Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Warts and All By Jeanne Tarrant, Programme Manager of the EWT’s Threatened Amphibian Programme Frogs are slippery in more ways than one. Frogs are creatures of the in-between, making use of both the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. So too, is their place in human culture and folklore, with some societies revering them and others being reviled by them. Their biphasic life-cycle has long been of fascination to children, philosophers and scientists alike, and although well known by most people, is still not fully understood. Amphibians are the largest animals to undergo such dramatic metamorphosis, transforming from an entirely aquatic to a terrestrial existence in the process. Tadpoles, also known as pollywogs in the US and UK, are the most vulnerable life-stage of the frog’s existence. Small, soft and slow-moving they are largely defenceless against predation and desiccation. In response, frogs have evolved a range of mechanisms to improve the survival chances of their offspring. Many, in particular the toads, make use of the “safety in numbers” principle by producing many 1000s of eggs. Other species have developed elaborate modes of parental care: our own Giant Bullfrog male ensures that his juveniles stay connected to water by excavating channels to the main water-body. Other species physically carry their eggs or tadpoles to water or on their bodies until metamorphosis has taken place. For example, males of the Chilean Darwin Frog keep eggs in their vocal sacs for up to 70 days. Some species stay close to their young to protect them in various ways. The female of the Endangered Kloof Frog from KwaZulu-Natal remains close to her egg clutches, which are deposited on surfaces above water, periodically urinating on them to keep them moist. The final phase of metamorphosis is the most rapid, and the most transformative. With the tadpole swapping its vegetarian diet of algae to an insectivorous diet it requires a complete change of filtering mouthparts to predatory jaws. Front legs develop from the pouch that previously contained the mouthparts. The skin thickens and develops glands to keep the frog moist on land. The digestive tract, lungs and nerves all undergo dramatic changes and the eyes and eyelids develop massively to facilitate detecting moving prey. This process has kept us intrigued for millennia, and is why frogs form a significant part of the cultural history of many of societies. From the brothers’ Grimm “Frog King” to more recently, “Kermit the Frog”, these often misunderstood animals have played an important role not only in scientific discovery and natural history, but philosophy and folklore. Even Carl Linnaues, often touted as the father of modern biology, and responsible for establishing the binomial naming system still used for describing species today, had this to say about amphibians: “Most amphibia are abhorrent because of their cold body, pale colour, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom; and so their Creator has not exerted his powers to create them.” The first vertebrates to step onto land approximately 315 million years ago, these creatures represent an essential evolutionary link in biological history. In terms of human culture their image ranges from harbinger of evil, to symbols of mythology, to food-source, to biology lesson. Unfortunately, many of these beliefs place frogs in a negative light. Here in South Africa, many cultures hold ingrained fears and superstitions about frogs. In a small survey conducted by the Woman’s Leadership and Training Programme involving 120 Zulu people in KwaZulu-Natal found that frogs are the second most feared animal (90%, after snakes, 98%), and that they are often purposefully killed. Often salt is used, which has a devastating drying effect on the very sensitive skin of frogs. Overcoming such beliefs and practices is thus crucial for improving the effectiveness of amphibian conservation efforts in South Africa. The EWT’s Threatened Amphibian Programme is currently conducting a survey of the South African publics’ attitudes to frogs to better understand these beliefs and develop educational and awareness campaigns accordingly. Please complete the online survey here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SnUxjC31vsdudy4fxZTcwgqCBRDtqxAHPYQ5C39fhZw/viewform We’d love to hear from you if you know of any interesting beliefs or stories about frogs. Please contact [email protected]