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Exhibit presents a rainbow of amphibians |
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Dumpy Tree Frog
Photo courtesy of Springfield Museums
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Jan. 9, 2012
By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
SPRINGFIELD — As Kermit the Frog would say, “It’s not easy being green.” A new exhibit coming to the Springfield Science Museum will show, though, that frogs come in more than one hue.
“Frogs: A Chorus of Colors” will feature more than 15 terrariums with frogs from every continent with the exception of Antarctica, Daniel Augustino, the aquarist for the Science Museum told Reminder Publications.
Peeling Productions at Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland in Allenwood, Penn., created the exhibit. United Bank is sponsoring the presentation of the exhibit in Springfield. It opens on Jan. 21 and will be on view through May 13.
On opening day visitors will see live animal demonstrations from 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and a performance of “The Frog Prince” by the Pumpernickel Puppets at 1 p.m.
The exhibit also includes videos of frogs in the wild, recorded frog calls, colorful graphics and photos, and interactive activities that explain fascinating frog facts.
Augustino said this was the first time the museum has featured a traveling collection of live frogs. Frogs are part of the permanent exhibit of various fish, reptiles and amphibians the museum maintains in its ecology center.
Among the frogs in the exhibit are Mexican Dumpy Frogs, Waxy Monkey Frogs, Vietnamese Mossy Frogs and Fire-bellied Toads. Augustino said of particular interest to him are frogs from the South American rainforest that are bright in color and excrete toxins used by indigenous people as poisons on arrows.
Researchers are also interested in those toxins for possible medical applications, he added.
Because the frogs are living in terrariums with plants and soil from their native environment, Augustino said their behaviors would be natural.
He said that few people think of frogs as predators, but they are as they eat insects and play a very important role in the food chain. They are, in turn, a source of food for fish and reptiles.
They are also an “indicator species,” Augustino explained. Because frogs breathe through their skin, they will show signs of pollution.
“They face challenges for survival,” he said. Besides a declining quality of their environment, a fungus is also killing frogs around the world, Augustino added.
The Springfield Museums are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards St. Free onsite parking is available in the Edwards Street parking lots. The museums are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6.50 for children 3 to17, and free for children younger than 3 and museum members. Springfield residents receive free general admission with proof of address. The fee provides admission to all Springfield Museums. There is a special exhibition fee of $5 for all visitors age 3 and older to visit the “Frogs” exhibit.
For more information, call 263-6800 or visit www.springfieldmuseums.org.
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