During a recent trip to Suriname, I was able to spend a few days at the Nassau Mountains in the northeastern part of the country. This small (ca. 20 x 20 square kilometers), isolated mountain range consists of four plateaus with a maximum elevation of about 570 m. As these mountains are home to two endemic subspecies of beautifully colored anurans, the target was clear. Continue reading
The adult common frogs and toads (Rana temporaria and Bufo bufo respecitively) are already back in their land habitat for a while, but they have left their offspring in the water. These can be observed Continue reading
From Bell, T. and Darwin, C.R. (1843) Reptiles Part 5 No. 2 of The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle. Smith Elder and Co, London: Continue reading
During a sunny day at the end of March, one can usually observe thousands of tadpoles in the shallow waters inhabited by amphibians, but this year proofs to be different. I went back to the same pond for some underwater photography, but as it was partially covered with ice upon arrival, it did not look very promising. Besides egg strings Continue reading
Yesterday I went underwater for the first time. The weather had been good for some days and on several locations the amphibians had started their yearly spring migration. On the location I visited together with Rollin Verlinde, the first common toads (Bufo bufo) had already entered the water, but the majority still have to arrive. Some males had already found their first female, Continue reading
Among the frogs of Chile, the genus Eupsophus (ground frogs) is one of the most species rich groups. All species have a typical anuran body plan, but they have a remarkable reproductive behaviour. During the reproductive season, males construct a network Continue reading