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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 09:49:26 PM |
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      THE BAD BOY OF THE BOGS 
Marshall University Herpetologist "An American toad just called." So we hopped off to the marsh looking for West Virginia's 3 species of toads and 11 species of frogs. Dr. Thomas Pauley "Frogs are amphibians that means they have granular skin. They don't have scales, hair or feathers."
Marshall University Graduate Student "Frogs have really smooth skin. Toads have the presence of the warts and the glands. So you can see they are very different." Although different, both use distinct calls to attract females, mating occurs and that starts their three phase life cycle.
"Some frogs lay eggs in clumps, toads lay them in strings a lot of times." The eggs hatch into tad poles which will eventually transform or metamorphose into frogs. There is a good reason for having three steps.
"The larval stage feeds on dead plants and animals matter and vegetation. The adult stage feeds on mostly insects. This allows one small wetland to hold many individuals because they're not competing for food. Here in the wetlands it is a tough life to be a frog. Everything wants to eat them, but this bull frog has an interesting defense he will just turn over and play dead.
Zachary Loughman Marshall University Graduate Student "I have the American Bull Frog right here. They will eat anything and everything that wanders in front of them, including other frogs. Frogs do this with specialized tongue, which helps us out.
"If you were to line up all the insects on this earth that frogs eat, they would circle the equator. So they are eating an enormous number of insects. The DNR is helping to fund research on frogs across the state. Here's a great way to learn more, a free color booklet on toads and frogs in the Mountain State. To get a copy email Paul Bender at pbender@wchstv.com, call the DNR directly at 304-637-0245 or write: West Virginia Division Of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section P.O. Box 67 Elkins, WV 26241 Links to learn more Frog Call Survey Volunteers Needed W.Va. DNR West Virginia Wildlife Diversity Program Publications W.Va. DNR The Wood Frog: W.Va. DNR Frogs & Toads of West Virginia: W.Va DNR Frogwatch USA: West Virginia Frogs National Wildlife Federation Froghoo! Resources Amphibian Conservation Alliance |
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GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA'S WILDLIFE  
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