Frog Conservation Keeper Talk

Today at the Zoo

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Frog Conservation Keeper Talk

05/19/2019, 10:00 AM to 10:15 AM

Weekly on Sunday

Puerto Rican Crested Toad exhibit, Unseen New World map


Come hear about conservation for Panamanian Golden frogs and Puerto Rican Crested toads.

The bright color of the Golden frog alerts potential predators to its dangers similar to its distant poison dart frog relatives from South America. Golden frogs live in habitats with loud fast moving water and also lack an eardrum, so how do they communicate? They actually use a form of sign language. Golden frogs will wave their hands or raise their feet to defend territory, attract a mate, or even greet each other. Young frogs are much more secretive than adults and are dark colored to match their habitats. They will change into the golden color has they age and become more toxic. Panamanian golden frogs are critically endangered due to a skin disease caused by the chytrid fungus.

The Puerto Rican Crested Toad is the only toad native to the island of Puerto Rico. It makes its home on the northern and southern coasts of the island. Mating usually happens during the rainy season and eggs are laid in pools of water, streams, or small dams. The Puerto Rican Crested Toad was the first amphibian placed on a Species Survival Plan (SSP) due to rapid population declines because of the invasive marine toad that was introduced to Puerto Rico in the 1920s. Nashville Zoo has sent thousands of tadpoles to the island for reintroduction.