Fascinating Frogs

Michelle's Monologues
Apr 1, 2020
3 min read

I recently watched Sir David Attenborough and his incredible documentary - Fabulous Frogs. A friend has also been sharing posts about eating that frog. Not literary, but a quote from Brian Tracy on how not to procrastinate and get those tasks done. Especially that one frog, that is always on the to-do list. Inspired! I have leapt into action to share some of my fascinating frogs (haha).

Sometimes All We Need To Do Is Take A Leap of Faith ©MDHarding

I never knew I was so in tune with frogs. When I was little we used to walk along the burn ( a small Scottish stream) and see the many tadpoles, some going through the magical transformation and turning into a frog.

Fascinating Frogs

Australia

My next fun encounter with a frog was while backpacking around Australia. I was working on a watermelon farm and staying in the families home six hours by bus from Sydney. The first morning I woke with fright as it sounded like a frog was on my pillow! Instead, it was on the floor just by the bed. Somethings you just never forget. This is one of them, but never thought I would be sharing the story.

The Australian Green Tree Frog

The Australian Green Tree Frog native to Australia lives in bodies of water-dense with vegetation such as tall grasses, cattails and trees. With a diet consisting of mainly moths, cockroaches and locusts.

©MDHarding

Madagascar

While in Madagascar we saw a number of fascinating frogs from the Tomato Frog, Golden Mantella Frog and one of the worlds smallest frogs - Reed Frog.

Tomato Frog

Endemic to Madagascar the Tomato Frog inhabits forests and fields where there is likely to be heavy rainfall. If the frog is frightened it will secrete a toxic substance that causes an allergic reaction to humans.

It can live between 6-8 years changing colour from yellowish orange to deep red when an adult.

The stocky ground dweller eats snails and worms.

©MDHarding

Golden Mantella Frog

The Golden Mantella Frog native to Madagascar can be seen in the town of Moramanga - Beparasy and Ambohibary Communes, Torotorofotsy Wetland northwest of Andasibe, and in the area of Ambakoana. It is critically endangered, as their breeding habitats are being destroyed by gold mining. I am grateful to have seen this mighty little frog in its natural habitat.

The Golden Mantella gets its name from the bright golden orange colour of its skin. These tiny frogs make up for their size with their bright colouration. This bright colouration is to warn any predators that they are toxic and stop them from eating them.

They can live up to 8 years eating termites, fruit flies and ants.

©MDHarding

Reed Frog

With only our head torches lighting the way in the pitch dark and the sounds of the rainforest keeping us on our toes we were trepidatious as to what we would discover. We got a glimpse of this tiny frog.

The Reed Frog - Heterixalus luteostriatus is one of the smallest frogs in the world Males are 25-28 mm while females are 26-30 mm in total length. Native to Madagascar habiting in the subtropical and tropical forests. It is also on the endangered critical list.

©MDHarding

Madagascar has over 300 species of frogs with 99 per cent being native.

Borneo

While visiting Borneo last year, on another evening walk through the jungle we saw a pair of frogs mating and the spawn. Sorry, it was so dark and raining. It was hard to get a good image (mobile phone) and also to identify which one it was.