A frog scavenger hunt took place in Costa Rica, where the group aimed to find as many frog species as possible in one night. They successfully found and identified several species, including the stream frog, thick finger dirt frog, splendid leaf frog, red-eyed leaf frog, dwarf glass frog, and the smoky jungle frog. The group observed unique characteristics and behaviors of each species, such as camouflage, distinctive markings, and defense mechanisms. The night ended with the discovery of the large and impressive smoky jungle frog, which displayed its loud distress call and potent toxin secretion.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Costa Rica is home to one of the world's richest amphibian diversities.
2. A stream frog was the first frog found during the scavenger hunt.
3. Female stream frogs are significantly bigger than males.
4. Males are typically found in streams, while females are more commonly found in forested areas.
5. The stream frog has a unique coloration on the underside of its belly, with yellow and orangish-red speckling.
6. The stream frog has bright red legs.
7. The design of the frog's head is almost matte in coloration.
8. A cluster of frog eggs was found, containing tiny tadpoles.
9. The eggs were from a variety of tree frogs.
10. A thick-fingered dirt frog was found, with a unique life cycle called direct development.
11. In direct development, eggs turn directly into little froglets without going through a tadpole stage.
12. The thick-fingered dirt frog has robust front fingers.
13. A splendid leaf frog was found, with a unique orange coloration and tiger striping on its body.
14. The splendid leaf frog has a vertical pupil, allowing it to see well at night.
15. The pupil expands and contracts to allow light to enter the eyes.
16. The splendid leaf frog is primarily an insectivore and hunts in the treetops.
17. A red-eyed leaf frog was found, which is considered the most famous frog in Costa Rica.
18. The red-eyed leaf frog has a unique camouflage ability, with a nictitating membrane that covers its eyes.
19. The red-eyed leaf frog has tiny teeth and uses its eyeballs to help push food down its throat.
20. There are 14 species of glass frogs in Costa Rica, each with unique characteristics.
21. Some glass frogs have completely clear undersides, allowing their organs to be visible through their skin.
22. The dwarf glass frog is the smallest of the glass frog group.
23. The glass frog's head structure inspired the design of Kermit the Frog.
24. A smoky jungle frog was found, which is one of the largest frogs in Costa Rica.
25. The smoky jungle frog has a unique distress call that it uses to escape predators.
26. The smoky jungle frog secretes a potent toxin from its skin, which can cause pain and burning if it comes into contact with human skin.
27. Males of the smoky jungle frog have secondary thumbs that allow them to grip onto females during breeding season.