Marvels of the Bruce Peninsula Amphibians

1. Amphibians from the Bruce Peninsula

2. What does it take to be an amphibian? • Four legged vertebrates • Do not have amniotic eggs • Ectothermic (body heat regulated by external environment) • Spend part of their time on land, part in water • Breathe through lungs, gills, or skin

3. Green to light brown with large dark, circular black spots with light outlines on back, the dorsal lateral ridges are lighter in colour (2 lines running down back) Length: 5 – 9 cm Males make a short snore-like call from water during spring and summer Live in ponds, streams, lakes, swamps, marshes. Any water with lots of aquatic vegetation Special Concern in northern areas of Ontario (abundant in southern Ontario) Northern Leopard Frog(Rana pipiens)

4. Brown with 3 dark broken stripes running down their back Two toe discs Also known as Striped Chorus Frog, or Western Chorus Frog Length: 3 cm Habitat: Sunny, shallow swamps, pools Known for their “repeated rasping trill” Midland Chorus Frog(Pseudacris triseriata triseriata)

5. Has the ability to change colour, from greenish-gray to gray-black (depending on the environment) Has bright yellow or orange under belly, shown when the frog hops away Length: 3 – 6 cm Habitat: Trees and shrubs close to water The frogs skin is bumpy (almost toad like) Has 4 sets of chromosomes (most animals have 2 sets) Teraploid Gray Tree Frog(Hyla versicolor)

6. Brownish, reddish, and olive Body covered with brown bumps (warts) some of which are outlined with dark rings Behind each eye is a kidney shaped poison gland Length: 5 – 9 cm Habitat: Gardens, forests, yards. Most terrestrial of all Ontario Amphibians (can inhabit almost anywhere that has moisture and insects) American Toad(Bufo americanus)

7. Yellowish to greenish brown (aquatic stage), orange to reddish brown (terrestrial stage) with black bordered red spots and back and solid black spots on belly and legs Length: 7-10 cm Eastern newts eat a variety of foods such as insects, small mollusks, and crustaceans, young amphibians, and frog eggs Eastern/Red Spotted Newt(Notophthalmus viridescens)

8. Black with yellow spots from head to tail Length: 15 – 25 cm Habitats: During spring they reside in woodland ponds, while in summer and winter they can be found in moist soils or fallen logs Habitat loss and increased use of pesticide are infringing on their populations Yellow Spotted Salamander(Ambystoma maculatum)

9. Brownish-pink to yellowish-brown Thick body from head to tail Length: 10 – 22 cm Habitat: Live in cool, moist environments and clear water sources (high in oxygen) Absorbs oxygen through its skin, as well as through membranes in the mouth and throat Presumed extirpated because of deforestation (none observed in the area in the last 100 years) Spring Salamander(Gyrinophilus porphyriticus)

10. Further Sources Ontario Nature – probably the best source for information about Ontario’s http://www.ontarionature.org/protect/species/herpetofaunal_atlas.php Frog Watch – excellent site for information about public monitoring of frogs (citizen science) http://www.naturewatch.ca/english/frogwatch/on/ Toronto Zoo – very good general information on amphibians http://www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/AboutAmphibians.asp