Frogs: The Animal Answer Guide (Animal Answer Guides)

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 — and 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 discuss how frogs evolved, which species currently exist in the world, and why some have recently gone extinct. They reveal what frogs eat and what eats them, their role in cultures across the globe, why many 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.

Packed with facts and featuring two color galleries and 70 black-and-white photographs, Frogs: The Animal Answer Guide is sure to address the questions on the minds of curious naturalists.

This comprehensive introductory guide to frogs provides students and general readers with detailed information on many aspects of the physiology, environmental habitats and history of these sensitive amphibians. Topics discussed include species identification, frog ecology, reproduction and development, food and feeding, human-frog interactions, and frogs in stories and literature. Chapters include numerous illustrations, and a collection of full color-gloss plates is provided. Dorcas is a professor of biology at Davidson College, and Gibbons is professor emeritus of ecology at the University of Georgia. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)