Tag Archives: frogs

Maud Island Frogs are Making a Comeback

A piece of good news in the International Year of the Frog: a rare and threatened species of frog in New Zealand is making a comeback. New Zealand is home to four native frog species. The rarest — Hamilton’s frog — numbers less than three hundred total. The Maud Island frogs — numbering around forty thousand — are breeding for the first time in recorded history, giving hope for other frog species. You read that right — Maud Island frogs have NEVER been found breeding before. A few facts about Maud Island frogs: They are normally found on only two … Continue reading →

International Year of the Frog

Just in time for Leap Year! (Har har.) 2008 has been declared the International Year of the Frog. The idea is to address the problem of amphibian extinction — including frogs, toads, and salamanders. Zoos, aquarium, government agencies, and volunteers are making 2008 a year of a major public education effort. The bad news for frogs, toads, and salamanders: Nearly one third of all known species of amphibian are in serious decline. There are approximately six thousand known species — that means about two thousand species are in trouble. Within the next five years, we could lose nearly five hundred … Continue reading →

Children’s Picture Books about Animals

Children and animals seem to have a connection – they head straight for each other at every opportunity. Today I’m reading two picture books that contain animals. “Kittens, Kittens, Kittens” by Susan Meyers, illustrated by David Walker shows us many different kinds of kittens, from orange ones to gray ones, little and big, fluffy and not fluffy. Some are slender, sleek and shiny, and the newborns are as soft as silk. They bounce, pounce and mew – they’re everywhere! They chase toys, take naps, drink their milk, and go on trips. They love to snuggle and even climb trees. They … Continue reading →

The Pets Blog Week in Review for Jun 18-24

Another week has passed, summer arrived, and there was no Moose, Lally, Murphy, Kitty or Tabby chaos to report. (Phew!) Which means it was a quiet, yet productive, week here in the Pets Blog. Here’s what Aimee and I covered on: Monday, June 18 Were you curious how Murphy, Tabby, and Kitty did for Father’s Day? If so, you’ll be happy to know all went well. Tuesday, June 19 Did you know the Queen of England is a royal dog lover? I didn’t, but of all the things to learn about her after watching the movie “The Queen” that was … Continue reading →

White’s Tree Frogs

Want a frog that will be docile and tolerate handling? White’s tree frogs are that and more. Size: Approximately four to five inches long when fully grown. Color: Ranges from green to blue-green to aqua. Skin: These frogs have a waxy coating on their skin that helps them retain moisture. It also allows them to tolerate arid conditions and careful handling. Lifespan: White’s tree frogs are long lived — life spans as long as twenty years have been reported, though fifteen years is more typical. Also known as the dumpy tree frog, White’s tree frogs are native to Australia, Indonesia, … Continue reading →

Dwarf Clawed Frogs

A great frog for beginners is the dwarf clawed frog. The most common species found in pet stores is Hymenchirus boettgeri. Size: Between one and two inches long when adult. Color: Most often light brown/grey with darker spots. Sometimes light in color. Feet: Front feet are webbed. (Larger clawed frogs do not have webbed front feet.) Life span: Average life span is five years. You don’t need a huge tank to keep dwarf clawed frogs. Figure on about a gallon of water/space for each frog. Dwarf clawed frogs can live in groups and/or with community fish that are approximately the … Continue reading →

Frogs As Pets

Interested in an amphibian for a pet? Don’t cross frogs off your list just yet. A frog can be a long-lived and interesting pet for your family! Things to consider: Lifespan. With proper care a pet frog can live anywhere from four to fifteen years — and some have lived even longer! You may be taking care of your pet frog for a long time to come; this is not a commitment to take lightly. Habitats. Different types of frog need different types of habitat. Many frogs need semi-aquatic tanks (half land and half water) that are difficult to set … Continue reading →

Froggy Books by Jonathan London

I enjoy Froggy. With his great facial expressions and innocent view on life, he charms me and makes me laugh all at the same time. Let’s start with “Froggy Gets Dressed.” Froggy wakes up and sees snow falling on the ground outside. He leaps out of bed and starts getting dressed. Hat, coat, boots, gloves – but wait! Froggy forgot something! Running back into the house, he takes everything off and starts from scratch, this time remembering to put on his underwear. (Puffin, 1992.) Next, “Froggy Learns to Swim.” It’s a hot day outside and Froggy’s mother thinks the weather’s … Continue reading →

Passover – Seder and Haggadah

The main part to Passover is the Seder. The word Seder means order and if you have ever been to a Passover Seder, you have observed the order which is followed. It begins with speaking and teaching about the Seder plate and what each symbol means and ends with songs and praises about celebrating next Pesach in Jerusalem (for the Jews in America). In the US, Jews celebrate with a Passover Seder for the first two nights while in Israel, Jews only celebrate for one night. The Haggadah is the book which is read at the Seder table and explains … Continue reading →