This frog spends most of its time underwater, but has no gills.  Instead, it uses the surface of its skin to breathe.  This is possible because it has evolved plenty of folds and wrinkles to increase skin surface area.   Lake Titicaca is a high altitude lake in Peru, with thin, oxygen-poor air and burning ultraviolet rays — best to stay submerged in the soothing reeds and plant-covered lake bottom!  (Makes sense to me….)

(special thanks to Brad Wilson, DVM for taking this great photograph!)

These gentle giants are baggy, saggy, blotchy, dinner-plate-sized hunters that can catch small fish.  They are a critically endangered species, prized by the locals as a food and as an aphrodesiac.  Read this short article, In the Land of the Giant Frogs, for more interesting information about this animal.

Quick: Name the five types of amphibians.
Frogs, Toads, Newts, Salamanders, and ________________?

“Caecilians aren’t worms, as their skeleton confirms.  Like salamanders with no legs, they shed their skin and lay eggs.”  This is all you need to know about caecilians, in the family Gymnophiona: “the fifth amphibian”!  ;D

Of course, there is a lot more to know about these under-appreciated animals.  They come in many colors from blue to purple to yellow and red, and are sometimes striped, either in rings or in a long stripe from nose to tail.  This species is the type that feeds the young with mom’s own skin (don’t worry, they grow excess skin specifically for the babies to eat!)  Aside from my own poem: there are plenty of caecilians that DON’T “lay” eggs…they retain the eggs inside their bodies after birthing.

I think caecilians are wacky, weird, and wonderful.  As with the rest of the Amphibian class, the more you lift up those rocks and look, there is plenty of beauty and variety to be seen.

Quick: Name the five types of amphibians.
Frogs, Toads, Newts, Salamanders, and ________________?

“Caecilians aren’t worms, as their skeleton confirms.  Like salamanders with no legs, they shed their skin and lay eggs.”  This is all you need to know about caecilians, in the family Gymnophiona: “the fifth amphibian”!  ;D

Of course, there is a lot more to know about these under-appreciated animals.  They come in many colors from blue to purple to yellow and red, and are sometimes striped, either in rings or in a long stripe from nose to tail.  This species is the type that feeds the young with mom’s own skin (don’t worry, they grow excess skin specifically for the babies to eat!)  Aside from my own poem: there are plenty of caecilians that DON’T “lay” eggs…they retain the eggs inside their bodies after birthing.

I think caecilians are wacky, weird, and wonderful.  As with the rest of the Amphibian class, the more you lift up those rocks and look, there is plenty of beauty and variety to be seen.

I’m really excited to show you guys this one!  During this project I’ve been allowed to use photographs as reference, taken by some very nice and talented people, whom I have been crediting.  But this one was from a photo I took myself!  No, I didn’t travel to Madagascar, I just went to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco (which I love, by the way, being the science/nature nerd that I am.)  They have a lot of wonderful amphibians who live in their Rainforest display, both in containers and roaming free.  It’s quite an experience, so if you can take advantage of this wonderful resource – please do.  You’ll get to see so many species all in one place!

This frog goes by many common names, so the most useful name is the scientific one: Scaphiophryne gottlebei.  It’s a species that has adapted to variable conditions of alternating dry/wet weather in central Madagascar.  Sometimes it can be found buried in the sandy soil (notice its high nostrils) – at other times it hides in the dark cool depths of stone caves, clinging to the sides with its grippy toes.   Then when those cracks and crevices get flooded, the grippy toes come in handy by helping the frogs stay put.  The tadpoles — they just go with the flow.

Because of the beautiful colored patterns on the adult, the pet trade is a threat to this already endangered species…

I’m really excited to show you guys this one!  During this project I’ve been allowed to use photographs as reference, taken by some very nice and talented people, whom I have been crediting.  But this one was from a photo I took myself!  No, I didn’t travel to Madagascar, I just went to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco (which I love, by the way, being the science/nature nerd that I am.)  They have a lot of wonderful amphibians who live in their Rainforest display, both in containers and roaming free.  It’s quite an experience, so if you can take advantage of this wonderful resource – please do.  You’ll get to see so many species all in one place!

This frog goes by many common names, so the most useful name is the scientific one: Scaphiophryne gottlebei.  It’s a species that has adapted to variable conditions of alternating dry/wet weather in central Madagascar.  Sometimes it can be found buried in the sandy soil (notice its high nostrils) – at other times it hides in the dark cool depths of stone caves, clinging to the sides with its grippy toes.   Then when those cracks and crevices get flooded, the grippy toes come in handy by helping the frogs stay put.  The tadpoles — they just go with the flow.

Because of the beautiful colored patterns on the adult, the pet trade is a threat to this already endangered species…

referenced from a photo by Brian Gatwicke

Now, here is why salamanders are awesome: Did you know that if a salamander loses it’s tail or part of it, it can grow it back?  Even cooler is the fact that salamanders from this family can grow back feet, legs, or even part of their face.  This is called regeneration, and scientists are still studying it.  What they’ve found so far is that it’s a combination of lack of scar tissue growth, hormones and signals produced by the new thin skin covering, and “blastema” which are undifferentiated cells that can become anything – with the right chemical messages to tell them what to become.  (http://scienceintheclouds.blogspot.com/2013/12/salamanders-have-different-ways-of.html)

We’re not salamanders, but this field of study is still interesting.  Can you even imagine the potential medical applications?  There is so much to learn from our amphibian friends!

referenced from a photo by Brian Gatwicke

Now, here is why salamanders are awesome: Did you know that if a salamander loses it’s tail or part of it, it can grow it back?  Even cooler is the fact that salamanders from this family can grow back feet, legs, or even part of their face.  This is called regeneration, and scientists are still studying it.  What they’ve found so far is that it’s a combination of lack of scar tissue growth, hormones and signals produced by the new thin skin covering, and “blastema” which are undifferentiated cells that can become anything – with the right chemical messages to tell them what to become.  (http://scienceintheclouds.blogspot.com/2013/12/salamanders-have-different-ways-of.html)

We’re not salamanders, but this field of study is still interesting.  Can you even imagine the potential medical applications?  There is so much to learn from our amphibian friends!

This is a very rare tree frog from forested areas of Panama and Colombia that is also known as the Casque Headed Tree Frog.  It’s tough to discern between species of this type, which makes captive breeding challenging.  Aggressive and territorial, it eats other frogs…cute, huh? Unfortunately this frog is threatened by deforestation and pesticide poisoning…a situation so many South American frogs face.

This is a very rare tree frog from forested areas of Panama and Colombia that is also known as the Casque Headed Tree Frog.  It’s tough to discern between species of this type, which makes captive breeding challenging.  Aggressive and territorial, it eats other frogs…cute, huh? Unfortunately this frog is threatened by deforestation and pesticide poisoning…a situation so many South American frogs face.

So – do newts and salamanders have “tadpoles” like frogs and toads do? Yes! Here is one example. (Note the fringed gills for water-breathing – just like the Axolotl!)

referenced by a photo by Martin Dollenkamp

“not quite ready for land or air, I’ll live underwater till the weather is fair”

Keep in mind these critters are TINY (about the size of the end of your finger.) This particular one is the larvae of a Ambystoma macrodactylum, known as the Long-Toed Salamander from the Pacific Northwest. What I was referring to in the text was the fact that some amphibians can remain in these larval stages underwater through the winter, hibernating underwater this way until they are ready to develop into adults. So this means sometimes they can stay babies for quite some time, up to a year or more depending on when they were born, the weather, and other factors.

Call me crazy, but I think salamander babies have a certain dopey charm…

So – do newts and salamanders have “tadpoles” like frogs and toads do? Yes! Here is one example. (Note the fringed gills for water-breathing – just like the Axolotl!)

referenced by a photo by Martin Dollenkamp

“not quite ready for land or air, I’ll live underwater till the weather is fair”

Keep in mind these critters are TINY (about the size of the end of your finger.) This particular one is the larvae of a Ambystoma macrodactylum, known as the Long-Toed Salamander from the Pacific Northwest. What I was referring to in the text was the fact that some amphibians can remain in these larval stages underwater through the winter, hibernating underwater this way until they are ready to develop into adults. So this means sometimes they can stay babies for quite some time, up to a year or more depending on when they were born, the weather, and other factors.

Call me crazy, but I think salamander babies have a certain dopey charm…

referenced from a photo by GertJan Verspui

I focused on the physical attributes of the male in full courtship display – Mr. Fancypants here looks so good he’s frequently gathered to be a pet.  Newts, particularly rare-ish ones like these, shouldn’t really be collected and don’t usually thrive in a tank anyway.  If you see one in a pet shop or online – please don’t buy it!

The Northern Banded Newt (Ommatotriton ophryticus) lives around the southern edge of the Black Sea, mostly in Turkey.  Populations are decreasing, and it’s threatened by habitat changes which include the introduction of cattle and agriculture to areas, which brings pesticides, the diversion of natural ponds and streams, and more raccoons.  (Raccoons tend to settle where people do.) Apparently, raccoons find newts to be particularly tasty and in one example, 50% of the newts in one pond were decimated by raccoons in one season.  Wow…

referenced from a photo by GertJan Verspui

I focused on the physical attributes of the male in full courtship display – Mr. Fancypants here looks so good he’s frequently gathered to be a pet.  Newts, particularly rare-ish ones like these, shouldn’t really be collected and don’t usually thrive in a tank anyway.  If you see one in a pet shop or online – please don’t buy it!

The Northern Banded Newt (Ommatotriton ophryticus) lives around the southern edge of the Black Sea, mostly in Turkey.  Populations are decreasing, and it’s threatened by habitat changes which include the introduction of cattle and agriculture to areas, which brings pesticides, the diversion of natural ponds and streams, and more raccoons.  (Raccoons tend to settle where people do.) Apparently, raccoons find newts to be particularly tasty and in one example, 50% of the newts in one pond were decimated by raccoons in one season.  Wow…

This is a Spadefoot Toad. As the name suggests, they use protrusions on their back feet for digging…

referenced from a photo by Benny Trapp

This is a Spadefoot Toad. As the name suggests, they use protrusions on their back feet for digging…

referenced from a photo by Benny Trapp

What rhymes with Axolotl…let’s see… Wattle?  Quetzalcoatl?  Throttle?  I chose to rhyme “pretty” and “city” instead.

You’re welcome.

Some facts about the Axolotl:  Spends its life in the aquatic larval stage (hence the gills.) (Except on the very rare occasion that they decide to mature fully into a land-dwelling salamander.)  Comes in three main naturally occuring colors: Black, gold, and albino (pink).  These types are otherwise known as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. (okay, that was not a fact at all, but wishful thinking on my part!)

And yes they do live in a lake called Xochimilco, which has now been completely covered up by encroaching Mexico City and divided up into smaller lakes and canals where it is exposed.  Sad news for the Axies: the last time scientists tried to do a population count, they found none — that’s right, ZERO specimens.

So, I suppose to be more accurate, it should read:  Axolotls, once swam pretty, in a lake under Mexico City…

What rhymes with Axolotl…let’s see… Wattle?  Quetzalcoatl?  Throttle?  I chose to rhyme “pretty” and “city” instead.

You’re welcome.

Some facts about the Axolotl:  Spends its life in the aquatic larval stage (hence the gills.) (Except on the very rare occasion that they decide to mature fully into a land-dwelling salamander.)  Comes in three main naturally occuring colors: Black, gold, and albino (pink).  These types are otherwise known as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. (okay, that was not a fact at all, but wishful thinking on my part!)

And yes they do live in a lake called Xochimilco, which has now been completely covered up by encroaching Mexico City and divided up into smaller lakes and canals where it is exposed.  Sad news for the Axies: the last time scientists tried to do a population count, they found none — that’s right, ZERO specimens.

So, I suppose to be more accurate, it should read:  Axolotls, once swam pretty, in a lake under Mexico City…

P.S. Hold the phone – THIS JUST IN!  There is hope!

from a photo by Dr. Brad Wilson DVM

When I try to imagine encountering these little Ecuadoran tree frogs in person, I’m charmed by the idea.  They are small, about 5 cm in length, and range in coloration from violet to red markings, having more or less yellow, and being darker or lighter almost to a shade of cream or ivory.  They would be over my head, as they do like to hang onto broad leaves over streams.  I can imagine in the dim light of dusk you might notice those protruding eyes blinking first.  Since they belong to the dart frog family, they are probably poisonous to some degree (those spots are a sign, definitely) but I’d risk having one hop onto an outstretched gloved palm….just to stare at one, for a moment, and have it peer right back at me.

This encounter isn’t a crazy idea.  There are plenty of these in Ecuador and parts of Colombia, and since their range overlaps some nature preserve areas, it looks like these guys are survivors, for now.  It’s too bad the rainforest has been shrinking so fast, though – there are just these few preserves we can really count on to remain untouched.

As you all know, I’ve been working on a series featuring Amphibians (Newts, Frogs, Toads, and Salamanders).  It’s my intention to share the beauty of these fellows as well as a fun fact or two.  This text reads:  “High in the Alps, by streams and under stones, you’ll find them… salamanders that live 20 years or longer if you mind them.”  It’s true, this is a particularly long-lived salamander.  Must be all that high country fresh air…

The original photo I referenced is by Gert Jan Verspui.  He picked up a rock and underneath it he found a bunch of them hiding.

Salamandra lanzai — from a photo by Gert Jan Verspui

In addition, on this one, I’d like to address the challenge of color.

Black.  The black of licorice and olives and space.  Not an easy color to work with, some say.  Well, they’re right, because creating multiple shades of black (when there is no “gray”) is a challenge.  Frequently, the advice is to just not use black.  I did use true black, but only after several glazes of different colors. What I did here is start with a red background and then paint the salamanders completely in green.  That trick created create a color vibration (green and red are complimentary, or opposite each other on the color wheel) to set the salamanders apart from the background.  Most of the shades of “gray” still are green and indigo glazes.  The last layers were limited amounts of pure black, and white chalk for highlights.

Horned Marsupial Frogs are endangered.  They are thought to be extinct now in Costa Rica, and are rare in Panama and Ecuador.  They live in the tops of trees and have a call that sounds like a champagne cork popping!

referenced from a photo by Dr. Brad Wilson DVM

The “marsupial” part of their name comes from the fact that instead of going through a watery egg-tadpole phase, they develop on their mother’s back in pouches, then emerge fully formed.  And here I was thinking “Oh, all frogs are pretty much the same….”  Er, no.  The more I learn the more I realize that the variety of amphibian life out there is truly amazing.

This one was a long time in coming.  In the process of doing research, I often go down many paths only to have some of them end.  Also, not every attempt I make to either write a poem or paint something decent, ends in success.  But finally, a bit of luck came my way.  I was so pleased to get permission to reference this defining photo of the Betic Midwife Toad from the prolific nature photographer, Benny Trapp.  I did make some interpretations to coloring (of course), and I combined two references to add the eggs.

There are just 5 species of midwife toad surviving today, all in Europe…this species is from Spain.  I just love how the dad carries the mom’s eggs, then I found out he will also sometimes carry extra strands from other moms too.  What a dedicated babysitter!  He knows when to go to water when he feels movement on his back.  Vulnerable, with declining populations, in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species…

SCRATCH FOAM PRINTMAKING
SUITABLE FOR EARLY TO MIDDLE GRADES.

As an introduction to Printmaking, the foam-sheet type is very safe – great for younger children! – because there are no sharp tools to use (as in linoleum block printing, which was the printmaking introduction I had when I was a teenager in the ’80s).  Also it’s a good way to introduce the concepts and some of the tools before starting with linoleum blocks and cutters, for older children.

The Innovart foam sheets are available at Dick Blick.  They are basically flat pieces of styrofoam.  Unlike most disposable plates, these sheets are perfectly flat and fairly thin, making them perfect for this exercise.  The other items (black printing ink, soft brayer/roller, flat sturdy paper like bristol or hot press watercolor paper) are available at your local art supply store or Dick Blick.  The printing supplies are made by Speedball.  The paper I used was Arches hot press watercolor paper, but there are other brands available – Arches just happens to be my favorite.  To make an impression, I prefer a ball-ended burnisher, but you could just as easily use a ball point pen or a dull pencil.

*I used watercolor paper already painted on, in washes, to provide an interesting look to the print, as opposed to just leaving it white.  This is a project that can be done directly after the kids have completed a watercolor unit, to make use of their watercolor practice sheets or experimental treatments such as wet-on-wet, vinegar, lemon juice, marbling etc.  Alternately, you can use paper that has been colored in another way, as long as it’s smooth and sturdy enough.  Don’t use rice paper, tissue paper, newsprint, textured paper, or construction paper.

Step 1: Using soft charcoal and a kneaded eraser, softly sketch your design WITHOUT pressing into the foam.  You can trace a simple outline using a light table or holding your picture up to a window or patio door and placing the foam over the top of the picture.  The key here is to keep it very simple – outlines only!   Subjects to try:  A small animal, totem, outline a photo of yourself, your zodiac sign, chinese zodiac sign, etc.  Even though your design is simple, keeping it personal keeps it interesting.

Step 2: Draw over your lines with the pen or tool, pressing hard.  If you hold the foam up to the light, you should be able to see the line impressions.  The deeper the outlines, the better the results.

Step 3: Using a soft brayer (roller), squeeze a little black printing ink out in the tray* and roll the brayer back and forth in both directions until the roller surface is evenly coated.  *This is a great time to use up old (clean) meat trays or leftover paper plates – the foam ones work best.

Step 4. Carefully roll the brayer over your design surface.  Because you are using black ink, you should be able to see right away how good your design looks!  (and if you didn’t make the lines deep enough – you can see if you need to try again with a new foam sheet.)

Step 5. Press the design face down on top of your paper.   Rub with a spoon or your fingers, or if you have extra brayers, you can use those to roll over the back of the foam to make sure the ink gets on the paper everywhere.

Step 6. Slowly lift the foam to reveal your design!  Be careful not to jiggle or slide the foam as you pick it up.  The ink is wet now – you’ll need to wait several minutes.

Step 7. Admire.  Above is the image on a light blue wash.  Below you can see the same imprint I made on a darker wash.  *PRO TIP:* if you want to write a word or make any symbols, be sure to draw them in reverse!  As you can see here, my musical note got printed backwards…..oops!  You can avoid this problem by flipping the original reference word over before tracing.  Checking your original drawing in a mirror is another good step, if you have a mirror.

CLEAN UP: The ink, once dry, is fairly permanent and can take additional media.  It doesn’t come up on your hands, and doesn’t need to be covered or varnished.  It also can be washed off the foam sheet and the brayer using regular soap and water.

BONUS ROUND: After cleaning the foam off, you can make a second, or even third, print using the same piece of foam…..as long as you’re careful!  Be sure to rinse the foam before the ink has dried if you want to use it again.

Here is a slightly more complex print I made using this technique.

As part of my ongoing project to document the beauty and fascination of all* amphibians, and bring attention to the Amphibian Extinction Crisis — Here he is!  Rana draytonii.  Otherwise known as the California Red-Legged Frog.   (This one is a juvenile, the older ones are darker.)  I got the photo from Greg Schechter who, like all those who love amphibians that I’ve met so far, is a very cool guy.   Hmm, I sense a pattern.

Words: I live from Sierras to the Sea, despite bullfrogs and trout, but what will become of my pond if there’s drought?  Bullfrogs and trout fight for survival in the same habitats, but to be honest – this year (2014) I’m rooting for them all.  If there are “ponds” at all this year.

Go frogs go!

*all — the ones I get to.  Perhaps 20 or 30.

(up next – a lovely Newt!)

“Ganesh of the Redwoods” – 24 x 24 inches.  Client: Kate Targan

*Check out Kate Targan’s new album, “From the Light”
http://katetargan.com/ <– Samples, reviews, links, even a video!

I kind of fell in love with this fat fellow. Such a charmer. His species is severely endangered though ):

I have now completed two pages.  I can imagine how the book will look and feel in my hands when it’s done.  It helps keep me on track.  Another thing that helps me is imagining ways to help this guy and others like him and all the endangered amphibians.  I will figure this all out at some point down the road.

If you look at the whole world, and then drill down and look at individual ecosystems, and then drill down even further and look at how amphibians are doing in any given ecosystem, then that is a snapshot of the general health of that ecosystem.  Simplified: if the frogs are sick, you’ve got a sick marsh.

What does it say about our world’s health that almost half the world’s amphibian species are at some stage of being endangered?  Anyone wonder — whatever happened to the environmental/ecological crises everyone was talking about in the 70′s?  Did these problems just go away?  No, it’s just that issues like the harsh reality that is the amphibian extinction crisis just doesn’t make very exciting, interesting, or hopeful news these days.

I don’t know about you but I’m pretty interested.  And hopeful.