Species of Frogs Found in Portugal

A frog is a species of amphibian. It is a member of the Anura order. Frogs are very diverse animals and make up a large group amphibians. Although most are omnivorous, some species have a purely vegetative diet. Below is a list of the most common frog species. You may also be interested in learning about the Surinam toad and the waxy tree frog.

Xenopus laevis

Although Xenopus laevis was first discovered in western Portugal in 2006, the species is a relatively recent introduction. It was first discovered in the Laje River, which flows through the heavily urbanised region of Oeiras County, around 20 km west of Lisbon. However, its introduction to western Portugal is likely to have occurred much earlier, as a result of accidental escapes from nearby research labs or after the devastating floods of 1979/80. The species’ cryptic lifestyle and the lack of interest in wildlife in urban rivers have helped it spread throughout western Portugal.

The Xenopus laevis is an important model organism in many research fields, including Embryology. Its egg is 1 million times bigger than a typical frog cell. As it grows into a tadpole, it contains millions of cells, with the same volume of material. Its lifespan in captivity has been estimated to be as much as 20 years.

Waxy tree frogs

Waxy tree frogs have a unique coat of green wax that protects them from evaporation and the effects of hot and cold temperatures. The frogs’ lipid-coated skin also protects them from bacterial infections. This coating also helps them to sunbathe without desiccating. Their coat is also resistant to ultraviolet light and cold. This trait makes them perfect candidates for pond frog enclosures.

Waxy tree frogs should be housed in a room with plenty of ventilation to allow humidity spikes to return to normal. Feeding your Waxys once or twice a week will provide a variety of natural prey. Brown crickets are a good source of insects for your pet. You can also add other feeder insects such as grasshoppers to their diet. Once a week, you can also give them a vitamin and mineral supplement.

Toads

Toads are a group of amphibians with a broad distribution. Some are poisonous and live in extreme environments, but most of them are camouflaged and have little red coloring. The horny toad, a type of frog, is not a true toad but a lizard. In cold climates, frogs shut down their bodies and hibernate under leaves until spring.

Toads and frogs both produce calls. These sounds can be whistle-like, bell-like, or full, deep croaks. Each species produces a unique call, which the females recognize during courtship ritual. Frogs and toads have an effective hearing system similar to humans. The external eardrum (tympanum) can be seen in most species, and is protected by a thin layer of moist skin.

Surinam toads

Baby Surinam toads are born in their mothers’ pockets, and they spend three to four months in this pouch before emerging as fully developed toadlets. They have no tail, and can be as small as an inch in length. These tiny frogs will live up to eight years. In the wild, Surinam toads live on the island of Surinam. There are approximately 3,000 Surinam toads in the wild.

The Surinam toad lives in the slow-moving waters of Northern South America, where it prefers to live in muddy water. It uses its fingers to detect food, which it then swallows with suction. The food they consume is worms, insects, crustaceans, and fish. Their body has lateral lines on both sides of their bodies that help them detect movement and thereby find prey.

Toxic skin of toads

Toxic skin of toads and frogs is a potential new drug discovery opportunity. The Bufonidae family of frogs and toads produces numerous chemicals. These compounds are known as steroidal bufadienolides, and they block heart nerve activity in predators. These chemicals have a range of biological effects, including cardiac arrest, irregular heartbeat, and death.

Toads have poison glands on their skin called parotoids. These glands secrete a toxic substance when threatened, which can cause a burning sensation and difficulty breathing in the predator. While toads don’t pose a danger to healthy humans, they are still a danger when handled improperly. Regardless of whether the poison is meant to protect you or to warn your predator, it is best to wash your hands thoroughly after handling any frog or toad.

Adaptations of frogs

The frog’s eyes have several adaptations. First, the eyes are large and rounded. This allows the frog to see in all directions and avoid being sneaked up on by prey. The other adaptation involves the frog’s ability to lay eggs in water. These eggs have a gelatinous covering that prevents them from floating away. In the event of a frog dying, its eggs can be retrieved and raised in a suitable environment.

Adaptations of frogs are very diverse. Old World tree frogs, for example, have adapted to a variety of habitats. Some of them spend their larval stage in water, such as the tadpoles. Others have evolved to use different forms of nesting, including foam or gel. Some of these adaptations are so important for their survival that they have been called the “Rhacophoridae.”