History of Frogs
It is believed that frogs have existed on Earth for millions of years as an intrinsic link in the ecological chain. Almost 4,000 different species of these cold-blooded amphibians have been identified throughout the world. The vast array of color, shape, and size among and within the individual species is astonishing. Patterned and marked to enhance their survival, frogs are capable of changing color with the temperature of their environments, allowing them to blend more effectively with their surroundings. However, not all frogs merge with their natural habitat: The poisonous species, including the dart-poison frogs, are brilliantly colored to warn predators of the deadly toxins that they secrete.
Frogs have intrigued cultures through the ages because of their ability to metamorphosize from the aquatic tadpole to the mature animal. In Egypt, they were viewed as symbols of fertility, while Native Americans and Australian Aborigines believed that they predicted the coming of rain. In modern society, frogs have contributed much to the realm of medical science: Their secretions have produced many effective remedies to bacterial and viral infections, as well as heart and blood pressure ailments.
However, their moist secreting skin, which makes them so useful to science and medicine, has made them highly susceptible to pollution and environmental pesticides, which they absorb directly through their skin. This combined with mass destruction of their natural habitats, has made severe inroads into their population worldwide. In North America alone, it is estimated that one-third of the approximate 86 species are endangered. Awareness of the importance of these fascinating creatures and their natural habitats is the first step in preserving their essential place in the natural world.
