Amphibians Flashcards
What class do amphibians belong to?
Amphibia.
What three groups of animals are classified as amphibians?
- Frogs
- Salamanders
- Caecilians
Are amphibians warm-blooded or cold-blooded?
Cold-blooded (ectothermic).
What unique feature allows amphibians to breathe through their skin?
Cutaneous respiration.
What is the largest amphibian in the world?
Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus).
Which amphibian is known for its sticky tongue used to catch prey?
Frog.
What is the smallest amphibian species?
Paedophryne amauensis (a frog from Papua New Guinea).
What amphibian can regenerate lost body parts, like limbs or tails?
Salamanders.
What do amphibians typically lay their eggs in?
Water.
What stage in an amphibian’s life cycle comes after the egg?
Larva (e.g., tadpole for frogs).
What amphibian is known for being highly poisonous to predators?
Poison dart frog (Dendrobatidae).
What amphibian can survive being frozen during winter?
Wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus).
Which amphibian has no legs and resembles a worm?
Caecilian.
What is the main diet of adult amphibians?
Carnivorous (insects, small animals).
What color is often a warning sign of toxicity in amphibians?
Bright colors, such as yellow, orange, and red.
What is the longest-living amphibian?
Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus), living up to 50+ years.
How do amphibians protect their eggs?
- By laying them in water
- Wrapping them in leaves or foam nests
Which amphibian produces a toxin that has been used by Indigenous people on blow darts?
Poison dart frog.
What amphibian is commonly used in scientific research due to its regenerative abilities?
Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum).
Which amphibian ‘sings’ or croaks during mating season?
Male frogs.
What is the primary threat to amphibians worldwide?
- Habitat loss
- Climate change
- Disease (like chytrid fungus)
What amphibian is known for its ‘walking’ ability on land?
Salamanders, especially tiger salamanders.
What part of the world has the greatest diversity of amphibians?
Tropical rainforests.
Which amphibian never undergoes complete metamorphosis and retains its gills as an adult?
Axolotl.
What is the term for the double life amphibians lead, living in both water and on land?
Amphibious lifestyle.
What is the largest species of frog in the world?
Goliath frog (Conraua goliath)
The Goliath frog can weigh up to 3.3 kg (7.3 lbs) and can grow over 30 cm (12 inches) in length.
Which frog is known for its ability to freeze solid and survive?
Wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
The Wood frog can survive being frozen for weeks, thawing out in the spring.
What frog is famous for its bright blue coloration and toxicity?
Blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus)
The bright blue coloration serves as a warning to predators about its toxicity.
What frog species carries its eggs in pouches on its back?
Surinam toad (Pipa pipa)
The Surinam toad’s unique reproductive strategy involves carrying fertilized eggs in skin pockets on its back.
Which frog is named for its translucent skin that reveals its internal organs?
Glass frog (Centrolenidae family)
Glass frogs are primarily found in Central and South America.
What is the smallest frog species in the world?
Paedophryne amauensis, from Papua New Guinea
This species measures about 7.7 mm in length.
Which frog species produces foam nests to protect its eggs?
Tungara frog (Engystomops pustulosus)
The foam nests provide a safe environment for the eggs until they hatch.
What frog is famous for its loud, distinctive mating call in North America?
Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
The Spring peeper’s call is often heard during spring evenings.
Which frog has a ‘clawed’ defense mechanism, using spiked bones?
Hairy frog (Trichobatrachus robustus)
When threatened, the Hairy frog can break its own bones to protrude through its skin as claws.
What frog is known for its bright red eyes and vibrant green body?
Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas)
This species is commonly found in Central America.
Which frog species has remained mostly unchanged for millions of years?
Chilean four-eyed frog (Pleurodema thaul)
This species is a living fossil, showing little evolutionary change.
What frog can glide between trees using webbed feet?
Wallace’s flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus)
This frog has webbed feet that help it to glide effectively.
Which frog species incubates its eggs in its stomach, now extinct?
Gastric-brooding frog (Rheobatrachus species)
This unique reproductive method is no longer seen as the species is extinct.
What frog can mimic dead leaves to evade predators?
Amazon horned frog (Ceratophrys cornuta)
This species uses its camouflage to blend into the forest floor.
What species of frog uses its bright colors as a warning to predators?
Golden poison dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
This frog’s skin contains potent toxins, making it one of the most poisonous animals.
Which frog has adapted to live in the Australian desert by burrowing?
Water-holding frog (Cyclorana platycephala)
This frog can survive long periods of drought by entering a state of dormancy.
What frog is native to Madagascar and exhibits vibrant colors?
Tomato frog (Dyscophus antongilii)
The Tomato frog is known for its bright red coloration.
Which frog species can camouflage to blend with moss or rocks?
Vietnamese mossy frog (Theloderma corticale)
This frog’s appearance helps it avoid predation.
What is the loudest frog species in the world?
Puerto Rican coquí frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui)
The call of the coquí can be heard from a distance of up to a mile.
Which frog species is completely aquatic and lacks a tongue?
African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)
This species has adapted to a fully aquatic lifestyle.
What frog can leap up to 20 times its body length?
American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
This frog’s powerful legs allow for impressive leaps.
Which frog species can live in freezing temperatures by producing antifreeze-like chemicals?
Alaskan wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
This adaptation allows it to survive harsh northern climates.
What species of frog is critically endangered due to habitat destruction in Panama?
Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki)
Conservation efforts are ongoing to protect this species.
Which frog produces toxic skin secretions that have been used for hunting by Indigenous tribes?
Poison dart frog (Dendrobatidae family)
Indigenous peoples have used these toxins for hunting purposes.
