frogs

Answer 5

Brevicipitidae
Breviceps
Globose body, flat frowning face, short limbs, short inner and outer toes
Habitats: forests to deserts
No amplexus, but glued with adhesive skin, eggs laid in burrow, females stay by nest

Question 6

Typical toads

Answer 6

Bufonidae
Scleroprys
Skin rough, warts, symmetrical dorsal patterns, parotoid glands
Habitats: grassland, fynbos
Males are loud, eggs laid under water in double gelatinous strings

Question 7

Pygmy toads

Answer 7

Bufonidae
Poyntonophrynus
Small and flattened, inconspicuous parotoid glands
Habitats: open country and arid areas
Breeding opportunistic, males call from concealed place, eggs in gelatinous strings

Question 8

Red toad

Answer 8

Bufonidae
Schismaderna carens
Reddish dorsum, two dark spots, no parotoid glands or skin elevations
Habitats: savanna or woodland
Males call in large choruses, eggs in double gelatinous strings between veg

Question 9

Ghost frog

Answer 9

Heleophryinidae
Heleophryne, Hadromophryne natalenis
Webb in on foot, spatula the discs on digits, tadpoles with huge suckers
6 species in Southern Africa
Habitats: fynbos - fast flowing streams
Males have high pitched calls, eggs laid under rocks in water

Question 10

Shovel-nosed frogs

Answer 10

Hemisus
Spherical, bloated body, sharp pointed head with chisel-shaped snout, lower jaw receded under snout
Habitats: grassland and savanna
Eggs laid in burrow near water, female carries young to water to compete metamorphosis

Question 11

Leaf-folding frogs

Answer 11

Hyperoliidae
Afrixalus
Vertical pupil, round disc on digits, tympanum concealed
Habitats: wetland areas with high rainfall in subtropical and tropical
Eggs laid along axis of leaf, males fold leaf, tadpoles fall into water for metamorphosis

Question 12

Reed frogs

Answer 12

Hyperoliidae
Hyperolius
Horizontal pupil, terminal discs on digits, webbing on toes, tympanum concealed
Habitats: warm, high rainfall
Males loud calls form choruses, frequently fight, eggs attached to plants

Question 13

Kassinas

Answer 13

Hyperoliidae
Kassina senegalensis, Phlyctimantis maculata
Bullet-shaped body, rounded snout, concealed tympanum
Habitats: Savanna’s, forests of temperate and tropical
Males call from concealed away from water, eggs laid in water

Question 14

Rubber frogs

Answer 14

Microphylidae
Phrynomantis
Circular pupil, aposematic colours, toxic skin
Habitats: desert, forests
Males call from concealed near water, eggs laid in water

Question 15

Puddle frog

Answer 15

Phrynobatrachus
Close set eyes, pointed snout, mid-tarsal tubercle
Habitats: wetlands high summer rain
Males call shallow standing water, eggs laid in water

Question 16

Grass frogs

Answer 16

Ptychadenidae
Ptychadena
Strong hind legs, streamline body, >_ 6 continual dorsal ridge
Habitats: savanna
Males form large choruses, call from concealed place, eggs in shallow water

Question 17

Platannas

Answer 17

Pipidae
Xenopus
Circular pupil, lateral line system, claws on inner 3 toes, no tympanum, tongue and movable eyelids
Habitats: deserts to forests, totally aquatic
Cloacal folds of female become red and swell in breeding season

Question 18

River frogs

Answer 18

Pyxicephalidae
Amietia
Long strong legs, dorsal ridges broken, webbing between toes, pointed snout
Habitats: deserts to forests
Males call individually or in chorus, eggs laid in water

Question 19

Cacos

Answer 19

Pyxicephalidae
Cacosternum
Small, no webbing, dark spots on smooth white undersides,variable colours
Habitats: deserts to forests
Males form large choruses, eggs laid in water

Question 20

Bullfrogs

Answer 20

Pyxicephalidae
Pyxicephalus
2 tooth-like projections in lower jaw, massive inner metatarsal tubercle for digging
2 in SA
Habitats: desert to Savanna’s
Males claim a and defend territories and females, eggs laid in shallow water, males may guard tadpoles

Question 21

Sand frogs

Answer 21

Pyxicephalidae
Tomopterna
Robust, toad-like, metatarsal tubercle for digging
Habitats: sandy soils various biomes
Dig selves in backwards to hibernate underground, males form dense choruses, eggs in water

Question 22

Southern foam nest frog

Answer 22

Rhacophoridae
Chiromantis xerampelina
Pair of opposite digits with round discs, colour change, skin ridge between eyes and arm
Habitats: savanna and forests
Males form choruses in trees over water, female secretion frothed by males, eggs laid in foam and tadpoles drop into water