"Frogs: A Chorus of Colors" will be on view at the Springfield Science Museum from Jan. 21 through May 13.
Dumpy tree frog If you’ve ever wondered what frog calls sound like or how large an African bullfrog is or what kinds of habitats frogs inhabit, you might want to jump at the chance to see a special exhibit at the Springfield Science Museum.
Frogs: A Chorus of Colors, will be on view at the museum from Jan. 21 through May 13.
“Frogs are interesting animals because they have been on the planet for a long time,” said Daniel J. Augustino, museum aquarist, explaining that frogs evolved from fish and were “the first land animals, basically,” nearly 365 million years ago.
“Often we hear their calls in the night and don’t know where they are coming from,” Augustino said.
He expects the special exhibit to have wide appeal because of the “fascinating” nature of frogs.
Frogs: A Chorus of Colors is a fascinating live animal exhibit that brings visitors into the colorful, sound-filled world of frogs. Fifteen naturalistic habitats filled with rock ledges, live plants and waterfalls are home to a selection of unusual frogs and toads from throughout the world.
Visitors will see frogs like Mexican dumpy frogs, waxy monkey frogs, Vietnamese mossy frogs and fire-bellied toads. The second largest species of frog, the African bullfrog, will be included in the exhibit. It can grow up to nine inches and weigh up to three pounds.
“That’s a big frog,” Augustino said.
The world’s largest frog, the Goliath frog, will not be on display. Measuring up to 12.5 inches in length and weighing up to 7.2 pounds, it is as big as some house cats.
The exhibit also includes videos of frogs in the wild, recorded frog calls, colorful graphics and photos and interactive activities that explain fascinating frog facts.
One of the most toxic frogs is the golden poison frog, called terribilis (the terrible). “Many frogs in captivity, however, lose their toxicity because they derive it from what they eat,” Augustino said.
Golden poison frogs are found in moist tropical rain forests. They lay eggs on land, and when the tadpoles hatch, the males carry them on their back to a larger area of water where they complete their metamorphosis.
Extolling the importance of frogs in the environment, Augustino said frogs are predators of insects and thus keep down populations of insects that can carry disease and damage agricultural crops.
Many frogs are being lost at an alarming rate because of a fungus spread by global trade in amphibians for food, pets and laboratory animals. Deforestation and pesticide use also contribute to the demise of frogs.
“They breathe through their skin, so they are the first to show adverse effects from toxins,” Augustino said, adding that as an important link in the food chain, what affects them also affects humans. And if frogs are lost, the whole food chain is affected, he added.
“Having frogs around is a good thing,” he said.
Opening day activities for the exhibit will take place on Saturday, Jan. 21, and include live animal demonstrations from 10:45 a.m-12:45 p.m. and a performance of “The Frog Prince” by the Pumpernickel Puppets at 1 p.m.The exhibit was created by Peeling Productions at Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland in Allenwood, Pa. The presentation of the exhibit in Springfield is sponsored by United Bank.
The Springfield Museums are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards St. in downtown Springfield. Free onsite parking is available in the Edwards Street parking lots.
The Museums are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission is $12.50 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6.50 for children 3-17 and free for children under three and museum members. Springfield residents receive free general admission with proof of address. The fee provides admission to all Springfield Museums. There is a special exhibition fee of $5 for all visitors age 3 and older to visit the Frogs exhibit.
For more information, call (413) 263-6800 or visit www.springfieldmuseums.org