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Amphibian Declines and Deformities Images

Each image is a link to enable you to download high resolution versions of the images. Please note that these might take some time to download.

USGS Diagnoses Causes of Many U.S. Amphibian Die-Offs

		Boreal toad. Photographer: Stephen Corn, USGS. Boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (federal candidate species; listed as endangered by the state of Colorado; the species has undergone about an 80% decline in southern Rocky Mountains).
		Aerial photo of farm ponds and contoured farmland. Photographer: Rick Gillis Farm ponds have been built since the 1930's to reduce soil erosion and provide water for livestock.
		Northern Leopard frog. Photographer: C. Drost, USGS.
		Photo by M.R. Jennings, UGSG.
		Sick tiger salamander from the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman county, North Dakota, showing discoloration of the skin that first appears.
		Sick tiger salamander from the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman county, North Dakota, showing discoloration of the skin that first appears.
		Sick tiger salamander from the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman county, North Dakota, showing discoloration of the skin that first appears.
		Biological science technicians sampling salamander populations at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.
		Biological science technicians sampling salamander populations at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.

New USGS Research Shows How Land Use Affects Amphibians

		Northern cricket frog. Photographer: Allen Sheldon. The cricket frog has disappeared from the northern portions of the Midwest for unknown reasons.
		Aerial photo of farm ponds and contoured farmland. Photographer: Rick Gillis Farm ponds have been built since the 1930's to reduce soil erosion and provide water for livestock.
		Northern leopard frog. Photographer: Mike Lannoo. Leopard frogs are a common species in the Midwestern U.S., but in certain locations can exhibit deformities. The exact cause of these deformities in the Midwest is still under investigation.
		Photographer: Melinda Knutson Farm ponds have been built since the 1930's to reduce soil erosion and provide water for livestock.

Chytrid Fungus Associated with Boreal Toad Deaths in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

		Boreal toad. Photographer: Stephen Corn, USGS. Boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado (federal candidate species; listed as endangered by the state of Colorado; the species has undergone about an 80% decline in southern Rocky Mountains).

X-Ray Studies Shed Light on Frog Deformities

Amelia. No bone has developed beyond the pelvis and the contour over the right hip is smooth. Displacement of the coccyx gives the appearance of scoliosis (curve to the right) although the vertebrae are properly aligned. The pelvis is usually abnormal in frogs with amelia. This frog is missing the right ilium.

Polymelia. Although the multiple right limb does not appear separated in the live specimen, the entire limb is very wide and bony and there are 12 toes. This provides good evidence that the bones of the limb are duplicated. The radiograph shows that there are two femurs, 5 tibia / fibula bones and 5 tibiale / fibulare bones.

Phocomelia. The right limb is very short with no true femur or tibiafibula. This foot is very abnormal with only four metatarsal bones (ectrodactyly) associated with four terminal phalanges (brachydactyly).

Chytrid Fungus Implicated as Factor in Decline of Arizona Frogs

The following images link to high resolution tif images which you may download.

		The Chiricahua leopard frog is absent from about 80 percent of its historical localities in the United States. Photo by Cecil Schwalbe, USGS; photo taken at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Ariz., July 1994
		A bullfrog eating a bat at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, Ariz. In Arizona, native leopard frogs no longer occur at sites where bullfrogs are common. Photo by Cecil Schwalbe, USGS, May 26, 1996.
		Interior of the ranarium--a place where frogs are raised or kept--at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, Ariz. Photo by Phil Rosen, University of Arizona, March 20, 1998
		Rancher Matt Magoffin and refuge manager Kevin Cobble seining to rescue Chiricahua leopard frogs and tadpoles from a drying pond on the Magoffin Ranch, Ariz. Photo by Phil Rosen, University of Arizona, March 8, 1994.
		Rancher Matt Magoffin and volunteer Julia Rosen viewing Chiricahua leopard frogs at pond on Magoffin Ranch, Ariz. Photo by Phil Rosen, University of Arizona, Oct. 9, 1994.
		Artificial habitat created for native fishes, leopard frogs and garter snakes at San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, Ariz. Photo by Cecil Schwalbe, USGS, Aug. 13, 1998
		Photograph of the Pacific treefrog. Photo by Gary Fellers, USGS.
		A photograph of a high sierran lake with mountain yellow-legged frogs. Photo by Gary Fellers, USGS.

Amphibian Video Files

The following images are links to enable you to download either Quicktime or RealMedia video files of different amphibians. If you would like a copy of the footage for use. For more information contact Karen Wood at (703) 648-6849. Please note that these might take some time to download.

A RealMedia File showing different amphibians.
The segments show different frog species in an artificial habitat.
Another segment shows the collection of salamanders in the field.

	Download free QuickTime 4 Plugin to view Quicktime video file.
	Download free RealMedia 8 Basic Plugin to view Real Media file.