Tea c her Resourc e Pa c ka g e
For more information please contact the
Environmental Education Coordinator
Department for Environment and Heritage
PO Box 1046
11 Helen Street
MOUNT GAMBIER SA 5290
Telephone: (08) 8735 1145
Fax: (08) 8735 1135
Updated Jul 2010
.
Department of Environment and
Natural Resources
South East Natural Resources
Management Board
Acknowledgement - Picture of frog from Riparian Zone education Kit
Department of Environment and Natural Resources 1995
Contents
Welc om e to the South Ea st Wa terw a tc h p rog ra m - Frog g y Futures c la ssroo m
session. This tea c her resourc e p a c ka g e ha s b een p ut tog ether to a ssist your
c la ss in lea rning a b out frog s in the loc a l environm ent. It c onta ins lots of
interesting inform a tion, extra a c tivities for your c la ss to c om p lete a nd som e
crazy froggy facts that will keep you fascinated with the frog world.
1.
What is an Amphibian?
Discover the features of amphibians and the differences between frogs
and toads.
2.
Life cycles
Learn about the life cycle of a frog.
3.
Why are frogs important?
Learn why frogs are considered important in the environment.
4.
Frog Habitat
Find out where frogs like to live and what are the threats to their habitat.
5.
Threats to native frogs
Describes the major threats to native frog populations in Australia.
6.
Frog Feet
Take a closer look at the different features of frog feet.
7.
Local frog species
Learn about the frogs that live in the South East.
8.
Amphibian Authors
I have included a list of some additional frog resources you may be
interested in borrowing from the South East Waterwatch program.
9.
Further Learning Opportunities
Some fun activities for follow up learning after a visit from your
Waterwatch Officer.
-2-
1.
Wha t is a n Amphibia n?
Frog s a re know n a s Am p hib ia ns. The w ord a m p hib ia n c om es fro m the Greek
w ord a m p hib ious w hic h m ea ns d oub le life. Frog s a re a nim a ls tha t ha ve a
d oub le life a nd this is reflec ted b y the w a y frog s live p a rt of their life in w a ter
a nd p a rt out of w a ter. In its juvenile sta g e, a frog lives in w a ter a nd b rea ths
through gills. When they grow into an adult they live on land and breathe with
lung s. Am p hib ia ns a re c old -b loo d ed verteb ra te a nim a ls tha t a re d ep end ent
on water for breeding.
Are Toads and Frogs the same?
Ma ny p eo p le ha ve a sked w ha t a re the d ifferenc es b etw een toa d s a nd fro g s
a nd w hether they a re the sa m e. Well, toa d s a re a c tua lly frog s. Here is som e
information on the differences between the two:
Frogs
Frog s b elo ng to the fa m ily Ra nid a e, w hic h
c onta ins over 400 sp ec ies throug hout the
world.
General characteristics of frogs are:
Smooth, slimy skin
Legs that are designed for jumping
Webbed feet
Bulging eyes
Toads
Toads belong to the family Bufonidae, which contains over 300 species. Toads
are generally characterised by:
Rough, warty skin
Stocky bodies that are designed more for walking rather than jumping
Contains poison glands
These c ha ra c teristic s c a n som etim es b e inc orrec t
a s yo u m a y c om e a c ross a w a rty frog or a toa d
tha t ha s b ulg ing eyes. The m a in d ifferenc e
b etw een frog s a nd toa d s is in their skeleta l m a keup . Toa d s ha ve only rec ently b een fo und to
contain a hardened breastplate in their chest while
this is missing in frogs.
-3-
2.
Life Cycle
Most frog s b reed a ll yea r round in a rea s w here ra infa ll is c onsistent. How ever,
som e frog s suc h a s b urrow ing frog s b reed ing is trig g ered b y w a ter soa king
throug h the soil d ow n to the level the frog ha s b urrow ed to . This ind ic a tes to
the frog tha t ta d p oles ha ve enoug h w a ter to survive until they a re rea d y to
und erg o m eta m orp hosis. Meta m orp hosis is the p roc ess w here there is a
change in body from larvae to adult.
Frog s a re d ep end ent on w a ter for b reed ing a nd b eg inning their life c yc le.
Below is a diagram of a typical frog life cycle.
-4-
3. Why a re frogs importa nt?
Frog s a re a m a jor ind ic a tor of the hea lth of our environm ent a nd a re ever
inc rea sing ly im p orta nt in the b etterm ent of our hea lth. Frog s a re c onsidered
important for a number of reasons;
1). Bec a use they a re the first to b e a ffec ted b y w a terw a y d eg ra d a tion a nd
pollution,
2). For pharmaceutical purposes,
3). For control of insect pests.
Here is som e inform a tion a b out w hy fro g s a re c onsid ered im p orta nt in our
local environment.
Bio-indicators of the environment
Bec a use frog s a re the first a nim a ls to b e a ffec ted b y p ollution a nd ha b ita t
d estruc tion they a re im p orta nt to sc ientists a nd environm enta l m a na g ers for
und ersta nd ing the hea lth of the environm ent. Frog s b rea the throug h their skin
w hic h m ea ns a ny p ollution on a nything the frog touc hes w ill b e a b sorb ed b y
the frog or ta d p ole throug h their skin. If a frog or a ta d p ole d oes b rea the in
p ollution it w ill either d ie or show visua l d eform ities suc h a s m issing leg s or
ha ving extra leg s or to es. If you d o ha p p en to find a d eform ed fro g it m a y b e
evidence that the area is polluted.
Pharmaceutical benefits
Properties of frog skin secretions are currently a major area of pharmaceutical
researc h. Sc ientists ha ve d isc overed tha t these sec retions c a n b e used a s a n
insec t rep ellent a nd a s a sunsc reen, in sutc hering c uts a nd w ound s in hum a ns
and as an ingredient of antibiotics to treat golden staph and other diseases.
Pest control
Frog s a re very sensitive to herb ic id es, p estic id es a nd insec tic id es tha t a re
c om m only a p p lied to g a rd ens a nd c rop s. Frog s in your g a rd en w ill a ssist in
c ontrolling m a ny p est sp ec ies. Let the frog s d o the w ork not c hem ic a ls. Fro g s
a re na tura l p red a tors a nd therefore d on t ha ve a ny ha rm ful future effec ts o n
humans and other wildlife living in your garden.
-5-
4. Frog Habitat
Ha b ita t m ea ns the p la c e w here som ething c a n feed , shelter a nd b reed . A
suita b le frog ha b ita t requires hea lthy w a ter a nd p la nts in loc a tions suc h a s
rivers, creeks, ponds and wetlands.
Frog s a re know n for their sensitivity to p ollution so it is no w ond er tha t ha b ita t
d estruc tion a nd w a ter q ua lity a re the m a jor threa ts to frog p op ula tions a ll
over the w orld . This m ea ns tha t frog s c a n b e used a s b io-Indic a tors b ec a use
they give us an indication of the health of the local environment.
Hum a ns c a n d a m a g e frog ha b ita t so it is im p orta nt tha t w e know how w e
d a m a g e the ha b ita t to ensure tha t w e a void und erta king these p otentia lly
damaging processes in the future.
Here are some ways humans can affect frog habitat.
Clearing Native Vegetation
A la rg e a m ount of na tive veg eta tion ha s b een
c lea red over the p a st 200 yea rs to m a ke w a y for
fa rm ing a nd g ra zing p ra c tic es. This ha s resulted
in m a ny of our na tura l w a ter system s b ec o m ing
d eg ra d ed . Clea ring na tive veg eta tion a long
w a terw a ys results in a loss of ha b ita t for na tive
fa una , strea m b a nk erosion, inc rea sed turb id ity
a nd w a ter tem p era ture w hic h sub seq uently
results in a lg a l g ro w th a nd inc rea sed run o ff from
surround ing la nd . It is im p orta nt tha t a ny
rem a ining na tive ha b ita t a long w a terw a ys is
p reserved so tha t na tive fa una suc h a s fro g s
can survive in these areas.
A healthy waterway showing evidence of
native vegetation remaining along the
banks, providing plenty of habitat for
.
Pollution
Pollution c a n b e a nything from litter a nd sew era g e, to fertilisers a nd
d eterg ents w e use a round the house. These
p ollution sourc es c a n eventua lly end up in our
w a terw a ys throug h storm w a ter d ra ins. Polluted
w a ter w hic h m a kes it w a y to w a terw a ys c a n
effec t the d evelop m ent of frog eg g s a nd
ta d p oles. Frog eg g s a re only c overed b y a na ked
shell w hic h d oes not p rotec t the em b ryo from the
surround ing p ollution in the w a ter. This c a n result
in the d ea th of the eg g or ta d p ole , or in the
A degraded waterway where native
vegetation has been cleared.
development of abnormalities in adult frogs.
-6-
5. Threats to native frogs
Dra m a tic p op ula tion d ec lines in som e South Austra lia n frog sp ec ies ha ve
b een rec ord ed sinc e the 1980 s. Hum a n a c tivities a s w ell a s inva sive p la nts
and animals and habitat fragmentation have huge impacts on native frog
populations.
Frog s g enera lly sp end p a rt of their life c yc le in w a ter a nd b ec a use of their
m oist skin a re very sensitive to herb ic id es, p estic id es a nd fertilisers. Fro g s
b rea the throug h their skin w hic h m ea ns a nything they touc h w hic h m a y
have pollution on it can have adverse effects on them.
There are 3 main threats to native frog populations; habitat fragmentation,
introd uc ed p la nts a nd a nim a ls a nd use of c hem ic a ls on la nd a d ja c ent to
waterways.
Habitat fragmentation and degradation
Ha b ita t fra g m enta tion a nd d eg ra d a tion is p ossib ly
the g rea test threa t to na tive frog p op ula tions. A
frog s ha b ita t is the environm ent in w hic h it feed s,
shelters a nd b reed s, so if a frog c a nnot find a
suitable habitat it will not survive.
An unfenced waterway
has damaging impacts on
frog habitat and survival.
Hum a n a c tivities c a n d a m a g e frog ha b ita t a nd
c ontrib ute to ha b ita t d eg ra d a tion throug h c lea ring
la rg e a rea s of na tive veg eta tion for housing a nd
a g ric ulture, d ra ining of w etla nd s to m a ke w a y for c a ttle g ra zing ,
c ollec ting roc ks a nd log s for their g a rd en from na tive sc rub , b urning a rea s
of b ushla nd a nd d estroying a rea s of w ild life c orrid ors w hic h c onnec t fro g
habitats.
Introduced plants and animals
Introduced species such as domestic cats and dogs, cane toad and
mosquito fish all have an impact on native frog populations.
Mosq uito fish or g a m b usia is now
w id e sp rea d a c ross Austra lia a nd is
known to eat native frog eggs and
ta d p oles. Other introd uc ed fish
suc h a s c a rp , g old fish a nd trout
a re
a lso
b ec om ing
q uite
w id esp rea d a nd w ill a lso ea t
tadpoles and frog eggs.
The Mosquito Fish is an introduced fish
that eats tadpoles and frogs eggs.
-7-
Like the introduced fish, the cane
toad is another animal having huge
impacts on native frog populations.
Cane toads are found along the
east coast and northern Australia.
They have no natural enemies and
therefore pose a risk to native frogs.
Cane toads secrete a toxin from
their skin, which is poisonous to frogs
and other animals, and can even
kill humans. Cane toads will eat anything including native frogs.
Domestic cats and dogs also pose a threat as theyare natural hunters and
will prey upon native animals including frogs.
6.
-8-
6. Frog Feet
Frog s live in a ra ng e of environm ents; a lo ng w a terw a ys, in the soil, on trees
und er b a rk a nd roc ks. Frog s tha t live a long w a terw a ys ha ve d ifferent feet to
frogs that live in trees.
Here are the different shaped feet that different species of frogs have.
7.
-9-
7. Frogs of the South Ea st
Southern Bell Frog (Litoria raniformis)
The Southern Bell Frog is Na tiona lly Vulnera b le a s its
num b ers ha ve sig nific a ntly d ec rea sed over the la st
30 yea rs. It is the la rg est frog in the SE, ha s c olouful
skin p a tterns a nd a loud b a rking c a ll follow ed b y a
series of loud g runts. This frog sp ec ia lises in feed ing
on other frogs.
Eastern Banjo Frog* (Limnodynastes dumerili)
The Ba njo frog ha s a w ell rec og nised c a ll
Bonk . This frog likes to b urrow in the loa m y soil
a nd em erg es a fter ra in to feed a nd b reed . The
fem a les c a n la y up to 4000 eg g s in a la rg e
foam nest.
Brown Striped Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes peroni)
This frog ha s b ea utiful b row n m a rking s often w ith a p a le
mid-d orsa l strip e. Only found in the South Ea st they hid e
und er roc ks, lea f litter or in b urrow s d uring the d a y. Its
m a ting c a ll sound s like p ok .
Peron s Tree Frog (Litoria peroni)
Ha s only rec ently b een found in the South Ea st in
som e Red Gum sw a m p s. Mostly g rey or b row n w ith
sm a ll p a le g reenish sp ots. The p up il is in the form of a
c ross. By d a y hid es und er loose b a rk on Gum trees
next to water. Mating call is a long series of explosive
notes.
Photographs: Steve Walker & *Allan Cotton. Text Adapted from: Frogs from the South East of South Australia
Poster Steve Walker.
- 10 -
Frogs of the South East
Painted Burrowing Frog (Neobatrachus pictus)
Pictus m ea ns p a inted . This p lum p b urrow ing frog ha s no
site p referenc e a s it c a n b e found in w ood la nd , m a llee,
op en a nd d isturb ed a rea s. This p a inted frog ha s bulging
eyes a nd a long m usic a l m a ting c a ll trrilllll .
Sudell s Frog (Neobatrachus sudelli)
Sim ila r to the Pa inted Frog it c a n b e d isting uished b y the
p a tterns on its b a c k. The p a tterns a re m ostly olive or p a le
g reen on a b row n b a c kg round . It is a c om m on frog a nd
c a n b e seen in la rg e num b ers c rossing roa d s a t nig ht a fter
ra in. Sud ell s Frog ha s a short trill a s a m a ting c a ll.
Spotted Grass Frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)
The Sp otted Gra ss Frog is the m ost c om m on frog in Austra lia .
It ha s olive , g reen or b row n sp ots on a p a le b a c kg round ,
w hic h m a y c ha ng e over the c ourse of the d a y. Breed ing
m a les ha ve a d a rk yellow / g reen throa t a nd his c a ll sound s
like a short sing le c lic k .
Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewing)
The Brow n Tree Frog c a n a lso b e g reen! This frog is
slend er w ith a b roa d hea d a nd round ed snout. The
thig hs a re ora ng e a nd m a y ha ve b la c k sp ots. Likes to
inha b it p erm a nent strea m s or p ools. It ha s a loud
d istinc tive c a ll tha t sound s like w eep -eep-eep .
Photographs & text: by Steve Walker adapted from: Frogs from the South East of South Australia Poster.
- 11 -
Frogs of the South East
Smooth Frog (Geocrinia laevis)
In South Austra lia the Sm ooth Frog is only found in the South
Ea st. It ha s short lim b s a nd sm ooth skin. Found in Eucalyptus
and Pine forests. This frog d oes not b reed in w a ter, instea d it
la ys la rg e unp ig m ented eg g s in loose, elong a ted m a sses
a tta c hed to m oist veg eta tion. Its c a ll c onsists of a num b er
of p ulses c ra -a -a -a -a -a -c k ..c ra -a -a -c k .c ra -a -a c k .
Southern Toadlet (Pseudophryne semimarmorata)
Also restric ted to the South Ea st found a long a line from
King ston to Na ra c oorte. It ha s b rillia nt red , yellow or
ora ng e a rea s und er the lim b s a nd b od y. Found in
Eucalyptus forests sub jec t to flood ing . The toa d lets c a ll is
a harsh, sho rt a nd slow ly rep ea ted c re-e-ek .
Bibron s Toa dlet (Pseudophryne bibroni)
Num b ers of this Toa d let ha ve d ec lined . Dw ells in d a m p
a rea s und er roc ks a nd log s, c a n b e found w ith severa l
others. This frog c a n ha ve a w a rty b a c k a nd ha s a short
gra ting c a ll a rk .
Common Froglet (Crinia signifera)
This frog let is the m ost c om m on frog found in South
Austra lia a nd the sm a llest in the South Ea st. It ha s hig hly
va ria b le skin c olour a nd texture. His m a ting c a ll is a
ra p id ly rep ea ted c ric k c ric k c ric k .
Photographs & text: by Steve Walker adapted from: Frogs from the South East of South Australia Poster.
- 12 -
MIX N MATCH FROGS OF THE SOUTH EAST
Can you match the frog with their description box and write the name
under the frog?
I have p a inted skin a nd
like to burrow into the soil.
My call is a long high pitch
trrilll .
I also like to burrow and
can lay up to 4000 eggs.
My mate calls me by
b oom ing Bonk .
My name describes me as
brown but I can be green.
I am slender and my call is
w eep -eep-eep .
I am Nationally Vulnerable
and the largest frog in the
South East. I like to eat
other frogs!
My skin is smooth and I
ha ve short lim b s. I d o n t
breed in water.
I have a warty back and
my numbers have
declined. My call sounds
like a rk .
- 13 -
8. Amphibia n Authors
The follow ing resourc es a re a va ila b le for loa n (som e for p urc ha se) from
Waterwatch South East 8735 1145.
Books
Rob inson, M. (2000). A Field Guid e to Frog s of Austra lia . From Port Aug usta to
Fraser Island including Tasmania. Reed New Holland, Australia.
Sw a n, G . (2001). Green Guid e. Frog s of Austra lia . New Holla nd Pub lishers,
Australia.
Tyler, M., J. (1996). Fro g s a s Pets. A Guid e to Keep ing the Austra lia n Tree Frog .
Graphic Print Group, Australia.
CD s
Frog Ca lls of So uth Ea st South Austra lia a nd id entific a tion inform a tion.
Available for loan and purchase.
Websites
www.frogs.org.au
www.epa.sa.gov/frogcensus
www.froggyville.com/games
World Wide Fund for Nature. www.frogs.wwf.org.au
All about frogs. www.allaboutfrogs.org
Frog Focus. www.asxfrogfocus.com
Kiddy House. www.kiddyhouse.com/themes/frogs
Videos
The Tyler Tapes.
Na rra ted b y Professor Mike Tyler, South Austra lia s frog g uru. Join Professor
Tyler a s he ta kes you on a journey a ro und the w orld to d isc over the history,
the mystery, the myths and the medicine of frogs and toads.
9.
- 14 -
9. Further Learning Opportunities
Wo uld yo u like to ha ve som e m ore fun lea rning a b out frog s? Here a re som e
fun activities that will help you learn about native frogs of the South East.
The Frog Ca ll Ga me
Lea rn how d iffic ult it is for a fro g living in the w ild . Ha ve the c la ss sp lit into 2
g roup s, one g roup a re the m a le frog s a nd the other a re the fem a le frog s. The
male and female frogs from the same species must find each other!
Contact your Regional Coordinator book the frog calling cards on 8735 1145.
Frog Conservation - Discussion
Using Fa c t Sheet 1 ha ve a c la ss d isc ussion on frog c onserva tion a t your
school.
Create your own frog
Ma ke a c la ss m ura l, p a inting or m od el to show the d ifferent typ es of frog s
found in the South East and where they like to live near a waterway.
Frog Lifecycle
As a g roup or ind ivid ua ls re-c onstruc t a typ ic a l life c yc le of a frog . You c ould
d ra w a d ia g ra m , p resent a role p la y a s a sm a ll g roup , p rep a re a m ura l or a
model or write a research report.
The Tyler Tapes
Frogs from around the world under
threat
Join Professor Mike Tyler a s he ta kes yo u o n a journey a ro und the w orld to
exp erienc e the history, the m ystery, the m yths a nd the m ed ic ine of frog s a nd
toads.
- 15 -
FACT SHEET #1
FROG CONSERVATION
What can you do to help?
Frogs belong to a group of a nima ls known a s Amphibia ns. Amphibia ns a re
cold blooded vertebrate animals that live both on land and in water. In recent
yea rs frog popula tions ha ve been declining a round the world for rea sons
which are unknown by scientist.
By rem em b ering som e sim p le thing s you too c a n help p rotec t our p rec ious
frog populations. Frogs are an important animal as they are bio-indicators. This
m ea ns they a re a b le to tell us the hea lth of the surround ing environm ent.
Bec a use frog s b rea the throug h their skin a ny p ollution a round them c a n ha ve
serious effects on their health including illness, birth defects and even death.
Frog Conservation Tips
Here are some useful tips that you can use to help protect frog populations.
Do not remove tadpoles from ponds or wetlands.**
Do not rem ove fa llen b ra nc hes, ro c ks o r log s from w etla nd a rea s o r
garden ponds.
Do not throw un-used c hem ic a ls d ow n the d ra in a s these m a y end up in
our natural waterways harming our native frogs.
Red uc e the use of herb ic id es, p estic id es a nd insec tic id es on your g a rd en
or c rop a s these c hem ic a ls a re p oisonous to frog s. Frog s a re o ften m ore
effective at removing garden pests.
Participate in the annual Frog Census in September each year to help frog
scientists understand the distribution of native frogs in South Australia.
If you live on a fa rm a nd ha ve w etla nd a rea s fenc e these a rea s off to
p revent stoc k from g a ining a c c ess to these a rea s. You m a y a lso like to
revegetate the area if it is badly degraded.
** If yo u w ish to ob serve the d evelop m ent of ta d p oles in the c la ss room m a ke
sure tha t onc e they ha ve d evelop ed into frog s tha t they a re returned to the
loc a tion yo u c a ug ht them from a nd never m ix ta d p oles from d ifferent sites in
the same tank. Visit www.frogs.org.au and download the care sheets to learn
how to care for your tadpoles.
- 16 -
ACTIVITY SHEET
Frog Life Cycle
Frog s b elong to the g roup o f a nim a ls know n a s a m p hib ia ns. An a m p hib ia n is
a n a nim a l tha t ha s a d oub le life. This is rep resented in frog s need ing w a ter to
survive in its juvenile s sta g e a nd the a d ult frog living on la nd .
Com p lete the d ia g ra m on the follow ing p a g e la b eling ea c h sta g e in a fro g s
life c yc le a nd p rovid e a n exp la na tion of ea c h life c yc le sta g e of a frog . You
can even colour it in.
- 17 -
- 18 -
- 19 -