AmphibiansAmphibians

Amphibian Amphibian BiologyBiology

What’s uniqueWhat’s unique Amphibia is Latin for “both lives”Amphibia is Latin for “both lives”

These vertebrates live underwater and mature These vertebrates live underwater and mature animals spend some time on land.animals spend some time on land.

Live everywhere except salt water and Antarctica Live everywhere except salt water and Antarctica

Three types of amphibians, Three types of amphibians, Limbless = CaecilliansLimbless = Caecillians Tailed = Salamanders and NewtsTailed = Salamanders and Newts Frogs includes toadsFrogs includes toads

Limbless = CaecillianLimbless = CaecillianSouthern Mexico Central AmericaSouthern Mexico Central America

Look like BIG worms,Look like BIG worms,

but have vertebraebut have vertebrae Lay eggs in waterLay eggs in water Live inLive in

soft clay orsoft clay or

sandsand Not found inNot found in

the USAthe USA

Tailed = Salamander and Tailed = Salamander and NewtsNewts

Head is very different from bodyHead is very different from body Hearing is bad, eyes are well developedHearing is bad, eyes are well developed Have a tail throughout lifeHave a tail throughout life Some retain gills throughout lifeSome retain gills throughout life Only leave shelter after nightfall or whenOnly leave shelter after nightfall or when

it rainsit rains Can be ovoviviparous – eggs hatch Can be ovoviviparous – eggs hatch

inside the body.inside the body.

Fire Marbled Fire Marbled Salamander NewtSalamander Newt

Frogs and Frogs and ToadsToads

Toads are a type of Toads are a type of frogfrog

Head has limited Head has limited rangerange

Wide mouth with tiny Wide mouth with tiny teethteeth

Large eyes above Large eyes above headhead

Order Anura = no tailOrder Anura = no tail

Fancy FeetFancy Feet Climb trees = sticky padsClimb trees = sticky pads

White Lipped Tree FrogWhite Lipped Tree Frog Frogs of the ForestFrogs of the Forest

Burrow = short and stubbyBurrow = short and stubby Plains Spadefoot Toad Plains Spadefoot Toad Frogs of the desertFrogs of the desert

Swim = webbed toesSwim = webbed toes African Clawed FrogAfrican Clawed Frog Aquatic frogsAquatic frogs

Fly = parachute-like webbingFly = parachute-like webbing Flying FrogFlying Frog Frogs of the forestFrogs of the forest

Amazing Tongues Amazing Tongues and Ears and Ears

Some frogs have tongues that are long and Some frogs have tongues that are long and sticky that can be used to catch bugs.sticky that can be used to catch bugs.

But toads have very short tongues and have to But toads have very short tongues and have to snap at their food using their mouth.snap at their food using their mouth.

Some frogs make so much noise that they can Some frogs make so much noise that they can be heard for miles! How do they keep from be heard for miles! How do they keep from blowing out their own eardrums?blowing out their own eardrums?

Some ears are connected to their lungs. Some ears are connected to their lungs.

Frog Venn DiagramFrog Venn Diagram

All amphibians lay a jelly like egg in water. All amphibians lay a jelly like egg in water. But not all amphibians go through But not all amphibians go through

metamorphosis. Frogs and toads do.metamorphosis. Frogs and toads do. They can leave the water when they are adults.They can leave the water when they are adults.

Why are amphibians Why are amphibians important?important?

Due to the extreme diversity of this class Due to the extreme diversity of this class they are widely used in medical researchthey are widely used in medical research Such as the dart frog being used to develop Such as the dart frog being used to develop

pain relief medication without associated pain relief medication without associated human addictiveness and toxicity human addictiveness and toxicity

The African Clawed Frog being used to The African Clawed Frog being used to study super immunitystudy super immunity Species are becoming threatened before we Species are becoming threatened before we

even know they exist or have a chance to classify even know they exist or have a chance to classify them.them.

Why are amphibians Why are amphibians important?important?

They eat lots They eat lots of insects.of insects.

Lots of Lots of animals eat animals eat them.them.

Why are amphibians Why are amphibians important?important?

Amphibians are good Amphibians are good "indicators" of "indicators" of significant significant environmental environmental changes that may go changes that may go initially undetected initially undetected by humans.by humans. Skin is exposed to Skin is exposed to

everything. everything.

What’s happening to What’s happening to amphibians?amphibians?

2005, data shows 122 species have 2005, data shows 122 species have gone extinct since 1980 and 1/3 of the gone extinct since 1980 and 1/3 of the

world’s population or about 1,800 world’s population or about 1,800 species are threatened with extinction. species are threatened with extinction.

To date, 6,000 species have been To date, 6,000 species have been classified.classified.

But extinction is part of But extinction is part of the cycle of life.the cycle of life.

Paleontological base-rate for extinction is Paleontological base-rate for extinction is one out of every 100,000 species will go one out of every 100,000 species will go extinct every year.extinct every year.

This means that natural extinction of an This means that natural extinction of an amphibian species should occur every amphibian species should occur every 1,000 years.1,000 years.

Amphibians are disappearing at a rate 3 Amphibians are disappearing at a rate 3 times that of normal extinctiontimes that of normal extinction

People have responded People have responded byby

Protecting speciesProtecting species Protecting areas of land and waterProtecting areas of land and water Extinction in these national parks and Extinction in these national parks and

reserves is still happeningreserves is still happening This indicates an alarming degree of This indicates an alarming degree of

stress on the environmentstress on the environment Amphibians are indicators like the canary Amphibians are indicators like the canary

in the coalmine!in the coalmine!

Why? The usual causes:Why? The usual causes:

Habitat destructionHabitat destruction Water pollutionWater pollution Air pollutionAir pollution Invasive speciesInvasive species Climate changeClimate change Over-collection for food and petsOver-collection for food and pets PesticidesPesticides Now joined by a parasitic fungal diseaseNow joined by a parasitic fungal disease

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, or chytrid fungusor chytrid fungus

First identified in AustraliaFirst identified in Australiain 1993in 1993

Microscopic view ofMicroscopic view ofthe fungusthe fungus

Treatable inTreatable in

captivity withcaptivity withChloramphenicol Chloramphenicol

Not able to treatNot able to treatin the wildin the wild

Chytrid in the epidermis Chytrid in the epidermis of an amphibianof an amphibian

Where is chytrid found?Where is chytrid found?

Disease is raging in California, the Disease is raging in California, the Rocky Mountains, Mexico, all of Rocky Mountains, Mexico, all of Central America, the Andes Central America, the Andes mountains and eastern Australiamountains and eastern Australia

Spreads by frog to frog contact and Spreads by frog to frog contact and by spores traveling in waterby spores traveling in water

Got here through medical testing Got here through medical testing using the African Clawed Frog as a using the African Clawed Frog as a vectorvector

In Kansas the Bullfrog is chytrid In Kansas the Bullfrog is chytrid resistant, but is also the cow of the resistant, but is also the cow of the amphibiansamphibians

What does chytrid do?What does chytrid do?

Makes amphibians lethargic, Makes amphibians lethargic, frogs unable to right frogs unable to right themselves when flipped overthemselves when flipped over

Frogs won’t hop away when Frogs won’t hop away when approachedapproached

Fungus afflicts the keratin in Fungus afflicts the keratin in the skin and prevents the frog the skin and prevents the frog from using its skin to breathefrom using its skin to breathe

Pieces of skin begin to fall offPieces of skin begin to fall off Witnessed 80% of an Witnessed 80% of an

amphibian population decline amphibian population decline in one month’s time.in one month’s time.

Arrows point to Chytrid on theArrows point to Chytrid on theeye of a frog eye of a frog

Patch of Chytrid on a Patch of Chytrid on a toadtoad

What can we do What can we do about this?about this?

ProtectProtect ConserveConserve EducateEducate

Amphibian Ark is a program coordinated by the Amphibian Ark is a program coordinated by the World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission (SSC) Conservation Survival Commission (SSC) Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, IUCN/SSC Breeding Specialist Group, IUCN/SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, and the World Amphibian Specialist Group, and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and supported by a worldwide network of zoos and supported by a worldwide network of zoos and aquariums, to help keep threatened and aquariums, to help keep threatened amphibian species afloat.amphibian species afloat.

The plan is to The plan is to rescue amphibiansrescue amphibians before they before they are goneare gone

Protect amphibiansProtect amphibians in captive facilities until the in captive facilities until the threats to the wild populations can be threats to the wild populations can be controlled, build the ark.controlled, build the ark.

The Kansas City Zoo supports the Amphibian The Kansas City Zoo supports the Amphibian Ark by building an ark and by participating in a Ark by building an ark and by participating in a global global public awareness campaignpublic awareness campaign, “2008: The , “2008: The Year of the Frog”Year of the Frog”

Why did the weWhy did the webecome involved?become involved?

The need for conservation is greater than The need for conservation is greater than ever, with one vertebrate species ever, with one vertebrate species disappearing from the Earth every day -- disappearing from the Earth every day -- we need to work together to save our we need to work together to save our ecosystems.  ecosystems. 

The Kansas City Zoo is involved with The Kansas City Zoo is involved with amphibian conservation because it is our amphibian conservation because it is our mission to conserve as well as educate mission to conserve as well as educate

What are we doing at the What are we doing at the Kansas City Zoo?Kansas City Zoo?

Education campaignEducation campaign Camps, on site and off site programsCamps, on site and off site programs Staff and volunteer educationStaff and volunteer education

Special exhibit signage and interactive displaysSpecial exhibit signage and interactive displays Special events are frog themed with interactive Special events are frog themed with interactive

componentscomponents Producing materials for distributionProducing materials for distribution

Teacher poster and packetTeacher poster and packet Creating an amphibian game for secondary science curriculumCreating an amphibian game for secondary science curriculum ButtonsButtons

Building an arkBuilding an ark Video of ark with Wyoming Toad Video of ark with Wyoming Toad

What does it What does it look like?look like?

Two rooms each Two rooms each 8’x8’x8’8’x8’x8’

One door in eachOne door in each Own water and Own water and

HVAC systemsHVAC systems Amphibians will be Amphibians will be

housed in tankshoused in tanks Public will not be Public will not be

allowed to accessallowed to access

Amphibians will be held in tanks Amphibians will be held in tanks inside the biosecure room, capacity inside the biosecure room, capacity is 16 shelves on four shelving unitsis 16 shelves on four shelving units

Our ArkOur Ark

Ark Shelving UnitsArk Shelving Units

Inside of our arkInside of our ark

What’s in the Ark in What’s in the Ark in Australia Section of the Australia Section of the zoo?zoo?

Wyoming ToadWyoming Toad Extinct in the Wild Extinct in the Wild

IUCNIUCN

Lumpy little amphibians , 2 Lumpy little amphibians , 2 inches long as an adultinches long as an adult

Rapid population decline in Rapid population decline in the 1970’s the 1970’s

Only found in the Hutton Lake Only found in the Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge and National Wildlife Refuge and the Mortenson Lake National the Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge, south central Wildlife Refuge, south central Wyoming, close to LaramieWyoming, close to Laramie

The refuge is closed to all The refuge is closed to all public access to aid in public access to aid in recovery efforts of this recovery efforts of this endangered species. endangered species.

Historically, the toad was only Historically, the toad was only found in Laramie Basin, 30 found in Laramie Basin, 30 miles from Laramie.miles from Laramie.

Part of the Species Part of the Species Survival Plan’s Survival Plan’s breeding and breeding and reintroduction reintroduction programprogram

Kansas City Zoo is Kansas City Zoo is one of 9 zoos one of 9 zoos participatingparticipating

Will arrive sometime Will arrive sometime this summerthis summer

Number of Number of individuals is not individuals is not known at this timeknown at this time

This burrowing This burrowing animal inhabits animal inhabits floodplains, ponds, floodplains, ponds, and ditches in the and ditches in the short grass regions short grass regions of the basin.of the basin.

We have to get good at We have to get good at keeping them alive.keeping them alive.

Depending upon our success with careDepending upon our success with care We might be a holding facilityWe might be a holding facility We might be allowed to breedWe might be allowed to breed

All determined by the Wyoming Toad All determined by the Wyoming Toad SSPSSP

Have to share what we are doing and Have to share what we are doing and what we learnwhat we learn

Applied to be the education liaisonApplied to be the education liaison

Species Survival ProgramSpecies Survival Program

History:History:1950’s1950’s-Considered one of the -Considered one of the most plentiful species in the most plentiful species in the Laramie Basin of Albany County, Laramie Basin of Albany County, WyomingWyoming1970’s1970’s-Widespread aerial spraying -Widespread aerial spraying of fenthion for mosquito control and of fenthion for mosquito control and rapid toad declinesrapid toad declines observed observed19841984-Federally listed as an -Federally listed as an endangeredendangered species species19931993-The -The last known localelast known locale for for wild toads, Mortenson Lake, was wild toads, Mortenson Lake, was made into a National Wildlife made into a National Wildlife Refuge by the Nature ConservancyRefuge by the Nature Conservancy19941994-Remaining toads were -Remaining toads were brought into captivity and it was brought into captivity and it was declared declared extinct in the wildextinct in the wild19961996--SSPSSP was approved by AZA was approved by AZA

Wyoming Toad (Bufo baxteri)

Participating AZA Zoos:Central Park Zoo

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Detroit Zoo

Houston Zoo

Memphis Zoo

Mississippi River Museum

Museum of Science

Henry Doorly Zoo

Toledo Zoo

Zoo Montana

US FWS Facilities:Redbuttes Environmental, Laramie, WY

Saratoga National Fish Hatchery, Saratoga, WY

Swabbing a toad for chytrid monitoring during a survey

Cooperating InstitutionsUS Fish and Wildlife Service

Association of Zoos and Aquariums Wyoming Game and Fish

Private Land Owners

Today: •438 toads in captivity at 11 institutions•Approximately 94,000 tadpoles and toadlets released to the wild since 1995•Proceeds from your donation will go to support field work and other SSP activities

Wild toad outfitted with a backpack containing a radio transmitter

Opportunities:•Summer toad population surveys in the Laramie Basin•Chytrid monitoring of local amphibian populations•Assisting in husbandry and captive breeding of toads at the Redbuttes facility in Laramie•Participating in tadpole releases in the Laramie Basin

Who to contact for more info :•Bruce Foster, SSP coordinator

bfoster@wcs.org•Val Hornyak, SSP Vice-coordinator

val.hornyak@toledozoo.org•Sarah Armstrong, studbook keeper

kippsara@yahoo.com

Strings of captive produced toad eggs at the Redbuttes facility

What can you do?What can you do?

Go GreenGo Green Be able to respond when asked about the Be able to respond when asked about the

situationsituation Make a Toad AbodeMake a Toad Abode Talk about how cool frogs areTalk about how cool frogs are Go outside and listen for frog calls with your Go outside and listen for frog calls with your

friends and familyfriends and family Get people and kids to love frogsGet people and kids to love frogs Encourage your friends and family to visit our Encourage your friends and family to visit our

Zoo.Zoo.