The Frog Blog: What's that NOISE?

If you visit the Conservatory to see Working Model for Standing Figure Knife Edge you may find yourself serenaded. That's because the Conservatory is teaming with frogs and other critters. I highly recommend you stop by at night. The chorus is crazy loud, and the subdued lighting makes the theatrically lit piece "pop" even more. Some folks are able to find the tiny frogs (1/2" or so?) by following their sound. I not that talented and require a guide...someone like our amphibian conservation scientist, Dante Fenolio, who submitted today's blog:

Epipedobates tricolor with tadpoles

The Conservatory is home to a number of free ranging amphibians and reptiles. Visitors get to experience the loud trill-like vocalizations of poison frogs during the day. For example, we have quite a population of Phantasmal Poison Frogs hopping around that make their presence obvious through their loud calls. These small frogs (roughly an inch in total length) are rust to maroon in color with stripes (full or broken) that range from mint green to pale blue in color. Originally from Ecuador, males of this species vocalize to attract potential mates and to advertise territorial boundaries to potential rivals. Females deposit a clutch of eggs on the damp forest floor. Males allow the hatching tadpoles to squirm onto their backs, after which they carry them to a pond. The tadpoles develop in the pool form that point onward. The presence of free ranging amphibian populations in the Conservatory is special because the Garden’s frogs represented the first free ranging population of poison frogs displayed in the United States.

Eleutherodactylus coqui calling

As the sun sets, the cast of characters in our Conservatory changes. Just as our poison frogs are settling down for a nights rest, Puerto Rican Coqui Frogs, Green House Frogs, and Tokay Geckos begin to stir and to fill the night air with their vocalizations. The Coqui Frogs are famous on the island of Puerto Rico for their two tone call. We have hundreds of these frogs living in the conservatory and the chorus that they create on warm summer evenings can be deafening. Adding to the chorus are the repetitive peeps that Greenhouse Frogs produce. Not to be outdone, the Tokay Geckos produce a loud two part bark that can’t be missed. For those that haven’t experienced a tropical forest at night, our Conservatory is certainly a good introductory experience.

Exposing the public to a realistic representation of a tropical forest, through our Conservatory, is important to the conservation mission at the Garden. When people experience the feel of a tropical forest, we hope that they will begin to develop an appreciation for the complexity and the beauty these forests have. Following suit, we hope that folks will support conservation efforts to conserve these rapidly dwindling natural resources. Special moonlight tours are often offered via our website. With flashlight in hand, we like to offer these nocturnal experiences which expose the public to a fantastic resource that all Atlantans have in their own back yard. If you have a chance, please check in with the website from time to time and come by to experience the amphibians and reptiles in our Conservatory at night.