Articles tagged with Frogs
A team of scientists has discovered that burrowing frogs can survive for years without food or water by changing their cell metabolism to maximize energy efficiency. This radical adaptation could have significant medical applications, particularly in treating energy-related disorders like obesity.
Researchers found a new frog species, Huia cavitympanum, with eardrums recessed in the skull, allowing it to detect and produce high-frequency ultrasounds. The frogs use both audible and ultrasonic calls for communication, which may have implications for improving human hearing aids.
Researchers found that meat ants are more effective at killing and eating cane toads than native frogs, providing a potential solution to controlling the spread of this alien species in tropical Australia. Cane toads' poor escape abilities make them vulnerable to meat ants' attacks.
A rapid assessment program expedition to Papua New Guinea's highlands wilderness revealed 50 new spider species, three frogs, two plants, and one gecko. The discovery underscores the region's critical role in sequestering carbon dioxide and highlights the importance of indigenous knowledge for conservation.
A new study from the University of Texas at Austin reveals that Amazonian amphibian diversity originated from ancestral frogs leaping into the region from the Andes Mountains, with at least 14 dispersals occurring between 23 and 1 million years ago.
A foreign virus called Ranavirus is devastating frog populations in the UK, killing tens of thousands each year. The frogs' immune system has responded by changing a gene called MHC, which codes for a major part of their immune system.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley biologists reveals that many common salamander species have plummeted in Central America, contradicting previous attributions to habitat destruction and pesticides. Instead, researchers believe global warming is driving these species to higher elevations where habitats become inhospitable.
Researchers developed a new strategy to identify areas within hotspots where they should focus their time, effort and money. They used multiple species and past climate models to estimate the species' past distributions, pinpointing regions that have been climatically stable and likely to harbor diversity.
Scientists have discovered 10 new amphibian species in Colombia, shedding light on the country's remarkable biodiversity. The discovery was made during a Rapid Assessment Program expedition in the Tacarcuna area, where approximately 60 species of amphibians were identified, including three glass frogs and three poison dart frogs.
A new study reveals the global trade in frog legs is threatening their extinction. The annual global trade has increased over the past 20 years, with at least 200 million frogs consumed every year, according to Associate Professor Corey Bradshaw.
A 10-year study found that climate change limits the amphibian's breeding habitat in high-elevation lakes, leading to population decline. The Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged frog relies on two to four years of permanent water for development, making repeated tadpole mortality from lake drying a critical threat.
Researchers found that global warming may not be the primary cause of widespread amphibian declines, contradicting previous widely-held views. The study suggests alternative factors, such as a fungal infection and pesticide use, may be driving these extinctions.
A University of Pittsburgh study found that mixing ten common pesticides within EPA safe limits can cause 99% mortality in leopard frog tadpoles. Endosulfan, a banned neurotoxin, is particularly deadly, causing 84% mortality when used alone.
Stanford researchers found a catastrophic decrease in frog and salamander populations in Yellowstone's ponds due to high temperatures and drought. The amphibians need ponds for their young to hatch, but drying water kills eggs that are unsuitable for gestation on land.
A CU-Boulder study reveals that diverse host species, such as gray tree frogs, can reduce the risk of parasitic infections and limb deformations in American toads. The research found that tadpoles raised with tree frog tadpoles had significantly lower infection rates than those without.
Researchers found that tadpoles help keep algae at the base of the food chain productive, but their absence leads to more sediment and less productive algae. The study demonstrates how the grazing activities of tadpoles help maintain a healthy stream ecosystem.
Researchers sequenced the fungus's genome and compared gene expression in different stages to identify key genes involved in killing frogs. They hope this study will help combat the deadly chytrid fungus, which affects over 43% of frog species.
Research found that malathion, commonly used to control mosquitoes and crop pests, can indirectly kill tadpoles by depleting their primary food source. The study suggests that even low concentrations of the insecticide can have devastating effects on amphibian populations.
Researchers found that cane toads are unlikely to thrive in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Hobart due to the region's cool temperatures. However, they expect them to move further south by 2050 under moderate global warming, potentially affecting cities like Sydney and Perth.
Researchers from UC Berkeley argue that devastating declines of amphibians worldwide signal a biodiversity disaster. The study highlights the impact of chytridiomycosis, habitat constriction, and pollution on frog populations, contributing to a sixth mass extinction event.
Researchers discovered an unusual frog species that can actively select sound frequencies, tuning in to specific sounds like a radio. The 'Odorrana tormota' frog's eardrums respond differently depending on the Eustachian tubes' opening state, allowing it to filter out background noise and focus on ultrasonic calls.
Researchers identified certain genes that enable frogs to develop resistance to harmful bacteria and disease. The discovery may provide new strategies for protecting frog populations in the wild by selectively breeding individuals with known disease-resistance genes.
Researchers found that toads in suburban areas are less likely to suffer from reproductive system abnormalities than those near farms. The study highlights the difference between the impact of agriculture versus development on amphibians.
Some African frogs have a unique defense mechanism where they puncture their own skin with sharp bones in their toes, creating claws capable of wounding predators. This unusual trait is found in at least 11 species and may be used infrequently, only when threatened.
A recent study published in Conservation Letters found that many animal species need broad landscape-level conservation to survive due to ecological processes. The research identified 20% of threatened amphibians and 40% of threatened freshwater turtles relying on conservation action at a large scale.
Research by JMU researchers suggests that adding probiotic bacteria to the skin of mountain yellow-legged frogs can lessen the effects of a lethal skin pathogen. Field studies have also shown that populations with higher proportions of individuals with anti-pathogen bacteria are more likely to survive.
The Gerobatrachus fossil provides key evidence for the evolution of modern amphibians from one ancient group, resolving a long-standing controversy. It suggests that frogs and salamanders separated around 240-275 million years ago, contrary to previous estimates.
A new species of neotropical treefrog has been discovered that can reproduce both aquatic and terrestrial ways. Researchers found that this frog makes a behavioral decision to lay egg masses aquatically in a pond or terrestrially on overhanging plants, allowing it to avoid predators and extreme temperatures.
A new study reveals that female concave-eared torrent frogs emit high-pitched chirps spanning audible and ultrasonic frequencies to signal their interest. Males respond instantaneously, with impressive accuracy in localizing the sound, a feat shared only by elephants, humans, barn owls, and dolphins.
A PLOS study highlights key conservation areas for threatened frogs and toads in Latin America, emphasizing the importance of considering life-history traits. The research reveals that regions with aquatic larval stages are crucial for species like Phyllomedusa ayeaye, while those without tadpoles require targeted conservation efforts.
Researchers found over 10,500 dead animals along 11 miles of roads in Indiana, with nearly 95% being frogs and other amphibians. The study suggests that road-related death contributes to their decline, highlighting the need for mitigation structures like underpasses and fences.
A 70-million-year-old giant frog fossil from Madagascar has been identified as a relative of living Horned toads, providing evidence for the link between Madagascar, India, and South America during the Late Cretaceous period. The discovery sheds light on the paleobiogeography of Madagascar's unique fauna.
The marsh frog outcompetes indigenous species due to its faster growth rate, longer lifespan, and higher fertility. This displacement process threatens the extinction of native water frog species.
A study reveals an astonishing level of cryptic diversity among frog species in the Guiana Shield region, potentially doubling previously thought numbers. The underestimation of amphibian diversity has broad implications for conservation efforts and management of biodiversity.
A new study is working to save the endangered splendid leaf frog by understanding its development and behavior in relation to diet and environment. The researchers are conducting field studies and experiments at Chester Zoo to provide a better idea of the species' nutritional requirements.
A CU-Boulder study shows that high levels of nutrients from farming and ranching activities fuel parasite infections, causing highly publicized frog deformities. The research found that increased nitrogen and phosphorus levels stimulate algae growth, leading to sharp hikes in snail populations and infectious parasites.
Researchers have created synthetic antibiotics called Teflon AMPs that are more resistant to bacterial defenses than their natural counterparts. These compounds mimic the immune system's early line of defense and show promise in battling a range of infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A new genetic analysis suggests that the frog-killing fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, may be a greater threat to mountain yellow-legged frogs due to its ability to spread over long distances and persist in the environment through sexual reproduction. This could make it harder to save the frogs from extinction.
A study by Penn State researchers found that nearly all Caribbean land-breeding frog species, including coqui frogs, originated from a single ancient species that rafted on a sea voyage from South America. The discovery challenges previous theories of their arrival and reveals the surprising common ancestry of these species.
Research reveals tree frogs maintain grip by keeping toe pad angle low, detaching at 90°. Larger species adapt to grasp objects, allowing them to climb like humans.
A University of Alberta study shows that beaver dams create suitable breeding habitats for frogs and toads, with approximately 5,000 species recorded at 54 beaver ponds. The beavers' presence enhances the development and growth rates of frog and toad larvae.
Researchers found that spotted salamanders, wood frogs, and American toads employ various defense strategies to avoid water mold infections, including protective jelly layers and early hatching. These mechanisms help reduce mortality rates and increase survival chances for the amphibian species.
Researchers found that waxed and inactive tree frogs have similar metabolic rates as unwaxed, dehydrating frogs, challenging the idea of a hibernation-like dormant state. Tree frogs use wiping behaviors to conserve energy by reducing surface evaporation by up to 4%, but this does not lead to significant changes in metabolic rate.
Research shows tadpoles respond more conservatively to predator cues during the day, but return to feeding quickly at night due to higher growth rate-to-predation risk ratio. This study highlights the importance of considering both external and internal factors in understanding prey behavior.
A recent survey of Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountain range has revealed over 160 animal species, including 11 previously undiscovered ones. The discovery highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect the region's unique wildlife and forests.
Researchers found that naive bats quickly learned to associate a new frog call with edible prey by observing their neighbor eating, even when the call comes from a frog they wouldn't normally eat. The study shows that fringe-lipped bats can rapidly track fluctuations in prey abundance and composition through their social learning skills.
Scientists have rediscovered two Critically Endangered frog species in the El Dorado Nature Reserve in Colombia, providing a glimmer of hope for saving these endangered species from extinction. The reserve's protection is timely, as the region has recently been affected by a fungal disease that has wiped out many amphibian populations.
A team of researchers has discovered a population of the painted frog, considered extinct since 1995, in Colombia's deserts. The finding offers hope that other species can survive the chytridiomycosis fungus and highlights the need for urgent conservation measures.
Researchers have discovered that frog proteins can rescue mouse embryonic stem cells from dividing without limit, highlighting an ancient mechanism that may hold the key to understanding human disease. The study also shows that mammals have adopted this function from amphibians, suggesting a long history of stem cell regulation.
Researchers found that female túngara frogs are attracted to males producing complex 'whine chuck' calls. By surgically removing fibrous masses in the males' larynx, scientists discovered a unique connection between these structures and call complexity.
A recent study documents six new frog species found in Laos over a two-year period, showcasing the country's remarkable biodiversity. Conservationists are concerned about the combined loss of forest cover and over-exploitation of species threatening much of Laos' wildlife.
Researchers find that a unique ear canal in the concave-eared torrent frog allows it to detect and produce ultrasounds, a skill also seen in dolphins and bats. This discovery may lead to new strategies for humans to hear in noisy environments.
Scientists discovered that rare Chinese frogs can communicate using high-pitch ultrasonic sounds, a trait previously thought to be exclusive to mammals. The frogs' ability to hear and respond to these sounds allows them to facilitate communication in noisy environments.
Researchers found that harmless frogs can look like less toxic species without losing protection from predators through stimulus generalization. This discovery challenges traditional mimicry theory and reveals a new mechanism involved in mimicry processes.
A team of scientists from Conservation International and the Indonesian Institute of Science discovered dozens of new species, including a rare bird of paradise, a new honeyeater, frogs, butterflies, and a tree kangaroo. The expedition revealed an untouched tropical forest ecosystem, providing insights into biodiversity conservation.
Scientists report a rapid spread of the deadly fungus chytridiomycosis across Central America, leading to widespread amphibian extinctions. The fungus has been linked to declines of over 40 species in Central America and 93 worldwide, with a recent outbreak causing local extinctions in Panama.
Scientists link global warming to amphibian population decline and disease wipeouts, citing a pathogenic fungus as the primary cause. The study found that large-scale warming is a key factor in disappearances of many amphibian species in cloud forest environments.
A recent study published in Nature reveals that climate-driven fungal disease is a major contributor to the decline of amphibian populations worldwide. The research found that warmer temperatures favor the growth and reproduction of a deadly skin fungus, which kills frogs mostly in cool highlands or during winter.
A new study has pinpointed epicenters of Earth's imminent extinctions, identifying 794 species in need of urgent conservation action at specific sites worldwide. The research highlights the critical need for global cooperation to protect these imperiled species and ecosystems.
Researchers found that reestablished contact between two isolated green-eyed tree frog populations led to the emergence of a new species due to females' preference for mates from their own lineage. This preference resulted in reproductive isolation and accelerated evolution, ultimately giving rise to a distinct species.