Unit XI Amphibians of Kansas Information. Introduction to Amphibians Class Amphibia: Class Amphibia: 31 species of amphibians in Kansas, including salamanders

Unit XI Amphibians of Kansas Unit XI Amphibians of Kansas InformationInformation

Introduction to AmphibiansIntroduction to Amphibians

Class Amphibia:Class Amphibia: 31 species of amphibians in Kansas, including 31 species of amphibians in Kansas, including

salamanders and frogs and toads.salamanders and frogs and toads. Most species in Kansas are active from about Most species in Kansas are active from about

March to November.March to November. ““amphi-“ means both, as in living on both land and amphi-“ means both, as in living on both land and

water.water. Smooth, thin, moist skin (toads have rougher, Smooth, thin, moist skin (toads have rougher,

dryer skin)dryer skin) Many amphibians are extremely fragile. The salts Many amphibians are extremely fragile. The salts

and other chemicals we have on our hands can and other chemicals we have on our hands can actually kill them if we hold them too long by actually kill them if we hold them too long by diffusing through their skin and getting into their diffusing through their skin and getting into their bodies.bodies.

Majority have four limbs and no clawsMajority have four limbs and no claws

Introduction to Amphibians, Introduction to Amphibians, cont.cont.

Ectotherms, meaning “cold-blooded”—they hibernate Ectotherms, meaning “cold-blooded”—they hibernate (winter) or aestivate (summer) in extreme temps(winter) or aestivate (summer) in extreme temps

Offspring develop through metamorphosis, meaning Offspring develop through metamorphosis, meaning they have a larval stage and an adult stage of the life they have a larval stage and an adult stage of the life cycle, where their bodies look very different. cycle, where their bodies look very different.

Tadpoles are aquatic larvae and the adults live on Tadpoles are aquatic larvae and the adults live on land.land.

Breathe through poorly developed lungs and skin—Breathe through poorly developed lungs and skin—they diffuse oxygen through their skin along with they diffuse oxygen through their skin along with using their lungs.using their lungs.

Digests prey wholeDigests prey whole


3 eyelids: two “normal” like ours, and one called 3 eyelids: two “normal” like ours, and one called the nictotating membrane which is transparent.the nictotating membrane which is transparent.

““ear” is the tympanic membraneear” is the tympanic membrane Must return to water to reproduce. Their eggs are Must return to water to reproduce. Their eggs are

a gelatinous mass that have no protective a gelatinous mass that have no protective covering. They must be laid in water for them to covering. They must be laid in water for them to survive.survive.

Orders of Amphibia:Orders of Amphibia: Order Apoda: meaning without legs like caecilianOrder Apoda: meaning without legs like caecilian Order Urodela: tailed amphibians like salamanders and Order Urodela: tailed amphibians like salamanders and

newtsnewts Order Anura: tailless amphibians. All frogs and toadsOrder Anura: tailless amphibians. All frogs and toads


(Order Anura, frogs and toads, cont)(Order Anura, frogs and toads, cont) Use powerful hind limbs for movementUse powerful hind limbs for movement Tongue is attached to tip of lower jaw and has Tongue is attached to tip of lower jaw and has

sticky tip, which they flick out at a prey item, sticky tip, which they flick out at a prey item, and then bring the food item back into their and then bring the food item back into their mouth where they swallow it whole.mouth where they swallow it whole.

Sometimes have poisonous skin, such as toads Sometimes have poisonous skin, such as toads and rainforest poison dart frogs.and rainforest poison dart frogs.

Only males sing and make noiseOnly males sing and make noise Many species in severe decline due to many Many species in severe decline due to many

factors: habitat loss, pollution of waterways, factors: habitat loss, pollution of waterways, increased UV rays from thinning ozone layer, increased UV rays from thinning ozone layer, and fungal diseases that are showing up in and fungal diseases that are showing up in high numbers for as of yet unknown reasons.high numbers for as of yet unknown reasons.


Identification:Identification: One field guide will cover both One field guide will cover both

amphibians and reptiles.amphibians and reptiles. The introduction in any field guide will The introduction in any field guide will

give a great overview of what to look for give a great overview of what to look for in each group.in each group.

Size, shape, habitat, and obvious Size, shape, habitat, and obvious markings on the bodies are the basis for markings on the bodies are the basis for field identification.field identification.

Smallmouth SalamanderSmallmouth Salamander

Smallmouth SalamanderSmallmouth Salamander

4-5.5” in length4-5.5” in length Found in roughly the eastern 1/3 of Kansas, and Found in roughly the eastern 1/3 of Kansas, and

more common in the southern part of this range more common in the southern part of this range than the northern part.than the northern part.

Emerges in early spring, usually during the first Emerges in early spring, usually during the first night-time rain at the end of the winter in late night-time rain at the end of the winter in late February or early March. They breed, and then February or early March. They breed, and then disperse to habitat under logs or rocks in moist disperse to habitat under logs or rocks in moist areas. Generally spends most of the summer and areas. Generally spends most of the summer and winter months below ground.winter months below ground.

Difficult to find and very difficult to keep in Difficult to find and very difficult to keep in captivity.captivity.

Barred Tiger SalamanderBarred Tiger Salamander

Barred Tiger SalamanderBarred Tiger Salamander

6-8.5” in length.6-8.5” in length. The only salamander found throughout The only salamander found throughout

Kansas.Kansas. Kansas State AmphibianKansas State Amphibian Opportunistic feeder, it will eat basically Opportunistic feeder, it will eat basically

whatever it can stuff in its mouth! Aquatic whatever it can stuff in its mouth! Aquatic insects, grasshoppers, worms, fish, insects, grasshoppers, worms, fish, tadpoles, frogs, toads, other salamanders tadpoles, frogs, toads, other salamanders and even mice!and even mice!

Plains SpadefootPlains Spadefoot

Plains SpadefootPlains Spadefoot

1.5-2” in length.1.5-2” in length. Eats beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and Eats beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, and

antsants Lives in prairies and open floodplains, Lives in prairies and open floodplains,

especially where there is sand or loose especially where there is sand or loose soil.soil.

Burrows in loose ground during day, and Burrows in loose ground during day, and emerges in evenings, especially after emerges in evenings, especially after rains.rains.

BullfrogBullfrog

BullfrogBullfrog

Largest frog in the state, and is 3 ½-6” in length.Largest frog in the state, and is 3 ½-6” in length. Males have much larger ear membranes (the Males have much larger ear membranes (the

circles behind the eyes) than the females.circles behind the eyes) than the females. Call is the deep, baritone, “whomp” sound.Call is the deep, baritone, “whomp” sound. Eats nearly anything it can fit into its mouth, Eats nearly anything it can fit into its mouth,

including invertebrates and small vertebrates, including invertebrates and small vertebrates, even small turtles, birds, bats, shrews and moles!even small turtles, birds, bats, shrews and moles!

Is a game animal in Kansas, and can be hunted Is a game animal in Kansas, and can be hunted only from July 1-Sept 30 with a valid Kansas only from July 1-Sept 30 with a valid Kansas fishing license. Hind limbs are the well-known fishing license. Hind limbs are the well-known “frog legs” served in restaurants.“frog legs” served in restaurants.

Plains Leopard FrogPlains Leopard Frog



2-3 ¾” in length.2-3 ¾” in length. Can breed as early as February and Can breed as early as February and

may continue into the summer.may continue into the summer. Call sounds like wet fingers rubbing Call sounds like wet fingers rubbing

on a balloon.on a balloon. Eats primarily terrestrial insects.Eats primarily terrestrial insects.

Western Chorus FrogWestern Chorus Frog

Western Chorus FrogWestern Chorus Frog

¾-1 ½ ” in length¾-1 ½ ” in length This is the first frog to start calling in This is the first frog to start calling in

the spring, and is vocal in March and the spring, and is vocal in March and April.April.

Call sounds similar to running your Call sounds similar to running your fingernail over the teeth of a comb.fingernail over the teeth of a comb.

Eats terrestrial and aquatic insects.Eats terrestrial and aquatic insects.

Northern Cricket FrogNorthern Cricket Frog



Small, they are 5/8-1.5” long.Small, they are 5/8-1.5” long. Habitat is muddy, beach-like edges Habitat is muddy, beach-like edges

of small ponds and shallow streams. of small ponds and shallow streams. Avoids deep water.Avoids deep water.

Call sounds similar jingling a bag of Call sounds similar jingling a bag of marbles.marbles.

Eats mostly aquatic insects.Eats mostly aquatic insects.

Gray TreefrogGray Treefrog

Gray TreefrogGray Treefrog

Gray Treefrog callingGray Treefrog calling

Gray TreefrogGray Treefrog The only amphibian in Kansas that can change its The only amphibian in Kansas that can change its

color to better blend with its habitat. Can be color to better blend with its habitat. Can be bright green to tan to light gray. The green is bright green to tan to light gray. The green is uniform in color, but the gray is mottled like uniform in color, but the gray is mottled like lichen on a tree trunk.lichen on a tree trunk.

1.25-2.25” in length.1.25-2.25” in length. Found in eastern 1/3 of Kansas.Found in eastern 1/3 of Kansas. Habitat is low shrubs of woodland and woodland Habitat is low shrubs of woodland and woodland

edge. More arboreal than other frogs. Can also edge. More arboreal than other frogs. Can also be found on storm doors or windows of houses if be found on storm doors or windows of houses if porch lights are left on (if you live near their porch lights are left on (if you live near their habitat)—they climb up to eat the insects at habitat)—they climb up to eat the insects at night.night.

Call sounds like a deeper, monotone belch.Call sounds like a deeper, monotone belch. Eats terrestrial and flying insects.Eats terrestrial and flying insects.

American ToadAmerican Toad



Has dry skin, round snout, kidney-shaped Has dry skin, round snout, kidney-shaped glands behind each eye, and a dark spots glands behind each eye, and a dark spots on white belly.on white belly.

Found in eastern 1/3 of Kansas.Found in eastern 1/3 of Kansas. Found in rocky, open woods or woodland Found in rocky, open woods or woodland

edge habitat.edge habitat. Call is a high-pitched, monotone trill.Call is a high-pitched, monotone trill. Eats a large quantity of insects and is very Eats a large quantity of insects and is very

beneficial for this reason to Kansas beneficial for this reason to Kansas farmers.farmers.

Woodhouse’s ToadWoodhouse’s Toad

Woodhouse’s Toads Woodhouse’s Toads breedingbreeding

Woodhouse’s ToadWoodhouse’s Toad

Has dry skin, round snout, kidney-shaped Has dry skin, round snout, kidney-shaped glands behind each eye, and a much glands behind each eye, and a much plainer belly than the American Toad.plainer belly than the American Toad.

Found throughout Kansas.Found throughout Kansas. Found in diverse habitats, but seems to Found in diverse habitats, but seems to

prefer lowland areas.prefer lowland areas. Call is a haunting, high-pitched screaming Call is a haunting, high-pitched screaming

sound.sound. Eats a variety of insects and spiders; can Eats a variety of insects and spiders; can

eat up to 2/3 of its own weight in a single eat up to 2/3 of its own weight in a single day.day.

Great Plains Narrowmouth Great Plains Narrowmouth FrogFrog



Has moist skin, a fold of skin across the back of Has moist skin, a fold of skin across the back of the head between the eyes, and a very pointed the head between the eyes, and a very pointed snout and a small head, relative to its body.snout and a small head, relative to its body.

Found throughout the eastern 2/3 of Kansas.Found throughout the eastern 2/3 of Kansas. Often found under rocks on open, grassy slopes.Often found under rocks on open, grassy slopes. Eats almost nothing but ants.Eats almost nothing but ants. Very secretive frog; spends almost entire life Very secretive frog; spends almost entire life

underground.underground.

ReferencesReferences

Reptiles and Amphibians in Kansas, Reptiles and Amphibians in Kansas, by Joseph Collinsby Joseph Collins

Turtles in Kansas, by Janalee P. Turtles in Kansas, by Janalee P. Caldwell and Joseph T. CollinsCaldwell and Joseph T. Collins

Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians (eastern and central Amphibians (eastern and central North America), by Conant and North America), by Conant and Collins.Collins.

Documents

Unit XI Amphibians of Kansas Information. Introduction to Amphibians Class Amphibia: Class Amphibia: 31 species of amphibians in Kansas, including salamanders