Feb 29 - International Day of the Frog

Feb 29 - International Day of the Frog

Neurergus kaiseri larvae

Now quite mobile and feeding well on brine shrimp, Daphnia and tiny white worms:

I said they were difficult to photograph!

Semi-aquatic tanks for newts

I was talking to Patrick Ouwehand about the semi-aquatic tank in which I breed Neurergus kaiseri and he asked me how I created the land area:

The tank is 60 x 45 cm and the land area is created from a 30 x 30 cm natural sandstone paving slab and a 30 x 15 cm piece of slate (along the back), supported above the water by clay flower pots. There are pieces of corkbark to create hides on the islands. These are covered with Java moss (Vesicularia dubyana) and pothos (Epipremnum aureum). In the water there is Java moss, Java fern (Microsorum pteropus) and hornwort (Ceratophylum demersum).

The kaiseri are only in this tank during the breeding season (1-2 months) which follows the winter cooling period I give them. While it is possible to keep this species permanently in a semi-aquatic setup, this is so far from their natural environment that I personally don't think this is a good idea. Also, I'm not sure what the effects on breeding would be, so for the rest of the year, they live here:

Beelzebufo

Madagascar has a diverse but mainly endemic frog fauna, the biogeographic history of which has generated intense debate, fueled by recent molecular phylogenetic analyses and the near absence of a fossil record. Here, we describe a recently discovered Late Cretaceous anuran that differs strikingly in size and morphology from extant Malagasy taxa and is unrelated either to them or to the predicted occupants of the Madagascar–Seychelles–India landmass when it separated from Africa 160 million years ago (Mya). Instead, the previously undescribed anuran is attributed to the Ceratophryinae, a clade previously considered endemic to South America. The discovery offers a rare glimpse of the anuran assemblage that occupied Madagascar before the Tertiary radiation of mantellids and microhylids that now dominate the anuran fauna. In addition, the presence of a ceratophryine provides support for a controversial paleobiogeographical model that posits physical and biotic links among Madagascar, the Indian subcontinent, and South America that persisted well into the Late Cretaceous. It also suggests that the initial radiation of hyloid anurans began earlier than proposed by some recent estimates.

A giant frog with South American affinities from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar
PNAS USA, February 19, 2008

Neurergus kaiseri update

This year's Neurergus kaiseri larvae have hatched and are developing well, now free swimming and eating brine shrimp and Daphnia. They have been a little slow developing because it has been so cold in the UK for the last two weeks and the water in their tank has been quite cold, but they seem to be OK. The only problem is, that they are a bit small to photograph at present (I tried, they just look like blurs), so to tide you over until they are more photogenic, here's a slideshow of some of last year's youngsters, doing very well under the care of Coen Deurloo:



Coen reminded me to tell you that Jen recently updated the Caudata.org caresheet for Neurergus kaiseri, so if you want to read pretty much all there is to know about keeping this species, here it is.

Phelsuma klemmeri hatchlings

RSS subscribers - visit site to watch the video

I have some good news

More to follow shortly:

Frogs For Sale, UK Only - SOLD

Update: SOLD. More tadpoles in the water but it wil be some months before they are ready.

Dendrobates tinctorius Patricia: 3-6 months old, currently ~25mm SVL. Not sexable at this age. £25 each. Delivery possible:

Please email if interested.

Leaf Litter Magazine

The latest issue of TWI's magazine Leaf Litter magazine is now available. The purpose of Leaf Litter is not only to inform, but also encourage discussion and action regarding:

• captive amphibian husbandry
• trips and expeditions to native amphibian habitat
• issues and projects concerning amphibian conservation

Contents in this issue include:

• Urban Wetlands
• Adapting Quarantine Practices to the Amphibian Hobbyist's Collection
• Tarapoto: Impressions
• Life in the Treetops
• Spindly Leg Syndrome: A Review

And all gorgeously illustrated. If you're a serious amphibian hobbyist, can you afford not to subscribe to Leaf Litter?