Physical World/Amphibians

From Quiz Revision Notes
Midwife toad.jpg
Midwife toad


genus Alytes

The males carry a string of fertilised eggs on their back, hence the name "midwife"

The back of the midwife toad is covered with small warts. These warts give off a strong smelling poison when the toad is attacked

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Natterjack toad


Bufo calamita


Distinguished from common toads by a yellow line down the middle of the back, and parallel paratoid glands

Natterjacks have a very loud and distinctive mating call

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Cane toad


Rhinella marina


Introduced to many regions of the Pacific and the Caribbean islands as a method of agricultural pest control. The species derives its common name from its use against the cane beetle. The cane toad is now considered a pest and an invasive species

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Goliath frog


Conraua goliath


Largest living frog on Earth. Specimens can grow up to 32 cm (12.6 in) in length. Found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea

The one in the picture has stolen a watch!

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American bullfrog


Rana catesbeiana


Has an olive green back and sides. Males have yellow throats

Native to southern and eastern parts of the United States and Canada

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Paradoxical frog


Pseudis paradoxa


Its name refers to the very large – up to 25 cm (10 in) long – tadpole, which in turn becomes an ordinary-sized frog, only about a quarter of its former length

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Xenopus


genus Xenopus


Commonly known as the clawed frog

Studied as model organisms for developmental biology, cell biology, toxicology, neuroscience and for modelling human disease and birth defects

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Chinese giant salamander


Andrias davidianus


The largest salamander and largest amphibian in the world, reaching a length of 180 cm (5.9 ft)

A living fossil which is classified as critically endangered

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Hellbender


Cryptobranchus alleganiensis


A species of giant salamander endemic to eastern North America


It is blotchy brown or red-brown in colour, with a paler underbelly

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Axolotl


Ambystoma mexicanum


Also known as a Mexican salamander and colloquially known as a "walking fish"

Axolotls reach adulthood without undergoing metamorphosis. Instead of developing lungs and taking to land, the adults remain aquatic and gilled


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Great crested newt


Triturus cristatus


Also known as northern crested newt

Males can be distinguished from females by the presence of a jagged crest during the breeding season