A CHORUS OF FROGS
Frogs are quirky and gross, but as A Chorus of Frogs shows, they're also important: As an "indicator species" — one sensitive to environmental contaminants — frogs hold important lessons for humanity. A Chorus of Frogs explores frogs from many angles — their benefits (they eat harmful insects), their unusual parenting teamwork, and their predators (other frogs, in some cases). Young readers learn the differences between frogs and toads, how their bodies are made (backbones but no ribs), their incredibly precise tongues, and the potent toxin of poison-arrow frogs. Most exciting for children is the amazing transformation from tadpoles with gills to frogs with lungs, from living wholly in the water to jumping about on land. A Chorus of Frogs covers these engaging creatures in easy text and spectacular full-color images.
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Secrets of Frogs:
- Frogs need water but don't drink it—they soak it up through their thin skins.
- Toads have poisonous skin glands—but few can do any harm to human beings.
- Frogs wear bright colors to send a message: Hello, I'm poisonous! Toxin from one tiny golden poison dart frog could kill many monkeys—or people.
- Female frogs have no vocal sacs and rarely make a peep.
- Frogs have teeth, but don't use them to chew. Teeth keep live prey from wiggling out of a frog's mouth.
- How far can frogs jump? Bullfrogs have made winning leaps of 22 feet. Another champ is the rocket frog. It can soar 50 times the length of its body.
- In the deserts of Australia, aborigine tribes find fresh water in the body of a burrowing frog that stores it.
- To outwit predators, some frogs stand on tiptoe, others give a shrill scream, and others play dead.
- Many rainforest frogs never touch the ground. Living high in trees, they move by gliding from branch to branch.
- Diving flippers for humans were copied from nature's perfect design: the webbed, five-toed back feet of a frog.
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To Learn More:
- Frogwatch USA, a project of National Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Geological Survey. Frog watching tips, field guides for local species, and volunteer opportunities to collect information about your local frog population. Website: www.nwf.org/frogwatchUSA
- Global Amphibian Assessment. Amphibian diversity worldwide, with maps and information about number of species and threatened species, by country. Website: www.globalamphibians.org
- Amphibian Conservation Alliance. Information-packed site with topical news, calls to action, and "froghoo!" links to amphibian biology, conservation, research, events, volunteer opportunities, educational resources for students and educators. Website: www.frogs.org
- Amphibiaweb. Easy-to-use database of amphibians throughout the world. Website: www.amphibiaweb.org
- National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII), part of the U.S. Geological Survey. Examines various wildlife projects and issues with much information about frogs and amphibians. Includes worldwide teacher/student resources & website links. Website: www.nbii.gov/frog
- Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) has a Student Partners (SPARC) program that offers regional species, project and event information. Website: www.parcplace.org/sparc
- Earthwatch Institute. Science-based organization links scientists with volunteers to do research projects—many on frogs, toads, and habitats – in more than 50 countries. Results provide solid data for conservation groups and sustainability efforts. Website: www.earthwatch.org
- The Exploratorium. San Francisco's most amazing museum has an equally valuable website, with lots of value-packed data and photos on frogs. Website: www.exploratorium.edu/frogs
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