Trivia question for May-31-2011

Olivia read the name of these guys and wanted us to explain why they are called what they are called.  I will tell you what she said tomorrow when we list the answer.

Five separate species of these toads are found across western Europe, northern Africa, and Majorca. Shy, nocturnal animals, they give away their presence by their ringing call. During the day, they hide under stones and logs or in underground tunnels. It often hides in dry, sandy soil, which it finds easier to dig into using its forelegs and snout. It emerges at dusk to forage for food, but always returns to the same hiding places before dawn. During the winter, they hibernate in its hole or in a burrow that has been deserted by a small animal.

So here are Olivia’s questions:  Tell us what these guys are called and tell us what is different about their tongues compared to other toads.  Also, these toads are considered ‘Endangered’, tell us what the main threat is and what is being done to help rejuvenate their population in their range.

Good Luck 😉

Answer:

Well, Olivia did it again.  No correct answers to her trivia.  We love all the guesses and especially the funny comments.  The toad we featured is the Midwife Toad.  When we explained to Olivia why they were called Midwife Toads, she scratched her head and asked why a toad needed more than one wife…;-)

Midwife toads are found in most of Europe and northwestern Africa. Characteristic of these toad-like frogs is their parental care: the males carry a string of fertilized eggs on their back, hence the name “midwife”. The female expels a strand of eggs, which the male fertilizes externally. He then wraps them around his legs to protect them from predators in the water. When they are ready to hatch, the male wades into shallow water, where he allows the tadpoles to leap out of their eggs.

Their tongue is connected at the rear of the mouth, similar to mammals.  Midwife toads are endangered, and their numbers are declining due to habitat destruction.  As woodlands are cleared and breeding pools drained, the midwife toads are forced to move, and many do not survive.  Conservation programs include releasing captive-bred toads into habitats where toads numbers have declined.  The program has increased populations on the island of Majorca.  Here is more on these unique toads: Midwife Toad

Thanks for playing along 😉