“And today we’re talking about frogsicle.”
Description of the Frog
- Appearance: This frog gets its name from two inguinal poison glands on its lower back that resemble eyes, creating a “four-eyed” effect. These glands are part of a defensive posture where the frog lowers its head and raises its rear to appear larger and deter predators by mimicking a larger animal’s face.
- Coloration: It has variable coloration, typically featuring a marbled pattern of gray, brown, black, green, or small yellow spots.
Measure Up
Welcome to the beloved Measure Up segment. The official listener’s favorite part of the show! The part of the show when we present the animal’s size and dimension in relatable terms through a quiz that’s fun for the whole family. It’s also the part of the show that’s introduced by you when you send in audio of yourself saying, singing, or chittering the words Measure Up into ldtaxonomy at gmail dot com.
Michigan J. Frog – “Hello My Baby”
Length of the Marbled Four-Eyed Frog
The Marbled Four-Eyed Frog has a body length of 4 cm (1.57 inches). How many objects fit into the frog’s length (if the object is shorter) or how many frogs fit into the object’s length (if the object is longer)?
Question: How many fit into each length comparison?
A) 4.3 Marbled Four-Eyed Frogs go into the length of an Andean coca leaf
B) 4.0 Inca quipu knots go into the length of a Marbled Four-Eyed Frog
C) 2.5 Marbled Four-Eyed Frogs go into the length of a Chilean degu
a) The length of an Andean coca leaf
A coca leaf, used traditionally in Andean cultures (e.g., Peru, Bolivia), measures about 5 cm (0.05 meters or 1.97 inches) long for a mature leaf.
b) The diameter of an Inca quipu knot
A quipu, an Inca record-keeping device from Peru, uses knotted cords, with a typical large knot having a diameter of about 1 cm (0.01 meters or 0.39 inches).
c) The length of a Chilean degu
The degu (Octodon degus), a small rodent native to Chile’s Andean foothills, has a body length of about 14 cm (0.14 meters or 5.51 inches), excluding the tail.
Weight of the Marbled Four-Eyed Frog
The Marbled Four-Eyed Frog weighs 10 grams (0.01 kg). How many objects fit into the frog’s weight (if the object is lighter) or how many frogs fit into the object’s weight (if the object is heavier)?
Question: How many fit into each weight comparison?
A) 3.0 Marbled Four-Eyed Frogs go into the weight of an Andean alpaca wool skein
B) 10.0 Aymara coca seeds go into the weight of a Marbled Four-Eyed Frog
C) 4.0 Marbled Four-Eyed Frogs go into the weight of a Bolivian alpaca figurine
a) The weight of an Andean alpaca wool skein
A small skein of alpaca wool, hand-spun in Peru or Bolivia, weighs about 50 grams (0.05 kg) for a standard weaving bundle.
b) The weight of an Aymara coca seed
A single coca seed, used in Andean agriculture, weighs about 1 gram (0.001 kg).
c) The weight of a Bolivian alpaca figurine
A small carved alpaca figurine, a traditional craft sold in Bolivian markets, weighs about 20 grams (0.02 kg) for a palm-sized piece.
Fast Facts
Habitat and Distribution
Environment: The frog inhabits subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrublands, grasslands, rivers, swamps, and freshwater marshes, often at elevations up to 17,700 feet, making it one of the highest-dwelling amphibians globally.
Locations: Found in the Andes, notably near the Quelccaya Ice Cap in Peru and the Cordillera Real in Bolivia. It thrives in areas with extreme temperature swings, from 111°F during the day to below freezing at night.
Unique Adaptations
Defensive Behavior: When threatened, it adopts a posture that highlights its eye-like glands, confusing or intimidating predators.
Behavior and Ecology
Movement and Reproduction: These frogs undertake multi-day treks up mountains to reach pools of glacial meltwater for mating and reproduction. They move slowly, one hop at a time, enduring harsh UV radiation and cold nights by retreating underground.
Climate Adaptation: The species has expanded its range upslope due to glacial retreat in the Andes over the past 150 years, colonizing new habitats as ice melts. This makes it a successful responder to climate change, though it faces challenges from diseases like chytridiomycosis caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).
Cultural and Scientific Significance
Research: Scientists like Emma Steigerwald study the frog’s genetic diversity and adaptation to understand its response to climate-driven range expansion and disease.Cultural Role: In Peruvian Quechua culture, frogs are associated with rainfall, reflected in the “Hanp’atu” (The Toad) dark constellation, which rises with seasonal rains.