Pet Reptiles & Amphibians, Frogs, Toads & Turtles, Reptiles & Amphibians

Frogs

Name: Frogs
Author: David Badger
ISBN: 9780785828433

by David Badger

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Overview

Frogs and toads fascinate us for many reasons. Frogs sport a dazzling array of colors and markings—some for camouflage, others to warn away predators. Adults also vary a good deal in size, from a tiny Brazilian frog (under one-half inch) to the West African goliath frog (almost sixteen inches), and they exhibit similar diversity in body shape, from the slender tree frogs and narrow-waisted “true frogs” to the stout-bodied roads and buxom burrowing frogs.

Frogs showcases over fifty of the world’s most fascinating frogs. While some of the frogs and toads included in this book will be recognized by readers, others will certainly be new. This is understandable, since there are over 3,950 species worldwide. Frog families such as tree frogs, toads, poison frogs, horned frogs, and bullfrogs, are shown with photographs to distinguish the different species.

In Frogs, John Netherton’s brilliant photos are paired with David Badger’s easy-to-read, non-technical text, pointing out the characteristics that make the frogs so unique and interesting. This four-color reference book gives great detail about the physical characteristics of frogs, and their behavior. From their skin, to their senses of hearing, sight, and taste, to their unique style of communication—croaking, singing, and chirping, all of the traits that make frogs special are described in detail. Their reproductive habits and springing jumps are shown with visual references.

An introduction to frogs and toads of the world including descriptions of their physical characteristics, behaviors, life cycle, role in legend and lore, and dangers from humans.

About the Author, David Badger

David Badger, of Franklin, Tennessee, is a journalism professor, former book critic and columnist for the Nashville Tennessean, and has written and edited many other books. John Netherton, of Nashville, Tennessee, is a renowned nature photographer and a regular contributor to Outdoor Photographer. The pair collaborated on Frogs.

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Editorials

Rocky Mountain News

For people who think of frogs as a dull green warty thing a girl kisses to get a prince, this book is a revelation.

Bloomsbury Review

If you've never thought of frogs as 'beautiful,' this book will change your mind.

Chicago Tribune

. . . Frogs takes pleasure in common marvels.

Children's Literature

Over the past few years deformed frog specimens have been found in 30 American states and three provinces of Canada. These strangely misshapen creatures give evidence to the ongoing degradation of our environment. Additionally, numerous species of frogs and toads are becoming either rare or extinct. The major culprit in the decline of many types of these fascinating amphibians is mankind. It is the story of frogs and toads that is presented in this comprehensive and visually stimulating book. The author of this informative scientific work takes his audience on a journey through the life stages of these unusual creatures. Frogs, of course, metamorphose from aquatic beings to tail-less land living hoppers. In some cases the lives of these mini-predators are quite unique. For example, the Golden Poison Dart Frog secretes a toxin so lethal that one frog can create sufficient poison to kill ten human beings. Green Tree Frogs will evoke their "quank-quank-quank" call even when they hear sounds such as a washing machine, human singing voice, or television sound effects. The American BullFrog can grow to a body length of eight inches and has achieved a body weight of over seven pounds. These, and other stories of truly engaging amphibians, can be found in this well written and researched work. Additionally, this book is a visual delight, nearly every page has a beautiful photo of frogs or their toady cousins. 2000, Voyageur Press, Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck—Children's Literature

KLIATT

These handsome nature books feature gorgeous color photos, along with succinct texts that describe the animals and their habits and habitats. In Foxes, for example, the author, the Director of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University, discusses the origins of the fox, foxes of the world, characteristics, the search for food, sociability, and foxes and humans, and he provides distribution maps—along with mention of how he and his children have hand reared fox cubs. Frogs looks at toads briefly as well, along with examining a frog's life cycle, frog lore, types of frogs, and more. Minke Whales, by two biology professors, examines their food and feeding, evolution and regional differences, and migration, among other topics, while Salmon discusses the types of salmon, their life cycle, migration and homing, fisheries, and the predators and dangers with which they must contend. Lovely to browse through, with enough facts and figures to support school reports, these are suitable for all libraries looking to update their nature collections. (WorldLife Library KLIATT Codes: JSA—Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2000, Voyageur Press, 72p, maps, bibliog, index, illus, 23cm, 99-089098, $16.95. Ages 13 to adult. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick; September 2000 (Vol. 34 No. 5)

Library Journal

Journalism professor Badger and nature photographer Netherton teamed up to create this well-deserved tribute to frogs and toads. Badger relies on scientific writings and older natural history publications for much of his information as he confesses his own lack of amphibian expertise. Frogs is not a field guide but rather a nontechnical book that spotlights a few dozen colorful, interesting, and unique frogs and toads from among the 4000 or so known species worldwide. About half the creatures picked for this volume can be found in parts of North America. In addition to the species descriptions, there are lively and interesting chapters on frogs in popular culture, their physical characteristics and behavior, and environmental challenges. The many striking photographs capture a variety of shapes and colors, from the common drab and dumpy American toad to the brilliant reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and blacks of exotic dart-poison frogs from Central and South America. Recommended for public and high school libraries.-William H. Wiese, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames

From Barnes & Noble

Perched on lilypads, braced between the branches of a tree, or leaping across long stretches of grass, the fifty-plus frogs and toads in this book display a riotous array of color, including brilliant vermilions, lapis lazulis, and goldenrods; and a spectrum of markings that range from mottled to marbled and from striated to spotted and striped. Slender leaf dwellers with matchstick legs and delicate toepads, stout-bodied toads with warty humped backs, and pink-bellied harlequins whose cheerful coloring advertises their toxic poisons--they're all here in this fun-filled celebration of amphibian diversity. Accompanying John Netherton's dazzling images is an entertaining, reader-friendly text by David Badger, focusing on the physical characteristics, behavior, and survival techniques that make these winsome creatures so unique and interesting. 10 1/4" x 10 1/4". Color photos.