Plant & Animal Abstracts

Arizona's Amphibian Diversity

It might be surprising to many that in a state known for its arid environments that among the animals comprising Arizona’s rich biodiversity are 25 species of native amphibians, including 24 frog species (i.e., both frogs and toads) and only one species of salamander (the tiger salamander). Indeed, several of these amphibians are only found in some of the most arid parts of the deserts that make up much of Arizona. What might not be surprising is that the aquatic habitats that support many of Arizona’s amphibians  have been diverted or destroyed because of the high demand for water in the state. Many of our amphibians have suffered serious population declines and some, such as the Chiricahua leopard frog and Sonoran tiger salamander, are protected under the Endangered Species Act.   

In addition to the 25 species of native amphibians, Arizona has become home to four types of exotic amphibians: bullfrogs, Rio Grande leopard frogs, African clawed frogs and barred tiger salamanders. Bullfrogs have become so numerous and widespread that they are now seriously threatening native aquatic wildlife populations, particularly amphibians and reptiles.

Many of Arizona’s native frogs, particularly the five species of leopard frogs and the Tarahumara frog, might be considered “typical” stream-dwelling frogs; never being found too far from permanent water where they lay eggs, develop as tadpoles, and live as adult frogs. But, some of the most astonishing adaptations to desert life are exhibited by a number of frogs and toads that live much of their lives buried underground, only to emerge briefly to breed and grow during the summer rains. This group includes “typical” toads like the Sonoran green toad, Couch’s spadefoot, the tiny narrow-mouthed toad, and even a “true” treefrog, the lowland burrowing treefrog. Perhaps one of the most unusual frogs in Arizona is the barking frog, which is found in rocky outcrops where it lays its eggs in relatively dry crevices, and the young develop entirely within the egg and skip the tadpole stage. Thus, despite the relatively few species overall, Arizona can claim to have a richly diverse amphibian fauna.

Below you will find amphibian abstracts containing the following information:

•  Taxonomy
•  Biology
•  Distribution
•  Population Trends
•  Management Status (as available)
•  Illustrations
  
  NOTE: Some of the following files are PDF's and require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. For text-only, use Adobe Access.