a. Try again.
b. Nope. Way more than 500.
c. Exactly right. Some estimates are around 3,500, some around 3,800, and some over 4,000. They come in different sizes from a tiny tree frog the size of your thumbnail to the humongous goliath frog of Cameroon that can grow over a foot long and weigh almost 8 pounds.

a. Good guess but not for frogs. Some animals, like the tufted puffin, will turn brightly colored in the springtime to attract a mate then turn darker in the winter to avoid predators. Frogs are colorful year-round. Frogs use their voices to find mates.
b. You got it. Or rather, frogs have got it. Poison, that is. The arrow poison (or poison dart) frogs and their relative can secrete a deadly poison from their skin. When predators try to eat one of these frogs, they taste the poison and spit them out. The predator sees the distinctive color pattern and remembers not to bite anything that looks like that again.
c. Sorry. There are some bright, colorful flowers in the rain forest but the forest is green or brown. These frogs stick out like a sore thumb.

a. That's correct. Most frogs have smooth, moist skin, hop when they move with their long, muscular legs, and lay large clumps of eggs. Most toads have bumpy, dry skin, generally walk more than they hop, and lay long strings of eggs. There are many exceptions, however. There are smooth-skinned, long-hopping toads and rough-skinned frogs, too. Both frogs and toads belong to a larger group of amphibians called Anurans.
b. This is just untrue. But the bumps on a toad's skin may be glands containing poison so it's a good idea not to put your hands in your mouth or near your eyes after handling a toad.
c. This is sort of true, but there is a better answer. Frogs generally spend more time near water but both frogs and toads need water to lay eggs.

a. True, but a more complete answer exists. Most frogs start their lives as tadpoles swimming in a pond, ditch or pool of water high in the trees. Later they change into frogs and hop off onto land to hunt and feed. Later still, most of these will return to water again to find a mate and lay eggs.
b. True, but a better example is out there. Since frogs absorb water and oxygen through their skin they also absorb harmful pollutants which might kill them or prevent them from having babies.
c. True but try to find a better example. Their eggs can absorb harmful chemicals along with water and oxygen. They are also vulnerable to UV radiation, the same rays of the sun that cause skin cancer in human beings.
d. This is the best answer. Frogs are delicate and important creatures. If something is killing frogs, it may affect other animals or plants (or even us) down the line.

a. Nope. There aren't even that many different kinds of frogs on the whole earth.
b. Right. According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) 40 species of frogs and toads are threatened worldwide. This may not seem like many, but considering how important these animals are to the ecosystems where they live, this should make you nervous.
c. No, I'm sorry to say that this isn't true. Try again.

a. Yes, but try for a more complete answer. Collecting frogs, especially the colorful poison arrow frogs, has become very popular. To the collectors' credit, more and more captive breeding programs are starting up in the hopes of halting this practice.
b. Amazing but true (still, there's a better answer). Some tribes in the Brazilian rain forests use the poison dart frogs like the one pictured to tip their darts with a potent toxin.
c. This answer is correct, but it's not the only one. Frog legs may taste like chicken but it's really frog, and those frogs are coming from somewhere. The California red-legged frog was hunted almost to extinction by frog leg lovers. When they almost ran out of these frogs they brought in bullfrogs from back East and started dumping them into ponds. What they didn't know was that the bullfrog was a voracious eater and would soon finish the job on its red-legged cousin.
d. This is the most complete answer. Frogs are also collected for dissection in schools, for medical research, live bait and and to be dried and used for medicines and cures.

This is false. Winds and weather can carry acid rains for hundreds of miles before dumping them on unsuspecting lakes and streams.

a. This is the culprit. The cane toad was introduced in Australia to kill insects but now has become an ecological disaster. One problem is that it will eat almost anything that moves, including insects, small mammals, fish and other amphibians. It also reproduces like crazy. There are parts of Australia that are literally crawling with cane toads. Lastly, they are extremely poisonous. If a large animal (like a dog, cat, or bird) bites down on a cane toad, they die. There are no second chances, so the animals never learn not to bite them.
b. Not this one. The arrow poison frog is only a problem for the animal unlucky enough to try and eat one.
c. Okay, so this one was sort of a joke. But the bullfrog has been a problem in other parts of the world. In the western United States this species may be contributing to the decline of some frog and fish species.

a. No, this is the worst thing you could do. Storm drains empty into the nearest stream, river, or lake. Right into the local frogs' backyard.
b. Please do not try this.
c. Correct. Many service stations will recycle your used oil. If not, try the local dump or recycling center. Just keep it out of the storm drain - they empty right into the local frog habitat.

a. This is the right answer. Instead of drain cleaner, try a combination of baking soda and vinegar. Try a couple of different concentrations to see what works best.
b. This was definitely a joke. If you try this it might leave a bad taste in your mouth--literally!
c. It may work on your stomach but it probably won't do much good in your pipes.

© 1998 Oregon Coast Aquarium