Invasive Frogs and Philippine Frog Identification

Invasive Frogs

• American Bullfrog
• Asiatic Painted Toad,
• Cane Toad,
• Chinese Bullfrog,
• Green Paddy Frog,
• Greenhouse Frog
• These frogs are considered Invasive Species/ Species of Concern because they pose a threat to biodiversity and ecosystems.
• Pilli, et al.: describes the invasion and distribution of alin frogs

Identifying Philippine Frogs

• Male frogs often have small, differently colored patches on their hands, particularly noticeable on the insides of their thumbs.
• These patches can be rough, aiding in mating.
• During the breeding season, male frogs often undergo color changes. Their patches may turn dark and become raised, enhancing visibility.
• Nuptial pads are slightly darker, textured areas on male frogs' thumbs. They assist in gripping the female during mating.

Class Reptilia

• The Class Reptilia includes lizards, snakes, worm-lizards, turtles and crocodilians.
• They are amniotes, having epidermal scales and dermal plates.
• They lack feathers, hair, mammary glands, and have dry skin.
• They are ectothermic, have a 3-chambered heart, and claws.

Order Squamata

• This order is further divided into three Suborders:
  • Ophidia/Serpentes (Snakes)
  • Amphisbaenia (Worm Lizards)
  • Sauria/Lacertilia (Lizards)

Family Agamidae

• These lizards have well-developed limbs, throat flaps or fans, and keeled scales.
• Examples include:
  • Hydrosaurus (sailfin dragon)
  • Draco (Flying Lizard)
  • Gonocephalus (forest dragons)
  • Bronchocela (crestedlizard)

Family Scincidae

• Lizards are known for their cylindrical bodies, robust builds, and conical heads.
• They are subcategorized into:
  • Eugongylinae
  • Lygosominae
  • Mabuyinae
  • Scincinae
  • Sphenomorphi nae

Family Dibamidae

• These are small, elongated, nearly limbless lizards known for their fossorial (burrowing) lifestyle.
• Examples include:
  • Dibamus leucurus
  • Dibamus novaeguineae

Family Varanidae

• These lizards are known for their small head, long neck, and terrestrial-arboreal predatory behaviors.
• They have a sturdy body, limbs, and powerful tail.

Family Gekkonidae

• These lizards range from terrestrial to arboreal forms with scansorial (climbing) abilities.
• They are mostly nocturnal.
• Examples include:
  • Cyrtodactylus philippinicus
  • Gekko gecko gecko
  • Hemidactylus frenatus
  • Hemiphyllodactylus insularis
  • Pseudogekko smargardinus
  • Luperosaurus cf kubli

Family Typhlopidae

• These are small, smooth scaled, cylindrical, blind snakes with eyes concealed by scales.

Family Xenopeltidae

• Known as Sunbeam snakes, these snakes are burrowing and secretive with cylindrical bodies and flattened heads.

Family Pythoniae

• These are very large, non-poisonous, mostly terrestrial snakes.

Family Gerrhopilidae

• Known as blind snakes.
• Genus Gerrhopilus are found in the Philippines.

Family Acrochordidae

• Known as Wart snakes, these snakes are thoroughly aquatic with seemingly oversized skin.

Family Colubridae

• This is the largest snake family, comprised of racers and rat snakes.
• They are non-venomous with glands.
• Examples include:
  • Ahaetulla
  • Chrysopelea
  • Dendralephis
  • Calamaria
  • Boiga
  • Coelagnathus
  • Gonyosoma
  • Liopeltis
  • Lycodon
  • Oligodon
  • Ptyas
  • Sibynophis
  • Opisthrophis
  • Stegonotus
  • Rhabdophis
  • Trophidonophis

Family Cycloridae

• This subfamily is poorly understood, with minimal information on their geographic distribution, ecology, behavior, or conservation status.
• Examples include:
  • Cyclocorus
  • Hologerrhum
  • Myersophis
  • Oxyrhabdium
  • Levitonius

Family Homolopsidae

• Known as Indo-Australian water snakes, mudsnakes, or bockadams, these are stout-bodied water snakes, most of which are mildly venomous.
• Examples include:
  • Cerberus
  • Fordonia
  • Gerarda

Family Pareidae

• This is a small family of snakes found largely in Southeast Asia.
• Only one species is found in the Philippines:
  • Aplopeltura boa, the blunthead slug snake or blunt-headed slug-eating snake

Family Pseudaspididae

• Known as Mock Vipers, Keeled Snakes, and Mock Snakes, this is a small snake family with three genera and disjunct distribution.
• Examples include:
  • Common Mock Viper - Psammodynastes pulverulentus pulverulentus

Family Elapidae

• These include coral snakes and cobras.
• They are venomous and have small eyes with round pupils.
• They have elongate cylindrical bodies and neck flaps.
• Examples include:
  • Ophiophagus hannah to Ophiophagus salvatana (Sp.nov.) - endemic to Luzon
  • Ophiophagus bungarus (Palawan)

Family Viperidae

• These include pit vipers.
• They are highly poisonous, have triangular heads, thick bodies, and short tails.
• Examples include:
  • Northern Philippine temple pit viper (Tropidolaemus subannulatus)
  • Southern Philippine temple pit viper (Tropidolaemus philippinensis)
  • Philippine pit viper (Trimeresurus flavomacalatus)
  • Batanes pit viper (Trimeresurus mcgregorii)
  • Palawan pit viper (Trimeresurus Schultzei) - All are venomous species

Family Hydrophidae 


• This family includes sea snakes.
• All are venomous, have paddle-shaped tails, and are highly aquatic.
• Examples include:
  • Laticauda, Hydrophis, Aisphyrus

Family Cheloniidae

• These are sea turtles with bony carapace, plastron, and non-retractable heads and necks.

Family Dermochelyidae


• These are leatherback turtles with a fusiform body and lack a bony shell.
• They are characterized by a leathery carapace.
• Examples include:
  • Dermochelys coriacea

Family Emydidae

• These are terrestrial to freshwater, small to moderate-sized turtles.
• Examples include:
  • Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) - also known as the red-eared terrapin
  • Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)


Family Trionychidae

• Known as softshell turtles, these turtles have flat, pancake-shaped bodies.
• They have a protruding head with a snorkel-like snout.
• These turtles are excellent swimmers with strong webbed feet.
• Examples include:
  • Malayan Softshell Turtle
  • Asian Giant Softshell Turtle
  • Chinese Softshell Turtle

Family Geoemylidae

• These are semi-aquatic, old-world pond turtles found in Asia.
• Examples include:
  • Cuora, Cyclemys and Siebenrockiella

Family Cuora

• Examples include:
  • Cuora amboinensis amboinensis Southeast Asian Box Turtle
  • Cuora amboinensis kamaroma Domed-Southeast Asian Box Turtle
  • Cuora philippinensis - Philippine Box Turtle

Family Cyclemys

• Examples include:
  • Cyclemys dentata - Asian Leaf Turtle
  • Hosea spinosa Spiny Turtle

Family Siebenrockiella

• Examples include:
  • Siebenrockiella leytensis - Philippine Forest Turtle

Order Crocodilia

• These are known for having nasal and oral cavity separation, a four-chambered heart, slit-like pupils adapted for nighttime vision, and lack of Jacobson’s organ.
• They are further divided into three families:
  • Crocodylida
  • Alligatorida
  • Gavialidae

Resources

• The text suggests using available resources to create a database or checklist of reptiles and amphibians found in your area.

This quiz explores invasive frog species such as the American Bullfrog and their impact on biodiversity. Additionally, it covers the distinctive features of Philippine frogs, focusing on male coloration and mating behaviors. Test your knowledge on these amphibians and their classification.