Meet the amphibians
There are more than 7,000 species of amphibians alive today. They come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
Meet some of the fascinating characters who live in the brand new amphibian wing in ZSL London Zoo's Reptile House.
Poison dart frogKissing these frogs is not a good idea, no enchanted princes here! Poison dart frogs secrete toxins from their skin, produced from the foods they eat. Some native American tribes wipe hunting blow-darts on the frogs' skin, hence their name. Some species of poison dart frogs produce such powerful toxins that one frog could kill 100 humans! |
|
Waxy monkey frogGiant waxy monkey frogs (Phyllomedusa bicolour) are from the Amazon rainforest and in true Halloween spirit these nocturnal amphibians only come out in darkness. These distinctive looking frogs are a bright green with white areas and silvery eyes. They live in high trees and resemble leaves when sleeping. They produce a waxy secretion which they spread all over their bodies with their flexible limbs. The 'monkey' in their name refers to their ability to walk or climb rather than jump between branches. |
|
African bullfrogThe African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) is a large carnivorous frog measuring up to 10 inches in length. Unusually for frogs, the females of the species are much smaller than the males. It eats mice, insects, small birds, fish, lizards or even other frogs. The African bullfrog uses its calls to locate others, especially during mating season, and has a loud, deep bellow. |
|
Mountain chicken frogThe mountain chicken (Leptodactylus fallax) is a Critically Endangered frog only found in Dominica and Montserrat. It was the traditional national dish of Dominica before the deadly chytrid fungus reached the Caribbean and the species population plunged by 80%. The name mountain chicken comes from the fact that the frog's meat tastes like chicken. The frog lives mainly in the lowlands and not in the mountains. As part of conservation work in Dominica and Monserrat, ZSL conservationists carried out a rescue expedition. They were able to track down seven of the frogs and remove them from their native habitat before they succumbed to chytrid. The animals are now kept at ZSL London Zoo and have been successfully bred by zookeepers . |
|
