Frogs : The Animal Answer Guide

Frogs are amazingly diverse, ranging from the massive Goliath frog, which weighs several pounds, to the recently discovered gold frog, which measures a mere three-eighths of an inch when fully grown. Frogs have inhabited the earth for more than 200 million years. Today, however, these amphibians face more challenges than any other vertebrate group. In this fun and informative book, herpetologists Mike Dorcas and Whit Gibbons answer common and not-so-common questions people may have about these fascinating animals.Dorcas and Gibbons reveal how frogs evolved, what species currently exist in the world and some that have gone extinct, that toads are just a type of frog, what they eat and what eats them, the role of frogs in cultures across the globe, why many frog populations are declining and what we can do to reverse this dangerous trend, why there are deformed frogs, and much more. They answer expected questions such as "What is the difference between a frog and a toad?" and "Why do some people lick toads?" and unexpected ones such as "Why do some frogs lay their eggs in the leaves of trees?" and "Do frogs feel pain?"The authors' easy-to-understand yet thorough explanations provide insight into the amazing biology of this amphibian group. In addressing conservation questions, Dorcas and Gibbons highlight the frightening implications of the current worldwide amphibian crisis, which many scientists predict will bring extinction rates experienced by frog species to levels not seen in any vertebrate animal group in millions of years.Featuring two color galleries and 70 black-and-white photographs, Frogs: The Animal Answer Guide is packed with facts sure to address the questions on the minds of curious naturalists.