Amphibian exhibits

Smannsaker

Smannsaker

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Zoos and aquariums are steadily increasing, in large part because of enhanced exhibits. Many exhibits are now carefully planned to take care of both the animals' needs and the visitors' preferences. Furthermore, the focus on conservation and education is greater than before. Although many species have great exhibits, I often feel that amphibians are underrepresented, despite them being of great biological interest, and also a group that overall is facing a rapid decline. I therefore wonder what amphibian exhibits there are, and how good they are. Also it would be interesting to hear your thoughts of what such an exhibit should include, and what should be avoided.
 
I feel the best would be to make some amphibians into presentation animals. Many children are absolutely fascinated by catching frogs and raising tadpoles. If this can be done under supervision so the frogs and newts are not too molested, and perhaps rotated to get rest, this would work.
 
Jurek7 said:
I feel the best would be to make some amphibians into presentation animals. Many children are absolutely fascinated by catching frogs and raising tadpoles. If this can be done under supervision so the frogs and newts are not too molested, and perhaps rotated to get rest, this would work.
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This would likely be popular, however amphibian ambassadors are best not touched by the public apart from carefully monitored situations. The reason being their sensitivity to soaps, sanitizers, and chemicals potentially present on the hands of the public. Chemicals of any kind cannot be used even near amphibians. I've heard of frogs dying from bleach being used in the same small room as they were housed. Wasn't even near them. Hypothetically any residues on hands would not be enough to be too damaging, but it is a cause for caution.
 
Detroit Zoo has entire amphibian house, I obtained this species list of it in 2019:

National Amphibian Conservation Center
1. Emperor Spotted Newt, Anatolian Newt
2. Lake Titicaca Frog
3. Emperor Newt, Anderson's Newt, Stout Salamander, Cherry Shrimp
4. Aquatic Caecilian, Red-eyed Tree Frog, Orange-legged Monkey Frog
5. Ozark Hellbender
6. Giant Monkey Frog
7. Green Sunfish
8. Golden Mantella, Bernhart's Mantella, Betsileo's Mantella, Green Mantella, Arboreal Mantella, Splendid Mantella
9. White's Tree Frog, Asian Painted Toad
10. Borneo Eared Frog, Denny's Tree Frog
11. Lemur Leaf Frog, Granular Glass Frog, Panamanian Golden Frog
12. Mountain Chicken
13. Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog, Golfoducean Poison Dart Frog, Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog, Blue Poison Dart Frog, Mimic Dart Frog, Dyeing Dart Frog
14. Mexican Giant Tree Frog, Axolotl
15. Japanese Giant Salamander
16. Puerto Rican Crested Toad
17. Narrow-striped Dwarf Siren, Striped Newt
18. Kihansi Spray Toad
19. Wyoming Toad
 
Great Argus said:
their sensitivity to soaps, sanitizers, and chemicals potentially present on the hands of the public.
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It could be solved quite easily by asking people to wash hands in water before, and wash hands properly after the contact session. The latter is asked in in many zoos after contact with any zoo animals.
 
Jurek7 said:
It could be solved quite easily by asking people to wash hands in water before, and wash hands properly after the contact session. The latter is asked in in many zoos after contact with any zoo animals.
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Right, hence I said "carefully monitored situations".
 
Riverbanks Zoo used to keep hellbenders in their SC herpetarium section, but it must have died some time back and was never replaced. Currently the whole thing is being remodeled, but I do hope there's a spot for amphibians, I'm a sucker for salamanders!
 
Although touching amphibians most probably would be popular, it seems unlikely that is could be done regularly in a way that do not have negative welfare implications. Amphibians are generally sensitive, especially due to their semipermeable skin. Also, I think it is improbable that one could be sure that the public always take the necessary precautions. Soap or other disinfectants would probably be able to go through their skin to a certain degree. I am not saying that it could not be done, but I think it is improbable.
 
People carrying over chytrid fungus is also a real threat. Some collections go through great lengths and vigorous quarantine and screening processes. Direct contact between amphibians and the public would render these obsolete.

As far as I've heard there is already a debate over amphibians in Tropical halls since every visitor's shoes could theoretically carry chytrid into a collection...
 
Smithsonian National Zoo has an amphibians section of the Science Gallery in Amazonia called Amphibian Alert. In addition to the display exhibits, there are also windows that look into labs with tanks for breeding frogs. There were 22 species in the Amphibian Alert gallery when I last visited.
African Clawed Frog
California Tiger Salamander
Dyeing Poison Dart Frog, Yellow-banded Poison Dart Frog
Rubber Eel
Fowler’s Toad, Gray Tree Frog
Gray Tree Frog
African Clawed Frog
Strawberry Poison Frog
Dyeing Poison Dart Frog
Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog
Eastern Newt
Golden Poison Frog
Panamanian Golden Frog
Coroneted Tree Frog
Lemur Leaf Frog
Golden Poison Frog
Black-legged Poison Frog
Blessed Poison Frog
Brazilian Poison Frog
Red-spotted Newt
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@TinoPup

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@blospz


In the Reptile and Amphibian Discovery Center there is the Appalachian Salamander Lab, which is very similar to the labs in Amazonia. In here are tanks for breeding Eastern Red-backed Salamanders, Shenandoah Salamanders, Northern Red Salamanders, and Eastern Hellbenders.
Also, right next to this are exhibits for Long-tailed Salamander and Japanese Giant Salamander.
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@red river hog
 
Not sure if still there but the aquarium of the pacific had a frog/amphibian exhibit, I remember tiger salamander, hell bender, dart frogs, and solomon island leaf frogs were on display.
 
splendens said:
Not sure if still there but the aquarium of the pacific had a frog/amphibian exhibit, I remember tiger salamander, hell bender, dart frogs, and solomon island leaf frogs were on display.
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Yes, that exhibit is still there. It might be my favorite hellbender exhibit I've ever seen
 
Joburg Zoo, in South Africa had two frog houses up until 2021.
A small room filled to the brim with Exo Terra terrariums for Pickergill's Reed frogs, with windows looking in from the outside and then a large circular room in the Amazon temple dedicated to South American frogs and strangely, Seba's Short-tailed bat.
When most of the Reed Frogs we're released into the wild near Durban, the reed frog building unfortunately closed in early 2021 and now acts as a storage room.

The Amazon Temple's Frog room still operates however and contains the following amphibian species:
• Green and Black Poison Dart Frog (D. auratus)
• Amazonia Poison Dart Frog (D. ventrimaculatus)
• Mimic Poison Frogs (D. imitator)
• Yellow-banded Poison Frogs (D. leucomelas)
• Dyeing Poison Frogs (D. tinctorius)
• Cane Toad (R. marina)
 
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