fact sheet external ture ult fea s: adresources/~/media... · 2013. 1. 30. · created 2012 ....

www.qm.qld.gov.au/findoutabout/animals/insects Created 2012 images copyright QM & N. Sandry

queensland museum learning

Frogs Fact Sheet

External ture ult

fea s: ad

Needs Food: As tadpoles, frogs eat

hey s.

water plants. As adults tmainly eat insects and worm

Water: Most frogs not oneed w

nly ater to drink but they lay

es to

Homes

their eggs in water. Tadpolhave gills and need waterbreathe.

: Frogs are shy and likes and

cks and logs. They are usually found near water

They need air, sunlight and

to burrow, hide in plantunder ro

warmth.

Stages of growth

Eaten by Frogs are a tasty snack for snakes, birds and carnivorous mammals such as quolls, cats.

1. eggs

3. young frog (froglet)

4. adult

2 front legs 2 strong back legs

2 eyes

Moist skin head

body

2. tadpole


Eggs All frogs lay eggs. These may bfloating as a mass on theresting in the mud. They m

e wate or ay be

near the water in leaf‐litter, moist burrows or on vegetation of boulders over‐hanging water.

r

Habitat

t to

gardens like the natural bush,

forests, paddocks, wetlands, river banks and creeks.

Frogs live in many differenenvironments but need placeshide and water. Some likeand others

Frogs can be big, small, warsmooth, skinny, fat, long leand many different colourAustralia we are lucky to hmany types of frogs. Howevsome

tygge s. Inaveer

of our frogs have become extinct.

, d ,

Frogs Fact Sheet


N.S

andr

y

ngs are now ext

1.Habitat destruction

Threats Frogs are very sensitive to changesthe environment. Some frogs in Australia including Platypusfrogs athe Southern Dayfro

in

d inct.

The main threats are…

2.Pollution and climate chaGlobal warming is causing wochanges to rainfall and temperaareas where rainfall becomthe breedin

nge rldwide ture. In

es less regular, g success of frogs will be

severely impacted.

A Scarlet‐sided Pobblebonk, with extra limbs ‐ frogs are particularly susceptible to the effects of pollution.

3. Diseases — Chytrid (kit‐rid) fungus. Frogs with chytrid fungus develop thick peeling skin, become lethargic and lose movement in their back legs. They eventually die. Infected tadpoles dieshortly after turning into small frogs

.

Chytrid fungus spreads when tadpoles and frogs are moved from one area to another.

Frogs Fact Sheet

Frogs have moist, absorbentthat allow both inwarmovement of water. This m

skins d and outward

akes frogs particularly prone to the effects of toxic chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides. When frogs start to disappear we know things are seriously wrong in the natural world.

QM

N. S

andr

y

Harley Kingston


ved it ds

ood so .

However, they should not be treated cruelly as they are still a living thin

Cane toads Cane toads were brought into Australia in 1935 and have lohere. They do have poison glanwhich when attacked can lead to death. They can compete with frogsfor places to live and available findirectly have an affect on frogs

g.

Cane toads lay many thousandsThe eggs are in a jelly string rathclump. The eggs hatch very

of eggs. er than a

quickly. Collecting the eggs and freezing them is a kind way of reducing toad numbers.

Cane toad tadpoles tend to swarmtogether in schools. Many die but those that survive grow very quickly.

To encourage frogs rather than breed, plant

toads to dense bushes and grasses

around ponds or raise the height of water sources. Toads are not high jumpers. Keep cats inside at night.

By attracting frogs you may also attract animals that eat frogs like Green Tree Snakes and Freshwater snakes. These are venomous and it is illegal to harm them. It means your garden is healthy and diverse.

Frogs Fact Sheet

fact sheet external ture ult fea s: adresources/~/media... · 2013. 1. 30. · created 2012 ....

Documents