Frogs | Anura

Frogs | Anura

Description
Description

Anura, comprised of frogs or toads, is the most diverse of the three existing amphibian orders. There is no formal distinction between frogs and toads, just that toads are typically a more warty frog species. Frogs live in every biome except in extremely dry deserts and polar regions, however, their species diversity is most abundant in the tropics. Frogs are typically carnivores though some eat fruit, and all adult frogs, except one species, do not have tails—thus where the the name Anura, meaning “without tail,” came from. There are about 4,000 different species of frogs with the earliest known fossils dating back to the Jurassic period.

Anatomy
Anatomy

Frogs are known for their distinct anatomy. They have a compact, robust body, large eyes for keen vision, and a wide mouth. Notably, their long, powerful hind legs are adapted for exceptional jumping and swimming abilities. Their skin is smooth, moist, and often brightly colored, playing a role in respiration and protection through toxins. Frogs communicate using a diverse range of vocalizations, especially during mating season. Their acute hearing aids in detecting these calls. Tactile sense is also well-developed, assisting in navigation and prey capture. These biological qualities make frogs fascinating and highly adapted amphibians.

Human Interaction
Human Interaction

Frogs have captivated humans for centuries, symbolizing transformation and purity in various cultures. Their distinctive croaks echo in folklore and fairy tales, often portrayed as magical creatures. In modern pop culture, characters like Kermit the Frog have charmed audiences worldwide. Scientifically, frogs are vital for ecological balance, controlling insect populations and serving as bioindicators due to their sensitivity to environmental changes.

Unfortunately, their numbers are declining globally, prompting significant conservation efforts. Initiatives include habitat preservation, pollution control, and research into diseases like chytridiomycosis. Protecting frogs is crucial not only for biodiversity but also for maintaining the health of ecosystems where they play a key role.

Common Questions
Common Questions
What do frogs eat?

Frogs are carnivores. A smaller frog’s diet consists of insects like flies, mosquitoes, moths, spiders, and dragonflies. Larger frogs also eat insects like grasshoppers, butterflies, and worms, and may even eat small snakes, mice, baby turtles, and other smaller frogs.

How do frogs reproduce?

Frogs reproduce by the male and female frog getting into the mating posture, amplexus, to make sure the eggs become fertilized. Egg fertilization happens outside of the female’s body when she releases her eggs and the male releases his sperm at the same time. The eggs are then placed in water and will hatch into tadpoles which later become frogs.

Why do frogs croak?

In almost all frog species it is the males that croak and they do so to attract female frogs. Males frogs tend to croak while they are in or near a water source (ponds, dams, streams, or wetlands) with the intention of mating. Each frog species has a different croak and can be identified by it.

.67”-1.02” | 1.7-2.6 cm
.83”-1.34” | 2.1-3.4 cm
2”-3” | 5.1-7.6 cm
.05-.07 oz | 1.5-2 g
8-15 years
African Dwarf Frog
2.600
3.400
7.600
0.002
15.00
36800
GUIDE
3D
African Dwarf Frog
1.65”-2.56” | 4.2-6.5 cm
1.14”-1.85” | 2.9-4.7 cm
2.5”-4” | 6.4-10.2 cm
.14-.18 oz | 4-5 g
5-10 years
Amazon Milk Frog
6.500
4.700
10.200
0.005
10.00
18400
GUIDE
3D
Amazon Milk Frog
2.24”-3.9” | 5.7-9.9 cm
1.69”-2.87” | 4.3-7.3 cm
3.5”-6” | 8.9-15.2 cm
1-1.8 lb | .45-.82 kg
7-16 years
American Bullfrog
9.900
7.300
15.200
0.820
16.00
19700
GUIDE
3D
American Bullfrog
.98”-1.73” | 2.5-4.4 cm
.67”-1.18” | 1.7-3 cm
1.5”-2.5” | 3.8-6.4 cm
.28-.32 oz | 8-9 g
10-20 years
Blue Poison Dart Frog
4.400
3.000
6.400
0.009
20.00
9500
GUIDE
3D
Blue Poison Dart Frog
1.97”-3.27” | 5-8.3 cm
1.73”-2.87” | 4.4-7.3 cm
3”-5” | 7.6-12.7 cm
.7-2.8 oz | 20-79 g
10-40 years
Common Toad
8.300
7.300
12.700
0.079
40.00
19400
GUIDE
3D
Common Toad
1.3”-1.65” | 3.3-4.2 cm
.79”-1.02” | 2-2.6 cm
1.75”-2.2” | 4.4-5.6 cm
.5-1 oz | 14-28 g
10-20 years
Golden Poison Frog
4.200
2.600
5.600
0.028
20.00
13800
GUIDE
3D
Golden Poison Frog
4.13”-7.91” | 10.5-20.1 cm
4.69”-8.82” | 11.9-22.4 cm
6.7”-12.6” | 17-32 cm
7-7.4 lb | 3.2-3.4 kg
15-21 years
Goliath Frog
20.100
22.400
32.000
3.400
21.00
25200
GUIDE
3D
Goliath Frog
.94”-1.57” | 2.4-4 cm
1.06”-1.81” | 2.7-4.6 cm
1.8”-3” | 4.5-7.6 cm
.05-.07 oz | 1.5-2 g
5-6 years
Mink Frog
4.000
4.600
7.600
0.002
6.00
1210
GUIDE
3D
Mink Frog
.98”-2.24” | 2.5-5.7 cm
.87”-2” | 2.2-5.1 cm
2”-4.5” | 5.1-11.4 cm
.75-1 oz | 21-28 g
3-9 years
Northern Leopard Frog
5.700
5.100
11.400
0.028
9.00
5090
GUIDE
3D
Northern Leopard Frog
.8”-1.57” | 2-4 cm
.67”-1.34” | 1.7-3.4 cm
1.75”-3.5” | 4.4-8.9 cm
.09-.12 oz | 2.5-3.5 g
5-8 years
Pickerel Frog
4.000
3.400
8.900
0.004
8.00
5820
GUIDE
3D
Pickerel Frog
1.22”-1.77” | 3.1-4.5 cm
.91”-1.5” | 2.3-3.8 cm
2”-3” | 5.1-7.6 cm
.2-.5 oz | 2.8-14 g
4-12 years
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
4.500
3.800
7.600
0.014
12.00
34300
GUIDE
3D
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
.51”-.87” | 1.3-2.2 cm
.43”-.71” | 1.1-1.8 cm
.8”-1.3” | 2-3.3 cm
.1-.2 oz | 2.8-5.7 g
2-3 years
Spring Peeper
2.200
1.800
3.300
0.006
3.00
9050
GUIDE
3D
Spring Peeper
.71”-1.42” | 1.8-3.6 cm
.55”-1.14” | 1.4-2.9 cm
1.4”-2.8” | 3.6-7.1 cm
.3-.5 oz | 8.5-14 g
3-5 years
Wood Frog
3.600
2.900
7.100
0.014
5.00
16150
GUIDE
3D
Wood Frog
African Dwarf Frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri)
Scale illustration of an average African Dwarf Frog compared to other frog species

The African dwarf frog, Hymenochirus, is an aquatic frog native to Equatorial Africa. It is often mistaken for the African clawed frog, a frog in the same family of similar appearance. The African dwarf frog is also known as the dwarf clawed frog, and its common name references their place of origin and the claws on their front legs. Physically they are small in size and vary in color- from olive green to brown with black spots. They do not have a tongue or teeth and are completely aquatic, and because of their low maintenance, they are desirable pets.

The African Dwarf Frog has an overall length between 2”-3” (5.1-7.6 cm), body width of .83”-1.34” (2.1-3.4 cm), sitting height of roughly .67”-1.02” (1.7-2.6 cm), and weight between .05-.07 oz (1.5-2 g). The typical lifespan of the African Dwarf Frog is between 8-15 years.

Series of top and side view illustrations of the African Dwarf Frog
The African dwarf frog, Hymenochirus, is an aquatic frog native to Equatorial Africa. It is often mistaken for the African clawed frog, a frog in the same family of similar appearance. The African dwarf frog is also known as the dwarf clawed frog.

The African Dwarf Frog has an overall length between 2”-3” (5.1-7.6 cm), body width of .83”-1.34” (2.1-3.4 cm), sitting height of roughly .67”-1.02” (1.7-2.6 cm), and weight between .05-.07 oz (1.5-2 g). The typical lifespan of the African Dwarf Frog is between 8-15 years.

Series of top and side view illustrations of the African Dwarf Frog
African Dwarf Frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri)
Height:
.67”-1.02” | 1.7-2.6 cm
Width:
.83”-1.34” | 2.1-3.4 cm
Length:
2”-3” | 5.1-7.6 cm
Depth:
Weight:
.05-.07 oz | 1.5-2 g
Area:
Scientific Name
Hymenochirus boettgeri
Lifespan
8-15 years

Drawings include:

African Dwarf Frog side elevation, front, plan

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Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
Comparison drawing of the Golden Poison Frog compared to other frogs

The golden poison frog, Phyllobates terribilis, is a poison dart frog that lives in the humid forest of the Pacific coast of Colombia in the Cauca and Valle del Cauca Departments in the Choco Rainforest. Due to destruction of the rainforests, the habitat is limited in size, and the golden poison frog is on international endangered species lists. They are small in size and bright in color, but they are lethally toxic. Their main source of food are ants, but they also eat small invertebrates and other insects. Local indigenous cultures use the frogs’ poison in darts for hunting.

The Golden Poison Frog has an overall length between 1.75”-2.2” (4.4-5.6 cm), body width of .79”-1.02” (2-2.6 cm), sitting height of roughly 1.3”-1.65” (3.3-4.2 cm), and weight between .5-1 oz (14-28 g). The typical lifespan of the Golden Poison Frog is between 10-20 years.

Set of scaled top view drawings of the Golden Poison Frog
The golden poison frog, Phyllobates terribilis, is a poison dart frog that lives in the humid forest of the Pacific coast of Colombia in the Cauca and Valle del Cauca Departments in the Choco Rainforest. Due to destruction of the rainforests, the golden poison frog is international endangered.

The Golden Poison Frog has an overall length between 1.75”-2.2” (4.4-5.6 cm), body width of .79”-1.02” (2-2.6 cm), sitting height of roughly 1.3”-1.65” (3.3-4.2 cm), and weight between .5-1 oz (14-28 g). The typical lifespan of the Golden Poison Frog is between 10-20 years.

Set of scaled top view drawings of the Golden Poison Frog
Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
Height:
1.3”-1.65” | 3.3-4.2 cm
Width:
.79”-1.02” | 2-2.6 cm
Length:
1.75”-2.2” | 4.4-5.6 cm
Depth:
Weight:
.5-1 oz | 14-28 g
Area:
Scientific Name
Phyllobates terribilis
Lifespan
10-20 years

Drawings include:

Golden Poison Frog side elevation, front, plan

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3D Downloads

Goliath Frog (Conraua goliath)
Scale illustration of an average Goliath Frog compared to other frog species

The goliath frog, Conraua goliath, is the largest living frog. They can be found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, but the population is decreasing due to habitat destruction and its desirability for food and the pet trade. Physically, they have fully webbed toes; their dorsal coloration is green sienna, and the abdomen and ventral part of the limbs are yellow and orange. As tadpoles, they are herbivorous and feed on one aquatic plant, Dicraela wamingil, but adult goliath frogs eat spiders, worms, insects, smaller frogs, crabs, baby turtles, and young snakes.

The Goliath Frog has an overall length between 6.7”-12.6” (17-32 cm), body width of 4.69”-8.82” (11.9-22.4 cm), sitting height of roughly 4.13”-7.91” (10.5-20.1 cm), and weight between 7-7.4 lb (3.2-3.4 kg). The typical lifespan of the Goliath Frog is between 15-21 years.

Series of top and side view illustrations of the Goliath Frog
The goliath frog, Conraua goliath, is the largest living frog. They can be found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, but the population is decreasing due to habitat destruction and its desirability for food and the pet trade. Physically, their dorsal coloration is green sienna.

The Goliath Frog has an overall length between 6.7”-12.6” (17-32 cm), body width of 4.69”-8.82” (11.9-22.4 cm), sitting height of roughly 4.13”-7.91” (10.5-20.1 cm), and weight between 7-7.4 lb (3.2-3.4 kg). The typical lifespan of the Goliath Frog is between 15-21 years.

Series of top and side view illustrations of the Goliath Frog
Goliath Frog (Conraua goliath)
Height:
4.13”-7.91” | 10.5-20.1 cm
Width:
4.69”-8.82” | 11.9-22.4 cm
Length:
6.7”-12.6” | 17-32 cm
Depth:
Weight:
7-7.4 lb | 3.2-3.4 kg
Area:
Scientific Name
Conraua goliath
Lifespan
15-21 years

Drawings include:

Goliath Frog side elevation, front, plan

Downloads

2D Downloads

3D Downloads

Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)
Scale illustration of an average Pickerel Frog compared to other frog species

The pickerel frog, Lithobates palustris, is a small North American frog known for its appearance of seemingly ”hand-drawn” squares on its dorsal surface; there are seven to twenty-one of these rectangular dark brown spots in two columns down its back. They like to live near cold and clear water, and prefer rocky ravines, bogs, and meadow streams, but they can also be found in heavily wooded lakes and rivers. Their diet consists of ants, spiders, beetles, sawfly larvae, and other invertebrates, and the pickerel frog will catch its prey in grassy areas next to bodies of water.

The Pickerel Frog has an overall length between 1.75”-3.5” (4.4-8.9 cm), body width of .67”-1.34” (1.7-3.4 cm), sitting height of roughly .8”-1.57” (2-4 cm), and weight between .09-.12 oz (2.5-3.5 g). The typical lifespan of the Pickerel Frog is between 5-8 years.

Series of top and side view illustrations of the Pickerel Frog
The pickerel frog, Lithobates palustris, is a small North American frog known for its appearance of seemingly ”hand-drawn” squares on its dorsal surface; there are seven to twenty-one of these rectangular dark brown spots in two columns down its back. They like to live near cold and clear water.

The Pickerel Frog has an overall length between 1.75”-3.5” (4.4-8.9 cm), body width of .67”-1.34” (1.7-3.4 cm), sitting height of roughly .8”-1.57” (2-4 cm), and weight between .09-.12 oz (2.5-3.5 g). The typical lifespan of the Pickerel Frog is between 5-8 years.

Series of top and side view illustrations of the Pickerel Frog
Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)
Height:
.8”-1.57” | 2-4 cm
Width:
.67”-1.34” | 1.7-3.4 cm
Length:
1.75”-3.5” | 4.4-8.9 cm
Depth:
Weight:
.09-.12 oz | 2.5-3.5 g
Area:
Scientific Name
Lithobates palustris
Lifespan
5-8 years

Drawings include:

Pickerel Frog side elevation, front, plan

Downloads

2D Downloads

3D Downloads

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Comparison drawing of the Spring Peeper compared to other frogs

The spring peeper, Psuedacris crucifer, is a small chorus frog that is widespread throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Their chirping call, similar to that of a young chicken, marks the beginning of spring. The eggs and tadpoles need to be supported by an aquatic environment such as marshes, ponds, or swamp regions. They can tolerate the freezing of some of their body fluids, and they hibernate under logs or behind loose-bark on trees. Spring peepers are nocturnal insectivores, as they consume small invertebrates like beetles, ants, flies, and spiders.

The Spring Peeper has an overall length between .8”-1.3” (2-3.3 cm), body width of .43”-.71” (1.1-1.8 cm), sitting height of roughly .51”-.87” (1.3-2.2 cm), and weight between .1-.2 oz (2.8-5.7 g). The typical lifespan of the Spring Peeper is between 2-3 years.

Set of scaled top and side view drawings of the Spring Peeper
The spring peeper, Psuedacris crucifer, is a small chorus frog that is widespread throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Their chirping call, similar to that of a young chicken, marks the beginning of spring. The eggs and tadpoles need to be supported by aquatic environments.

The Spring Peeper has an overall length between .8”-1.3” (2-3.3 cm), body width of .43”-.71” (1.1-1.8 cm), sitting height of roughly .51”-.87” (1.3-2.2 cm), and weight between .1-.2 oz (2.8-5.7 g). The typical lifespan of the Spring Peeper is between 2-3 years.

Set of scaled top and side view drawings of the Spring Peeper
Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Height:
.51”-.87” | 1.3-2.2 cm
Width:
.43”-.71” | 1.1-1.8 cm
Length:
.8”-1.3” | 2-3.3 cm
Depth:
Weight:
.1-.2 oz | 2.8-5.7 g
Area:
Scientific Name
Pseudacris crucifer
Lifespan
2-3 years

Drawings include:

Spring Peeper side elevation, front, plan

Downloads

2D Downloads

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