WildView™

July 22, 2016

Take A Closer Look

- as seen by -

Alexandra Greco

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Noses pressed against the glass, eyes darting back and forth, searching. Where are the animals in this exhibit? This is a question I’m frequently asked from people of all ages.

“Take a closer look,” I say.

Vietnamese mossy frogs, otherwise known as Tonkin bug-eyed frogs, are hard to spot with the untrained eye. Their green and black pigmentation, as well as their textured, spiny skin allows them to look like clumps of moss – a truly elaborate form of camouflage. Not much is known about this frog, but threats to the species are more present than ever. Clear cutting of forests has reduced their habitat, and the specific demand for this unique amphibian in the global pet trade continues to grow.

Eyes widen. Jaws open. The mossy frogs come into sight.

EDITOR’S NOTE: National Zoo Keeper Week is July 16-24. Wild View is featuring posts by our Wildlife Conservation Society zoo keepers. For more on activities at our wildlife parks during keeper week, visit the Bronx Zoo’s #Keeperweek Challenge, Prospect Park Zoo’s National Zoo Keeper Week, and check for keeper chats at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, New York Aquarium, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo.

Nikon D4

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