Philippine Amphibians Quiz

Philippine Amphibians

• Philippine amphibians are diverse, with different species in various habitats.
• High species diversity is concentrated in Frogland.
• The number of amphibian species varies across different areas in the Philippines.
• The distribution of species varies depending on the specific environment.
• Order Anura and Gymnophiona are present in the Philippines.
• Caecilians are only in Palawan, Mindanao (Mt. Malindang, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Davao)
• Frogs and Toads are the most common in the Philippines.

Endemic Amphibian Areas

• A map displays endemic amphibian areas, specifically highlighting "Frogland."
• The map includes a color scale showing the number of species in different regions.

General Habits and Distribution

• Species prefer a wide variety of habitats including all forests, savannas, grasslands, shrublands, artificial terrestrial habitats, flowing freshwater, marshes/swamps, still freshwater, and deserts.
• The chart shows the number of non-threatened and threatened species in each habitat type.

Philippine Caecilians

• Caecilians are forest-dwellers.
• They are found in shallow depths of humus soil and beneath rotting logs.
• Their altitudinal range extends from sea level to approximately 1000 masl.
• Larvae are found in mountain streams.

Philippine Anurans

• Anurans occupy a variety of habitats.
• They prefer areas with suitable plant cover, moisture, and are found near human settlements, cultivated areas, and in various microhabitats within forests.

Philippine Frogs

• Frogs are typically arboreal.
• Their fingers and toes have expanded tips with developed webs.
• They inhabit tropical rainforests, specifically in microhabitats such as aerial ferns, Pandanus, and aroid plants.

Examples of Species Inhabiting Both Forest and Cleared Areas

• Species like Polypedates leucomystax, Kaloula conjuncta, and Kaloula picta live in both forests and cleared areas.

Frogs Limited to Open Cultivated Areas

• Fejervaria cancrivora, Fejervaria limnocharis, and Hylarana erythraea are found in open cultivated areas.

Forest Species Adapted to Man-Made Ecosystems

• Platymantis dorsalis and Platymantis corrugatus thrive in man-made ecosystems.

Elevation

• The elevation of the species ranges from sea level to 2,000 masl.
• Species like Ansonia and Rhacophorus inhabit altitudes in this range

Burrowers

• Kaloula and Occidozyga are burrowers.

Aquatic in Habit

• Occidozyga laevis, Staurois natator, and Barbourula busuangensis are aquatic or near-aquatic.

Aquatic Arboreal Species

• Sanguirana everetti is an arboreal species that also lives in or near aquatic habitats

Breeding Season

• Some species have definite breeding seasons (e.g., Rana cancrivora, Kaloula conjuncta)
• Others breed continuously throughout the year (e.g., Rana erythraea, Ooeidozyga laevis)
• Species like Platymantis, Sanguirana everetti, and Limnonectes leytensis have no definite breeding season.

Life Histories: Reproductive Modes

• Eggs and larvae are found in temporary ponds, pools in mountain streams, and slow-flowing streams.
• Eggs are sometimes in foam nests above temporary ponds or pools, with larvae then found in ponds or pools.
• Oviposition site for some species is unknown; potentially over water-filled holes in trees.
• Eggs are also found in leaf axils of plants like Pandanus, in bird's nest ferns and Pandanus (direct development), in soil (direct development), in aerial ferns (direct development), and in leaf axils of screw pines (direct development ).

Life Histories: Pelophryne brevipes

• Pelophryne brevipes lays eggs in small volumes of water in leaf axils.
• Tadpoles rely entirely on the yolk for nutrition.
• They lack external gills and use vascularized tail fins for respiration.

Life Histories: Platymantis spp.

• Platymantis spp. lay eggs in non-aquatic situations.
• Development is entirely within the egg capsules, with distinctive differences in limb development stages.
• They use large abdominal sacs for respiration and depend solely on egg yolk for sustenance during development.

Longevity

• Hylarana erythraea lives about four years.
• Fejervaria cancrivora lives about three years.

Frog Calls

• Amphibians communicate using mating, warning, distress, and release calls.

Vocalization

• Frog calls are primarily composed of 3 or fewer notes, lasting less than 2 seconds and potentially repeated in short sets.
• Calls use a frequency range of 40–4000 Hz, which enables good sound projection and avoiding acoustic interference from other sounds.
• The loudness of the call is not determined by size.

Frog Courtship

• Courtship primarily involves auditory signals (vocalizations).
• Male calls attract and help locate females.
• Further signals continue once the female is near the male.
• Specific behaviors, for example, some Bufo stop calling and grasp any female nearby while Hyla will amplex the female after physical contact
• Polypedates leucomystax requires female to situate themselves in front of the male.

Interspecific Amplexus: Kalophrynus sinensis and Occidozyga laevis

• Amplexus between these species occurs.
• Notes about the interactions based on studies.

Parental Care

• Parental care is observed in Limnonectes leytensis.
• Adult frogs have been observed sitting on top of the eggs for care.

Aestivation

• Occidozyga laevis and Fejervaria cancrivora aestivate during dry seasons.
• They find shelter in mud or wet soil.

Feeding Habits

• Larvae of some amphibians are filter feeders (Megophrys monticola, Kaloula conjuncta), or algae-scrapers.
• Adult amphibians are primarily carnivorous and frequently utilize their sense of sight and smell to locate prey.

Escape and Defense

• Some amphibians exude water from their cloacas.
• They may become limp when held, but then forcefully push themselves away.
• Some species inflate their bodies to deter predators.
• Secretions and defenses strategies against predator.