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Great Lakes Science Center's newest exhibit dissects the importance of frogs.

Though frogs are such small creatures, they have a huge effect on our ecosystem. "Frogs are an indicator species," says Dante Centuori, director of creative productions at the Great Lakes Science Center. "Their skin is permeable, so it absorbs things more easily, letting us know when changes in the environment occur." Starting May 26, Frogs! A Chorus of Colors will give visitors an opportunity to come face-to-face with 90 live frogs from around the world. "Not only will you learn frogs' importance to the ecosystem, but you'll also see the great variety that frogs possess, from color to sound and more," says Centuori.


THE UNTOUCHABLE

Golden Poison Frog

As evidenced by its scientific name Phyllobates terribilis, the golden poison frog, or golden dart frog, is a deadly creature. "Not only is it the most poisonous frog, but it is believed to be the most poisonous animal in the world," Centuori says. "A single frog has enough poison in its body to kill 20,000 mice or 10 people." The frog, which guests can see during the exhibit, measures about 2 inches when fully grown. Just touching one has the potential to kill you.


THE GLIDER

Chinese Gliding Frog

Watch out for flying frogs during your visit. The Chinese gliding frog is known for its ability to "fly" great distances due to the enlarged webbing between its toes. "The webbing kind of acts like a parachute and allows the frog to soar and land gracefully," says Centuori. "They have controlled descent to the ground if they're escaping a predator or to move from branch to branch." These green flying machines grow up to 4 inches and can be found in Southeast China and Myanmar.


THE HEAVY

African Goliath

Up to 15 inches long, the African goliath is definitely a sight to behold. "It can weigh 7 pounds, which is the weight of your typical house cat," Centuori says of the world's biggest frog. This frog lives in the sandy bottoms of west African rivers, including the Benito River in Equatorial Guinea. The African goliath doesn't have a vocal sac, so it's one of the few frogs that does not have a mating call. A skeleton of this species will be on view during the exhibit.


THE NEWBIE

Paedophryne amauensis

This frog won't be part of the exhibit because it's such a recent discovery. It's so new, it doesn't even have a common name yet. Discovered in 2009 in Papua New Guinea, it is about 7.7 millimeters in length (not even half the diameter of a dime). "Not only is it the smallest frog, it's also the smallest vertebrate," says Centuori. Scientists first heard the frog while recording nocturnal sounds in the forest. They triangulated its position and made their find.

museums & galleries

12:00 AM EST

April 20, 2012

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