ZooChat Challenge (Global) 2019

Tiergarten Schönbrunn (visited on 10-11-2019)
87 - Little rock frog - Staurois parvus
88 - common treefrog - Polypedates leucomystax

Budapest zoo (visited on 12-11-2019)
89 - Rococo toad - Rhinella schneideri
90 - Greater siren - Siren lacertina
91 - Eastern dwarf clawed frog - Hymenochirus boulengeri
92 - Two-toed amphiuma - Amphiuma means
93 - Guibé's mantella - Mantella nigricans
94 - Madagascar tomato frog - Dyscophus antongilii
95 - Yellow-stiped poison frog - Dendrobates truncatus
96 - Cuban treefrog - Osteopilus septentrionalis

Haus des Meeres (visited on 12-11-2019)
97 - Andean marsupial frog - Gastrotheca riobambae
98 - Spiny-headed treefrog - Anotheca spinosa
99 - Surinam toad - Pipa pipa

Hoping to break 100 still before the end of the year though. A combined aquarium/Christmas market visit to Düsseldorf is not entirely out of the question...
And I narrowly made it to the 100 club...

Düsseldorf Aquazoo (visited on 22-12-2019)
100 - African red toad - Schismaderma carens
 
I thought the same! I missed the smooth newts, alpine newts, bird poop frogs, Australian green tree frogs, Riobamba marsupial frogs, cane toad and Oriental fire-bellied toads. Two of those would've been additions too, sadly.
 
Dudley Zoo - 27/11/19

95. Siren intermedia - Lesser siren

London Zoo - 4/12/19

96. Euproctus platycephalus - Sardinian brook salamander
97. Alytes cisternasii - Iberian midwife toad
98. Xenopus longipes - Lake Oku clawed frog
99. Rhacophorus feae - Fea's tree frog

Manchester Museum - 19/12/19

100. Phyllomedusa trinitarian - Trinidadian Monkey Frog
101. Atelopus varius - Harlequin Toad
102. Cruziophyla calcarifer - Splendid leaf frog
103. Cruziophyla sylviae - Sylvia's tree frog
104. Litoria splendida - Splendid tree frog

Thanks to @MagpieGoose for help with IDs
 
Identified as Atelopus pulcher at all US institutions with it.

Dallas World Aquarium 12/22/19

108. Amazon poison frog, Ranitomeya amazonica
Aggieland Safari 12/23/19

109. Plains leopard frog, Lithobates blairi
110. Blanchard’s cricket frog, Acris blanchardi

111. Gulf coast toad, Incilius valliceps
 
Aggieland Safari 12/23/19

109. Plains leopard frog, Lithobates blairi
110. Blanchard’s cricket frog, Acris blanchardi

111. Gulf coast toad, Incilius valliceps
Houston Zoo 12/24/19

112. Houston toad, Bufo houstonensis

113. Barton Springs salamander, Eurycea sosorum
114. Black-spotted newt, Notophthalmus meridionalis
115. Gliding leaf frog, Agalychnis spurrelli
 
I visited Sea Life Sunshine Coast today and picked up some lifers (they finally had some frogs on display). It looks like this will be my complete list for the year...
6. Red-eyed Tree Frog Litoria chloris
7. Dainty Tree Frog Litoria gracilenta
8. Peron’s Tree Frog Litoria peronii
9. Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog Litoria fallax
10. Axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum
I just came back from my first ever visit to Taronga Zoo and saw two very special (and critically endangered) frog species.
11. Southern Corroboree Frog Pseudophryne corroboree
12. Yellow-spotted Bell Frog Litoria castanea
 
Trailside Museum & Zoo
94) Wood Frog Lithobates sylvaticus

~Thylo

This will be my last update of the year:

Mystic Aquarium
95) Three-Striped Poison Dart Frog Ameerega trivittata
96) Bird Poop Bug-Eyed Frog Theloderma asperum

Annoyingly, I will not be joining the 100 species club this year due to just a few too many missed species. I'm still very happy and admittedly surprised by how successful many of us have been this year!

Now for official challenge business: Due to my current schedule for the remainder of the year being extremely hectic, I will not have a chance to declare a winner or give a rundown of people's totals until at least a few days into 2020. I'd recommend everyone get in their final totals for the year by that time! I will try and get the 2020 challenge thread up sooner for people who are planning any January 1st zoo visits :) Thank you all for another fantastic year!

~Thylo
 
Houston Zoo 12/24/19

112. Houston toad, Bufo houstonensis

113. Barton Springs salamander, Eurycea sosorum
114. Black-spotted newt, Notophthalmus meridionalis
115. Gliding leaf frog, Agalychnis spurrelli
San Antonio Zoo 12/25/19

116. Danube crested newt, Triturus dobrogicus

Fort Worth Zoo 12/27/19

117. Kwiechow crocodile newt, Tylototriton kweichowensis
118. Red-spotted toad, Anaxyrus punctatus
119. Red-bellied walking toad, Melanophryniscus stelzneri
 
San Antonio Zoo 12/25/19

116. Danube crested newt, Triturus dobrogicus

Fort Worth Zoo 12/27/19

117. Kwiechow crocodile newt, Tylototriton kweichowensis
118. Red-spotted toad, Anaxyrus punctatus
119. Red-bellied walking toad, Melanophryniscus stelzneri
Forgotten from Fort Worth:
120. Budgett’s frog, Lepidobatrachus laevis

Oklahoma City Zoo 12/28/19

121. Common coqui, Eleutherodactylus coqui
122. Anderson’s crocodile newt, Echinotryton andersoni
123. Great Plains toad, Anaxyrus cognatus

Am I done yet? We’ll have to see what tomorrow holds. :P
 
Last weekend visited several collection in the north of France and at the Paris Zoological Park I found quite a number of Amphibians, a good number of them being new for the Challenge :

40 - Alpine newt - Ichthyosaura alpestris

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41 - Marsh frog - Pelophylax ridibundus

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42 - Trinidad leaf-nesting frog - Phyllomedusa trinitatis

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43 - Tomato frog - Dyscophus guineti

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44 - Baron's mantella - Mantella baroni

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45 - Betsileo madagascar frog - Mantidactylus betsileanus ( LIFER for me :) )

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46 - American bull frog - Lithobates catesbeianus

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Also a good number of other amphibian-species which I already had seen at other collections this year and a number of missed species according to Zootierliste but its well possible that these were not on display anymore because at the European Vivarium one room was changed completely.


Today I went for the second time this year to Dierenpark Amersfoort - the Netherlands and this time the Nocturnal House was open and so I was able to find at least the - most prob. - last amphibian-species for this years challenge :

47 - Ticitaka water frog - Telmatobius culeus

20191228_140324 ticitaka frog.jpg

At the beginning of this Challenge I thought I would at least reach 50 species but due to bad luck, missing quite a number of species which should be on display and visiting mainly Dutch zoos I only reached 47 :(.
The number of amphibian-species this year seen is however much greater ( I guess I saw at least 150 different species ) but most of them at shops and herp-fairs and these don't count.
Evenso I'm very pleased with the number seen and the fact that this challenge has put the spotlight on a group which is otherwise not of great intrest among a large number of ZooChatters - I realy hope this Challenge has changed this for at least some ZooChatters !
 

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Sacramento Zoo (Nov. 23, 2019)
18. Sambava tomato frog (Dyscophus guineti)
San Francisco Zoo (Dec. 28, 2019)
19. California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii)
20. Dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)
21. Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki)
22. Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas)

Well, uh, at least I saw 22 more species than any of the New Zealand Zoochatters saw. ;)
 
Ueno Zoo:
6. Long nosed horned frog (Megophrys nasuta)
7. False tomato frog(Dyscophus guineti)
8. Green tree frog(Litoria caerulea)
9. Bell’s horned frog(Ceratophrys onnata)
10. Oriental fire bellied toad(Bombina orientalis)
11. Budgett’s frog (Lepidobatrachis laevis)
12. Suriname toad (Pipa pipa)
13. African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus)
14. Golden mantilla (Mantella aurantiaca)
15. Yellow headed poison frog (Dendrobates leucomelas)
16. Spanish ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl)
17. Mexico salamander(Ambystoma mexicanum)
18. Greater siren (siren lacertina)
19. Three-toed amphima(Amphiuma tridactylym)
20. Tokyo salamander (Hynobius tokyonesis)
21. Tohoku salamander (Hynobius lichenatus)
22. Tokyo daruma pond frog (Pelophylax porosus)
23. Kajika frog(Buergeria buergeri)
24. Forest green tree frog (Rhacophorus arboreus)
25. Eastern Japanese common toad (Bufo japonicus)
26. Schlegel’s green tree frog (Rhacophorus schlegelii)
27. Japanese tree frog(Hyla japonica)
28. American bull frog (LIthobates catesbeianus)
29. Japanese giant salamander(Andrias japonicus)

TSLP:
30. Japanese fire bellied newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster)
31. Japanese brown frog(Rana japonica)
32. Wrinkled frog(Rana rugosa)

So my total is 32 now.

Hong Kong Wetland Park (not a zoo but a public collection):
33.Hong Kong newt(Paramesotriton hongkongensis)
 
San Francisco Zoo (Dec. 28, 2019)
19. California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii)
20. Dyeing poison frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)
21. Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki)
22. Red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas)

Well, uh, at least I saw 22 more species than any of the New Zealand Zoochatters saw. ;)
Um, excuse me?! I definitely saw one! :p

1) Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea at Wellington Zoo, New Zealand.
 
My final list for the year:

Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Nature Center - January 22 2019
1. Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens
2. American Toad Anaxyrus americanus
3. American Bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus
4. Eastern Gray Tree Frog Hyla chrysoscelis

Henry Vilas Zoo - March 30 2019
8. Cane Toad Rhinella marina
9. Lemur Leaf Frog Agalychnis lemur
10. Golfoducean Poison Dart Frog Phyllobates vittatus
11. Green-And-Black Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates auratus
12. Dyeing Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates tinctorius

Milwaukee County Zoo - June 16 2019
13. Common Suriname Toad Pipa pipa
14. Sambava Tomato Frog Dyscophus guineti
15. Hellbender Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
16. Eastern Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum
17. Lesser Siren Siren intermedia
18. Chacoan Horned Frog Ceratophrys cranwelli

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary - June 21 2019
19. White's Tree Frog Litoria caerulea

Columbus Zoo & Aquarium - June 27 2019
20. Panamanian Golden Frog Atelopus zeteki
21. Axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum

Toledo Zoo and Aquarium - June 29 2019
22. Long-tailed Salamander Eurycea longicauda

23. Golden Poison Dart Frog Phyllobates terribilis
24. Ribbed Newt Pleurodeles waltl
25. Red-eyed Tree Frog Agalychnis callidryas
26. Dyeing Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates tinctorius

Manitowoc Lincoln Park Zoo - August 3 2019
27. Wood Frog Lithobates sylvaticus

Alligator Alley - August 9 2019
28. Pac-Man Frog Ceratophrys ornata
29. Oriental Fire-bellied Toad Bombina orientalis
30. Woodhouse's Toad Anaxyrus woodhousii
31. Green Tree Frog Hyla cinerea

Lincoln Park Zoo - August 14 2019
32. Solomon Island Leaf Frog Ceratobatrachus guentheri

Detroit Zoo - August 16 2019
33. Emperor Spotted Newt Neurergus kaiseri
34. Lake Titicaca Frog Telmatobius culeus
35. Emperor Newt Tylototriton shanjing
36. Giant Waxy Monkey Frog Phyllomedusa bicolor
37. Golden Mantella Mantella aurantiaca
38. Green Mantella Mantella viridis
39. Betsileo's Mantella Mantella betsileo
40. Arboreal Mantella Mantella laevigata
41. Splendid Mantella Mantella pulchra
42. Anatolian Newt Neurergus strauchii
43. Anderson's Newt
Echinotriton andersoni
44. South American Waxy Tree Frog Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis
45. Bornean Eared Frog Polypedates otilophus
46. Denny's Tree Frog Rhacophorus dennysi
47. Mountain Chicken Leptodactylus fallax
48. Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog Dendrobates leucomelas
49. Mimic Dart Frog Ranitomeya imitator
50. Mexican Giant Tree Frog Pachymedusa dacnicolor
51. Japanese Giant Salamander Andrias japonicus
52. Puerto Rican Crested Toad Peltophryne lemur
53. Narrow-striped Dwarf Siren Pseudobranchus axanthus
54. Striped Newt Notophthalmus perstriatus
55. Kihansi Spray Toad Nectophrynoides asperginis
56. Wyoming Toad Anaxyrus baxteri

Binder Park Zoo - August 17 2019
57. Smokey Jungle Frog Leptodactylus pentadactylus

I certainly did not expect to hit 57!
 
Here are my totals for the year. Species I saw for the first time in 2019 are bolded.

Shedd Aquarium - 01/13/19
1. Dyeing Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius)
2. Black-legged Poison Frog (Phyllobates bicolor)
3. Fringe Tree Frog (Cruziohyla craspedopus)
4. Blue-and-yellow Frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor)
5. Mission Golden-eyed Tree Frog (Trachycephalus resinifictrix)
6. Mimic Poison Frog (Ranitomeya imitator)
7. Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens)
8. Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus)
9. Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
10. Grey Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor)
11. Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum)
12. Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
13. Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus)
14. Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifuga)
15. Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

Lincoln Park Zoo - 01/18/19
16. Oriental Fire-belly Toad (Bombina orientalis)
17. Emperor Newt (Tylototriton shanjing)
18. Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
19. Solomon Island Leaf Frog (Ceratobatrachus guentheri)
20. American Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinerea)
21. American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - 01/18/19
22. Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)
23. Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)
24. Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)
25. Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)
26. Common Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)

Shedd Aquarium (again) - 02/09/2019
27. Silverstone’s Poison Frog (Ameerega silverstonei)
28. Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia)
29. Long-tailed Salamander (Eurycea longicauda)
30. Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)

Brookfield Zoo - 03/01/2019
31. Borneo Eared Frog (Polypedates otilophus)
32. Rio Cauca Caecilian (Typhlonectes natans)
33. Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus)
34. Cope’s Grey Tree Frog (Hyla chrysoscelis)
35. Anthony’s Poison Arrow Frog (Epipedobates anthonyi)
36. Green and Black Poison Frog (Dendrobates auratus)
37. Panamanian Golden Frog (Atelopus zeteki)
38. Titicaca Water Frog (Telmatobius culeus)
39. Smoky Jungle Frog (Leptodactylus pentadactylus)
40. Mossy Frog (Theloderma corticale)
41. Yellow-spotted Climbing Toad (Pedostibes hosii)

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (again) - 03/25/2019
42. Barred Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium)

Potter Park Zoo - 05/04/2019
43. Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Peltophryne lemur)
44. Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates leucomelas)

Shedd Aquarium (again) - 05/17/2019
45. Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)

Brookfield Zoo (again) - 06/21/2019
46. Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni)
47. Hourglass Tree Frog (Dendropsophus ebraccatus)
48. Cane Toad (Rhinella marina)

National Zoo - 08/03/2019
49. Lemur Leaf Frog (Agalychnis lemur)
50. Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
51. Shenandoah Salamander (Plethodon shenandoah)
52. Spiny-headed Tree Frog (Anotheca spinosa)
53. African Clawed Frog (Xenopus laevis)
54. California Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma californiense)
55. False Tomato Frog (Dyscophus guineti)
56. Black-legged Poison Frog (Phyllobates bicolor)
57. Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
58. Strawberry Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio)
59. Sabana Surinam Toad (Pipa parva)

Willowbrook Wildlife Center - 08/20/2019
60. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Shedd Aquarium (again) - 09/03/2019
61. Ocoee Salamander (Desmognathus ocoee)
62. Seepage Salamander (Desmognathus aeneus)

Philadelphia Zoo - 09/15/2019
63. Fire Salamander (Salamandra salamandra)
64. Kaiser’s Spotted Newt (Neurergus kaiseri)
65. Anderson’s Salamander (Ambystoma andersoni)
66. African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus)
67. Magnificent Tree Frog (Litoria splendida)
68. Sword-tail Newt (Cynops ensicauda)

National Aquarium in Baltimore - 10/13/2019
69. Splashback Poison Frog (Adelphobates galactonotus)
70. Smooth-sided Toad (Rhaebo guttatus)
71. Harlequin Poison Frog (Oophaga histrionica)
72. Yellow-striped Poison Frog (Dendrobates truncatus)

Milwaukee County Zoo - 11/16/2019
73. Cranwell’s Horned Frog (Ceratophrys cranwelli)
74. Common Surinam Toad (Pipa pipa)
75. Northern Dwarf Siren (Pseudobranchus striatus)

Brookfield Zoo (again) -12/22/2019
76. Chinese Fire Belly Newt (Cynops orientalis)
77. Bumblebee Toad (Melanophryniscus stelzneri)

Now, assuming that my post-Working-on-New-Years-Eve fatigue and presumed Dyscalculia haven't rendered me totally mathematically illiterate that should add up to 77 unique species. I saw a few others at reptile expos this year but per the rules they could not be counted towards my total. Additionally, this year I became the caretaker for a pair of barred tiger salamanders. I saw far more species than I expected to see, and I've definitely got a much stronger appreciation for amphibians.
 
Now, assuming that my post-Working-on-New-Years-Eve fatigue and presumed Dyscalculia haven't rendered me totally mathematically illiterate that should add up to 77 unique species. I saw a few others at reptile expos this year but per the rules they could not be counted towards my total. Additionally, this year I became the caretaker for a pair of barred tiger salamanders. I saw far more species than I expected to see, and I've definitely got a much stronger appreciation for amphibians.

If animals seen at expos could be counted I'd have made it well over 100 species believe you me :p

At the end of the day, your final statement is what I really hoped to achieve for people this year. I like picking groups that people often overlook to try and generate interest in them. I'm glad to hear it worked for at least one person :)

~Thylo
 
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