ANIMAL WILDLIFE BIOLOGY FINAL
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
Digestive system in frogs - Answer-- all generally eat the same thing and have
esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and cloaca
- eat small insects -> simple GI tract
- have no teeth so don't mechanically break down food -> need larger stomach to
mechanically/chemically break down but not that complicated unlike plants
Reproduction system in frogs - Answer-- most frogs do external fertilization
- lot of energy into female reproduction -> lots of eggs produced at once
- sperm good swimmers in water to find mate
- prolonged and explosive breeders
- strong sexual dimorphism -> females larger than males -> males have nupital pads
- breeding sites, males calling, females arrive sporadically, mating occurs
- amplexus - mating position in frogs and toads
- fertilization occurs externally -> female lay eggs and males covers eggs with
sperms
- eggs need moisture and water
- eggs are moist and slimy
nuptial pads - Answer-help the male frog stick and latch onto the female for mating
since they are smaller and will typically go on top of the female who is larger
metamorphosis in frogs - Answer-thyroxine -> blood hormone that induces apoptosis
of gills, tail, and fin in tadpoles to be more like a frog
- not all frogs go through this stage cycle -> some frogs give direct birth to baby frogs
(not tadpoles)
endemic - Answer-confined to a particular country or area
how much of frogs are endemic - Answer-over 80%
Anura classification (4) - Answer-myobatrachidae, hylidae, microhylidae, ranidae
Myobatrachidae (southern or Australian ground frogs) - Answer-- largest of anura
family
- endemic to Australia and new guinea
- terrestrial or aquatic (not arboreal)
- lack adhesive toe discs (don't climb)
- 3 sub families based on egg laying: limnodynastinae, myobatrachinae,
rheobatrachinae
Limnodynastinae - Answer-lay foam nests created by female (mostly) agitating
chemical on her skin
, Limnodynastinae - tusked frog - Answer-- have keratinized tusks as modified lower
mandible teeth -> male used to fight for dominance -> sexual dimorphism
- dark color blend into ground
- well developed hind limbs for leaping
- keratinized tubercles on feet to help with their movement
Limnodynastinae - cannibal frogs - Answer-- feet not webbed, eggs laid in foam
- long digits to aid with grip in shallow/muddy water
Myobatrachinae - Answer-burrowers
Myobatrachinae - dumpy frog - Answer-- stubby, bulky, round and bulbous -> water
retention -> rounder you are the more water you can hold and more fat you can hold
for longer durations
- short fore/hind limbs navigating sandy habitat
- live in sandy areas -> will lay young underground (moisture) and tadpole stage is
very short to accommodate not being close to water
Rheobatrachus - Answer-- gastric brooding frog
- female will swallow fertilized eggs coated with a special protein to not allow them to
be digested. then tadpole development happens in the stomach and birthed out
mouth
frog pressure breathing - Answer-since no diaphragm to create pressure frog will
open its mouth to create negative pressure to allow air to come inside and then traps
the air inside which then has a higher pressure than outside
Amphibian (frog) anatomy and physiology - Answer-skin:
- highly permeable -> allows osmoregulation, gas exchange, and water absorption
- thin epidermis -> no scales/hair to maximize absorption
- mucous gland on head, back, and tail -> near surface and secretions help keep
skin moist
- poison gland -> toxin production for protection
- color -> produced by 3 layers of chromatophores (black dots in skin that can
change colors based on season/time of day to scare predators or attract mates) and
some can change color
Skeletal system:
- 4 limbs
- hollow bones -> lighter weight for easier movement
- strong musculoskeletal system
- 4 digits on fore foot; 5 on hind foot but no claws
- difference in lengths of fore/hind limbs based on habitat
- some have holes near pelvic muscles for more muscles and tendons to connect to
(jumpers need stronger legs and connect to pelvis)
Frog legs - Answer-short/stocky legs -> walking, digging/burrowing, climbing
long and muscular -> jumping/propulsion, and swimming
Anura adaptations to limbs/digits for trees, undergrowth, water - Answer-swimmers -
semi-webbed or fully-webbed
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
Digestive system in frogs - Answer-- all generally eat the same thing and have
esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and cloaca
- eat small insects -> simple GI tract
- have no teeth so don't mechanically break down food -> need larger stomach to
mechanically/chemically break down but not that complicated unlike plants
Reproduction system in frogs - Answer-- most frogs do external fertilization
- lot of energy into female reproduction -> lots of eggs produced at once
- sperm good swimmers in water to find mate
- prolonged and explosive breeders
- strong sexual dimorphism -> females larger than males -> males have nupital pads
- breeding sites, males calling, females arrive sporadically, mating occurs
- amplexus - mating position in frogs and toads
- fertilization occurs externally -> female lay eggs and males covers eggs with
sperms
- eggs need moisture and water
- eggs are moist and slimy
nuptial pads - Answer-help the male frog stick and latch onto the female for mating
since they are smaller and will typically go on top of the female who is larger
metamorphosis in frogs - Answer-thyroxine -> blood hormone that induces apoptosis
of gills, tail, and fin in tadpoles to be more like a frog
- not all frogs go through this stage cycle -> some frogs give direct birth to baby frogs
(not tadpoles)
endemic - Answer-confined to a particular country or area
how much of frogs are endemic - Answer-over 80%
Anura classification (4) - Answer-myobatrachidae, hylidae, microhylidae, ranidae
Myobatrachidae (southern or Australian ground frogs) - Answer-- largest of anura
family
- endemic to Australia and new guinea
- terrestrial or aquatic (not arboreal)
- lack adhesive toe discs (don't climb)
- 3 sub families based on egg laying: limnodynastinae, myobatrachinae,
rheobatrachinae
Limnodynastinae - Answer-lay foam nests created by female (mostly) agitating
chemical on her skin
, Limnodynastinae - tusked frog - Answer-- have keratinized tusks as modified lower
mandible teeth -> male used to fight for dominance -> sexual dimorphism
- dark color blend into ground
- well developed hind limbs for leaping
- keratinized tubercles on feet to help with their movement
Limnodynastinae - cannibal frogs - Answer-- feet not webbed, eggs laid in foam
- long digits to aid with grip in shallow/muddy water
Myobatrachinae - Answer-burrowers
Myobatrachinae - dumpy frog - Answer-- stubby, bulky, round and bulbous -> water
retention -> rounder you are the more water you can hold and more fat you can hold
for longer durations
- short fore/hind limbs navigating sandy habitat
- live in sandy areas -> will lay young underground (moisture) and tadpole stage is
very short to accommodate not being close to water
Rheobatrachus - Answer-- gastric brooding frog
- female will swallow fertilized eggs coated with a special protein to not allow them to
be digested. then tadpole development happens in the stomach and birthed out
mouth
frog pressure breathing - Answer-since no diaphragm to create pressure frog will
open its mouth to create negative pressure to allow air to come inside and then traps
the air inside which then has a higher pressure than outside
Amphibian (frog) anatomy and physiology - Answer-skin:
- highly permeable -> allows osmoregulation, gas exchange, and water absorption
- thin epidermis -> no scales/hair to maximize absorption
- mucous gland on head, back, and tail -> near surface and secretions help keep
skin moist
- poison gland -> toxin production for protection
- color -> produced by 3 layers of chromatophores (black dots in skin that can
change colors based on season/time of day to scare predators or attract mates) and
some can change color
Skeletal system:
- 4 limbs
- hollow bones -> lighter weight for easier movement
- strong musculoskeletal system
- 4 digits on fore foot; 5 on hind foot but no claws
- difference in lengths of fore/hind limbs based on habitat
- some have holes near pelvic muscles for more muscles and tendons to connect to
(jumpers need stronger legs and connect to pelvis)
Frog legs - Answer-short/stocky legs -> walking, digging/burrowing, climbing
long and muscular -> jumping/propulsion, and swimming
Anura adaptations to limbs/digits for trees, undergrowth, water - Answer-swimmers -
semi-webbed or fully-webbed
