Dedicated to the Memory of Commissioner Enoch S. "Inky" Moore Jr. SPRING 2003 Introduction to Amphibians They’re slippery, slimy critters. Some Of course, there are exceptions. You’ll swim. Others hop or crawl. Sometimes have to read further to learn more about you never notice they are around. Other that. times you hear them all over the place. Believe it or not, amphibians are one We’re talking about frogs, toads and of our planet’s most successful creatures. salamanders. They might look different They’ve been around for nearly 300 from one another, but they all share one million years—not bad for such a small thing in common. They’re amphibians! and seemingly unnoticed critter. Except What does that mean? They live a for fishes, they are some of the oldest double life. “Amphibian” is Greek and living vertebrates (animals with comes from two words, “Amphi,” which backbones). There was even an “Age of means “both,” and “bios,” which means Amphibians,” when they dominated the life. It really means “living in two planet for millions of years. So take that, ways.” you dinosaurs! Most amphibians start life as an egg in No more hype about them. the water or some other moist Amphibians are way cooler and they environment. They hatch into larvae are here to stay, not to with gills. Eventually they mention how metamorphose (change life interesting and stages) into important they are in adults and our environment. Let’s lose take a journey into the their world of amphibians. gills. When you are done with this issue of PLAY, pass it on. Remember that subscriptions to the PLAY newsletter are free to kids ages 8 to 12. Teachers and youth group leaders can also get PLAY newsletters. Contact the Fish & Boat Commission for more details on this program. Don’t forget to check out the Commission’s web site, www.fish.state.pa.us. The site is loaded with information on reptiles, amphibians, fish, fishing, boating US ON THE H U E W and water safety. TC E AT B C ! w s w u w . u w a . f i . p i s h . s t a t e PA Amphibian Family Tree In a previous issue of PLAY (“Introduction to may occur in each amphibian family. Reptiles”), you learned how taxonomy There are around 38 amphibians that call organizes and names living things. Scientists Pennsylvania their home. Help some of them use the same system to classify all animals, find their place in the taxonomic tree by using including amphibians. Amphibians are grouped the color shown for each family’s tree limb. by their physical traits, body functions, Place an “X” in the color that puts them in genetics and other features. Let’s see how the correct place on the tree. good you are at recognizing some traits that a b c d e a b Family: c Pelobatidae (spadefoot toads) d Mudpuppy Family: Eastern Spadefoot Toad Salamandridae Family: (newts) Plethodontidae (lungless Family: Family: salamanders) Bufonidae Ambystomatidae (toads) (mole salamanders) Family: Hylidae Family: (treefrogs) Proteidae (mudpuppies) Order: Order: Salientia Caudata (frogs & toads) (salamanders) Family: Ranidae Family: (true frogs) Cryptobranchidae (giant salamanders) Class: Amphibia (amphibians) a a b c d e Phylum: b Chordata (spinal chord) c d Kingdom: Animalia Eastern American Toad (animals) Hellbender What is an “Amphibian”? Have you ever wondered what makes an animal an amphibian? Here are some characteristics that can help you tell the difference between amphibians and other animals. Skeleton: Amphibians are some of the They breathe through the oldest living vertebrates. They have an skin once they lose their gills. We call internal skeleton, or endoskeleton. this cutaneous respiration (“skin- Skin: Most amphibians have moist, breathing”). smooth and slippery skin. Some secrete Body temperature: Amphibians are mucous through the skin, which makes ectotherms. Some amphibians can adjust them slimy. Others have dry, bumpy skin, their body temperature, but it mostly like toads. One thing that all amphibians varies with the temperature of the have in common is that their skin is environment. This condition is scaleless and permeable (fluids pass completely different from what is found through) to water. in mammals or birds, which we call Feet: Amphibians’ feet are covered endotherms. They are able to generate with skin and have no claws. heat directly and maintain a fairly Breathing: Amphibians begin their constant body temperature. lives with gills. Some lose their gills Eggs and young: The eggs of before leaving the egg. Most lose them amphibians require moisture to survive, when they reach the adult stage. There unlike the hard-shelled eggs of reptiles are exceptions, like the mudpuppies and birds. All Pennsylvania frogs and (Proteidae). They keep gills through their toads deposit their eggs in water. Many entire life. Sometimes a mole salamander Pennsylvania salamanders also deposit (Ambystomatidae) will also keep gills into their eggs in water. Others may deposit adulthood. These mole salamanders are their eggs somewhere on land—under called axolotls and never leave the water rocks, rotting trees, tree bark or leaves. for their land stage. They are like adults All of these areas must retain some with the features of the larval stage. moisture for the salamander eggs to Most amphibians breathe through lungs survive. after they lose their gills. There are exceptions, like the lungless salamanders. When you think of migration, you probably envision a flock of geese flying south for the winter. But many other animals also migrate, including amphibians. Many frogs, toads and salamanders migrate short distances each spring or fall to breed. They often choose vernal ponds in which they lay their eggs. These temporary ponds usually fill with rain and snowmelt each spring, but dry up in the summer. They make great places for amphibian larvae to hatch and grow, since there are few predators living in them. The spotted salamander is one amphibian that migrates from its forest habitat to vernal ponds each spring. It encounters many obstacles along the journey, both natural and manmade. Here’s your chance to live the life of a spotted salamander. Think you have the skills to survive your migration journey? For each turn, let each player cast one die. Good luck! US ON THE H U E W TC E Visit the Commission’s web AT B C ! site, www.fish.state.pa.us, for information on w s w u w . u w a . f i . p i s h . s t a t e amphibian identification. Where Do Amphibians Live? You might be surprised to learn that swamps, vernal ponds and even farmland. there is probably an amphibian living Sometimes you can guess where a within walking distance of where you are particular amphibian lives just by looking right now. Amphibians have adapted to at its adaptations—coloration, physical survive in many different types of characteristics and even behavior. See if habitats. They can be found in forests, you can match the following amphibians woodlots, meadows, springs, streams, to the habitat in which they live as rivers, lakes, ponds, bogs, marshes, adults. FForestorest BackyardBackyard N o r t h B e u l r l n fr o s g p ri ng s al am an d e r North r e er d n n l a e otted salam o p p ar S d f r o g E as te rn WetlandWetland oorr h e l lb VernalVernal PondPond e n d e r py up Mudp d a to n a c i r e m A SpringSpring StreamStream oorr RiverRiver HOLD THIS SECTION UP TO A MIRROR TO READ THE ANSWERS. Amphibian Acoustics Activity Ever been out on a spring or summer A helping hand night and heard all sorts of strange animal calls? Some sound like a high- Frogs, toads and salamanders are pitched “peep, peep …… peep,” and sometimes very popular. Many people others like a low-pitched “jug-o-rum, find them interesting and like to keep jug-o-rum ..…. jug-o-rum.” Those calls them as pets. If you are really interested are coming from amphibians. You are in amphibians and want to give them a right if you guessed frogs and toads. “helping hand,” it’s best to leave them in They call for different reasons and their natural habitat. There is nothing have several types of calls including wrong with visiting an amphibian habitat advertisement, aggressiveness, courtship, and observing or catching them to look release and defensive calls. Most often at. Just remember to handle them gently you will hear them call during their and return them where you found them. breeding season. How do they do it? After all, they have special needs that A frog or toad will pump air back and are very difficult to duplicate in an forth between its lungs and a vocal aquarium or other container. sac. Air passes over the vocal chords and causes them to vibrate, and out You should be aware that a fishing comes a “croak.” A frog or toad can license is required by persons 16 and do this without ever opening its older to catch or take frogs (or turtles) mouth! from the waters of the Commonwealth. Scientists have learned that There are also creel limits or seasons for temperature affects when and how certain frogs. Consult the 2003 Summary often a frog or toad will call. So of Fishing Regulations & laws for more borrow one of your parents’ information. thermometers, grab this chart and You should also know that it is illegal head outside for some fantastic to possess certain amphibians because froggy fun.