Collection: Cool and Crazy Croakers

 COOL AND CRAZY CROAKERS

There are more than 4300 species of frogs and toads around the world. They have survived the course of evolution unchanged thanks to having a handful of adaptations and survival methods. There is a large difference between frogs and toads. Frogs have smoother skin than toads which have bumpy skin, and frogs had longer and stronger hind legs to enable them to jump long distances while toads usually crawl due to their shorter legs.

Cool and Crazy Croakers, acrylic on canvas, 2021. Set of 9, each piece 8" X 8" 

European Toad

Croakers' Swamp Life, acrylic on canvas, 2021.

The European toad is a widespread toad living in most of Europe and western Siberia. It is nocturnal, which means it is more active at night than during the daytime when it usually lies hidden. It is the fourth most commonly-distributed amphibian in Europe. Below the toad in the painting is the Asian edible frog (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus), also known as the "tiger skin frog" to the Chinese. This frog can be found in freshwater marshes in China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It is also one of the most widely-consumed frogs in the world, where they were used in East Asian cuisine.

African Bullfrog

Bullfrog and Xenopus, acrylic on canvas, 2021.

The African bullfrog (Pyxicephalus adspersus) is among the largest frogs in the world, third only to the goliath frog and the marine toad. It is a voracious carnivore which feeds on insects, small mammals, reptiles, small birds, fish and other amphibians. The frog next to it is the African clawed frog, also known as the xenopus (Xenopus laevis), also found in Africa. The xenopus does not have a tongue and uses its front limbs to shove food into its mouth when feeding. The claws on its feet are used to tear apart chunks of large food. It is fully aquatic and rarely leaves the water except to migrate to other water sources during dry weather.

Poison Dart Frogs

Toxic Trio, acrylic on canvas, 2021

The poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) of Central and South America have brightly-colored bodies and secrete toxic secretions on their skin, which they derive from the insect diet they consume, to deter predators. Native South Americans use the frogs' secretions to be added to the tips of blowdarts when hunting. There is a large variety of these frogs, and some species with brighter colors are more toxic than in other species. Three species are depicted in the painting: the strawberry poison dart frog (Oophaga pumilio, top left), the blue poison dart frog (Dendrobates tinctorius "azureus", top right) and the golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis, bottom), said to be the most poisonous in the family.

Tree Frogs

Tree Frogs, acrylic on canvas, 2021.

Frogs do not only live near water, as some species spend a major part of their life in the trees. Two species of tree frog are in the painting: the red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas, top left) of Mexico and Central America; and the white-lipped tree frog (Nyctimystes infrafrenatus, bottom right) of Australia and New Guinea. The red-eyed tree frog had bright colorations of green, red, orange and blue. It is also nocturnal and had sticky pads on its toes to enable them to cling onto leaves. The white-lipped tree frog is one of the world's largest tree frogs. It had a loud barking call but makes noises similar to a cat's when stressed.

Unique Frogs of Malaya

Unique Malayan Frogs, acrylic on canvas, 2021.

Malaysia has a large variety of amphibian life, and that includes frogs that come in an array of unique forms. The country is home to the Wallace's flying frog (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus, top), which lived primarily in trees. This frog has the ability to glide in the air while leaping from tree to tree, splaying its four webbed feet equipped with thin membranes that catch the air as it glides. Below the flying frog in the painting is a long-nosed horned frog (Megophrys nasuta) which is also found in Malaysia. This frog lives among the leaf litter, where it uses its camouflage to blend in and escape predators as well as hunt for small prey.

Fire Belly Toad

Flames and Cross, acrylic on canvas, 2021

The European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina) is known for its brightly-colored belly, which is colored orange to bright red with black bars and stripes. When under threat, this toad displays its bright belly to ward off predators. The smaller amphibian next to it is the crucifix or holy cross frog (Notaden bennetti) from Australia. It is a small, round frog that is named for the cross-shaped pattern on its back. It is also a ground-dwelling frog that digs burrows to survive in dry weather.

Tomato and Budgett's Frog

Tomato Back, acrylic on canvas, 2021

The tomato frog (Dyscophus antongilii) is a bright orange-colored frog that lives in the island of Madagascar. Its tomato-like coloration acts as a warning to prevent predators from attacking it. The tomato frog in the painting is standing on a larger frog called the Budgett's frog (Lepidobatrachus laevis). Commonly found in South America, it belongs to the same family as the Pac-Man frogs and is famous for being kept as pets due to its plump appearance and intelligence. When threatened, this frog inflates its body and makes shrill screeching sounds. It feeds on other frogs, insects, and snails.

This painting seems to be inspired by this video.

Rain Frogs

Roly Poly Frogs, acrylic on canvas, 2021

The frogs in this painting are known for their round bodies and short faces. The two frogs at the back are rain frogs (Breviceps), a family of African frogs that lived in the varied conditions of southern and southwestern Africa, particularly in Namibia and South Africa. The common rain frog (Breviceps adspersus, back left) lives in grasslands and temperate forests, while the desert rain frog (Breviceps macrops, back right) is more at home in the dry deserts. The desert rain frog inflates its body and emits a squeaking noise when provoked. The purple-colored frog in front of the pair is a purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis), an unrelated frog from India. Its rounded body helps them cling to submerged rocks and endure strong river currents. 

Surinam Toad

Surinam Toad, acrylic on canvas, 2021

The Surinam toad (Pipa pipa) lives in northern South America, and can be found in the bottom of rivers and ponds. It has a flat body which resembles a dried leaf, small eyes and had no tongue or teeth. Its front toes had star-like appendages which it uses to capture invertebrates and small fish when feeding. Its' underbelly had two "seams" in a T-shape.  The strangest feature for this toad is the way its mother takes care of its babies. After the eggs are laid, the male presses the eggs onto the female's back, and then they are covered in a slimy layer that only sticks to the female's skin, which gradually grows over the eggs as the female carries them for months while they develop. The eggs eventually hatch into tiny, fully-formed froglets, and the female sheds the skin layer once all the young have hatched.