Animal Information Natural Treasures Amphibians & Invertebrates
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1 Animal Information Natural Treasures Amphibians & Invertebrates Table of Contents Frogs Green and Black Poison Dart Frog…………………………………………………..2 Sambavo Tomato Frog…………………………………………………………………...4 Smoky Jungle Frog………………………………………………………….………………5 Blue-legged Mantella………………………………………………….………………….6 Green Mantella……………………………………………………………………………...7 Golden Mantella……………………………….……………………………………………8 Magnificent Tree Frog……………………………………………………………………10 Grey Tree Frog………………………………….……………………………………………11 Salamanders Marbled Salamander……………………………………………………………………..12 Eastern Tiger Salamander………………………………………………………………14 Invertebrates Green and Black Poison Frog 2 Dendrobates auratus John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building and the Frogs building. Individual Animals: 14 Life Expectancy Wild: Unknown Under Managed Care: 8 years Statistics Length – 1.5 inches Diet Small invertebrates, mainly ants that have high quantities of alkaloids in their tissues. The frogs can sequester those alkaloids in their skin, which is what makes them poisonous. Predators Toxic skin prevents predation. Habitat Floor of rain forests, near small streams or pools. Region Central and South America, from Nicaragua and Costa Rica to southeastern Brazil and Bolivia. o They were introduced in Hawaii by humans, and have flourished there. Reproduction Males fight among themselves to establish territories, which are then fixed for the remainder of the mating season. The male attracts a female with vocalizations consisting of trilling sounds. The female lays up to six eggs in a small pool of water. o The eggs are encased in a gelatinous substance for protection. During the two week development period, the male returns to the eggs periodically to check on them. Once the tadpoles hatch, they climb onto the males back and he carries them to a place suitable for further development, such as a lake or a stream. For the duration of this trip, the tadpoles are attached to the males back by a mucus secretion, which is soluble only in water so that there is no chance of them accidentally falling off. Once they are at their final destination, the tadpoles are on their own. They take an additional six weeks to develop into adult frogs. Green and Black Poison Frog 3 Dendrobates auratus Behavior – Diurnal Males use vocalizations to attract females for mating and advertise territories. Adaptations Poison glands located throughout the surface of their body. Sticky, retractable tongues as well as their excellent eyesight help capture their prey. Conservation Concerns Habitat loss Deforestation Collection for the pet trade Conservation Ask Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels o Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council Sambava Tomato Frog 4 Dyscophus guineti John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building. Individual Animals: 3 of undetermined gender Arrived on November 16, 2018 Life Expectancy – 6-10 years Statistics Males tend to be yellowish; Females reddish-orange. Length – Males: 2.5 inches; Females: 3.5 inches Diet – Crickets, worms, and spiders. Predators – No known natural predators Habitat Rainforests, swamp forests, streams, and almost stagnant side-ponds. Region This species occurs widely along the eastern rainforest belt of Madagascar. It is a very secretive species and probably occurs at many more localities than records indicate. Reproduction Breeding can occur every other year. Deposit between 1,000 and 1,500 eggs. Behavior – Nocturnal Burrows in moss, leaf litter and soft soil. Adaptations When threatened, these frogs can inflate themselves, giving the appearance of greater size. This frog will secrete a thick white substance that contains toxins and irritants to keep potential predators at bay. Conservation Concerns Habitat loss, deforestation, intensified agriculture, and urbanization. Conservation Ask Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels . Rainforest Alliance Smoky Jungle Frog 5 Leptodactylus pentadactylus John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building in a mixed species habitat with a Brazilian Rainbow Boa and an Amazon Tree Boa Individual Animals: 2 Males, 2 Females Group arrived September 18, 2014 Life Expectancy – up to 15 years Statistics Length – up to 7 inches Females tend to be larger. Diet Small birds, snakes, and other frogs. Predators Coatimundis, Caiman, and Snakes Habitat Wetlands, Forest, Aquatic, and Marine Region This species is widely distributed in the Amazon forest. It ranges from southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru in the west of its range, into northern Bolivia, much of central and parts of norther Brazil, with records from French Guiana. Reproduction Mating occurs from May through November Behavior – Nocturnal Opportunistic feeder, consuming anything they can swallow. Adaptations Secrets mucus making them toxic to predators. Conservation Concerns There are no threats to this species Conservation Ask Support Global and Local Conservation Programs o Participate in local conservation and citizen science efforts (habitats, species) . Join Frogwatch Blue-legged Mantella 6 Mantella expectata John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building with Green Mantellas and Golden Mantellas. Individual Animals: 5 Life Expectancy Data deficient Statistics Length – 1 inch Diet – Insectivore Termites, fruit flies, and arthropods. Predators Toxic skin prevents predation. Habitat Wetlands, forest. Region Southwestern Madagascar. Reproduction Females lay 2-6 clutches of over 35 eggs. Behavior Active during the first few hours after dawn. Adaptations Blue-legged mantellas have toxic skin secretions, protecting them from predators. Conservation Concerns Habitat loss due to grazing and, in some localized regions, due to sapphire mining which is also a high risk for extending into protected areas in the vicinity. Conservation Ask Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels o Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council Green Mantella 7 Mantella viridis John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building with Golden Mantellas and Blue-legged Mantellas. Individual Animals: 8 Life Expectancy Wild: data deficient Statistics Length – 1.2 inches Diet – Insectivore Termites, fruit flies, and arthropods. Predators Toxic skin prevents predation. Habitat Found near temporary brooks and streams, also forests. Region Northern Madagascar. Reproduction Clutches consist of 15 to 60 eggs. Behavior Diurnal Adaptations Green mantellas have toxic skin secretions, protecting them from predators. Conservation Concerns Habitat loss due to the impacts of fires, selective logging and the collection of firewood, and livestock grazing. Conservation Ask Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels o Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council Golden Mantella 8 Mantella aurantiaca John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building with Green Mantellas and Blue-legged Mantellas. Individual Animals: 13 Some individuals are kept behind the scenes. Life Expectancy Wild: up to 8 years Under Managed Care: up to 8 years Statistics Length – 1.25 inches Females tend to be larger. Diet – Insectivore Termites, fruit flies, and arthropods. Predators Toxic skin prevents predation. Habitat Swamps and mossy or grassy mounds of forest debris. Region Isolated patches ranging throughout southeastern Madagascar. Reproduction Sexual maturity is reached in 12 to 14 months. Clutches consist of 12 to 30 eggs. Tadpoles emerge from eggs after 2-6 days. Tadpoles typically metamorphose into froglets 6 to 8 weeks after hatching. Once the eggs are laid, parent golden mantellas have no further involvement in the development of their young. 9 Golden Mantella Mantella aurantiaca Behavior – Diurnal Golden mantellas use auditory cues, and may also use visual or chemical cues to communicate. Adaptations Golden mantellas have toxic skin secretions, protecting them from predators. Conservation Concerns Habitat loss due to threats from subsistence agriculture, timber extraction, fires, and expanding human settlements. Conservation Ask Be mindful of wildlife and the environment as you make every day purchasing decisions o When you make purchases, support green companies/eco-labels o Rainforest Alliance and Forest Stewardship Council Magnificent Tree Frog 10 Litoria splendida John Ball Zoo Habitat – Located in the Natural Treasures building. Individual Animals: 10 Life Expectancy – Data deficient Statistics – Length – 3.9 inches Diet – Insects of all kinds, earthworms, and spiders. Predators – Snakes and lizards Habitat – Forests and wetlands. Region From the Kimberley Region, Western Australia, and northwestern Northern Territory to Bradshaw Station. Reproduction Males produce the substance Spendipherin which is a pheromone they release into the surrounding water to attract females. Breeding takes place early in the wet season at the onset of monsoon rains (December and January). A female lays on average 1000 eggs in floating clumps that form a single layer on the surface of the water. Tadpoles take