>>> WHAT ANIMAL IS COLD-BLOODED, LIVES ON LAND AND IN THE WATER AND SOMETIMES BREATHES THROUGH ITS SKIN?

IF YOU GUESSED AN AMPHIBIAN, YOU'RE RIGHT.

NT TO KNOW MORE?

SCIENTISTS ARE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

EMAIL OR CALL IN D4K.

"DIALOGUE FOR KIDS" IS NEXT.

>> HELLO.

I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION AND ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB.

THERE ARE NEARLY 6,000 SPECIES OF AMPHIBIANS.

FROGS, SALAMANDERS AND TOADS ARE THE MOST FAMILIAR.

BUT HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT A NEWT, A SALAMANDER THAT SPENDS MOST OF EACH YEAR LIVING ON LAND?

ANOTHER AMPHIBIAN GROUP IS CAECILIANS.

THEY LOOK LIKE LARGE WORMS.

AND ALL AMPHIBIANS HAVE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS.

THE WORD AMPHIBIAN MEANS DOUBLE LIFE.

THEY'RE NOT SECRET AGENTS OR SPIES, IT MEANS AMPHIBIANS LIVE IN TWO VERY DIFFERENT PLACES, ON LAND AND IN WATER.

>> THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A SWIMMING POOL ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.

STICKY SWELTER FEELING GETS WASHED AWAY AS YOU SLIDE THROUGH THE COOL WATER.

WHY IS IT EVEN ON THE HOTTEST SUMMER DAY AFTER BEING ON THE WATER FOR A WHILE, YOU CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT AND HEAT YOUR BODY ON THE SUN-WARMED DECK?

THAT FEELS GOOD.

WHEW!

YOU'RE HOT.

YOU'RE COLD.

HOT.

COLD.

BUT YOU ARE WARM-BLOODED.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BASK IN THE SUN BUT YOUR BODY TEMPERATURE STAYS THE SAME.

>> WHEN I'M SICK MY MOM SAYS I HAVE A TEMPERATURE IT CAN'T GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY.

>> WHEN YOUR BODY IS FIGHTING GERMS, YOUR TEMPERATURE CAN GO UP.

IF IT GOES UP TOO MUCH, IT'S A BAD THING.

YES, YOU GUESSED IT YUCKY MEDICAL MEDICINE.

YOU ARE WARM BLOODED AND CAN ONLY CHANGE A FEW DEGREES.

AMPHIBIANS ARE COLD-BLOODED.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN HE WENT TO HOSPITAL.

>> WHAT DO THEY DO WHEN IT'S REALLY COLD OUTSIDE?

>> THEY MIGHT BEER FLAT--MIGHT FLAT--HIBERNATE AND IT STOPS BREATHING AND EACH YEAR WHEN IT THAWS.

IT COMES BACK TO LIFE.

LIKE A POPSICLE AND FROGS DON'T LIKE IT WHEN IT'S TOO HOT.

>> WHAT DO THEY DO.

>> THEY CHILL OUT BY DIGGING BACK INTO A DIRT.

THIS IS CALLED ESCABATION.

THEY ARE TRYINGO STAY OUT OF THE HEAT.

>> HOW DEEP DOUSE A FROG DIG IS THIS.

>> KNEE DEEP KNEE DEEP.

>> THEY HAVE TO FIND A NEW MATE AND REPRODUCE.

MALE FROGS AND TOADS ATTRACT THEIR MATES BY SINGING.

>> LA, LA, LA.

>> NOT EXACTLY, LIKE THIS.

[FROGS CLICKING] >> LISTEN FOR THEM WHEN YOU'RE NEAR A POND THIS SPRING.

IT WORKS BETTER IF YOU'RE REALLY A FROG.

FROG LAY THEIR EGGS IN A WATER.

THEY ARE IN A SUBSTANCE THAT LOOKS LIKE, WELL, SNOT.

>> EWW!

>> THAT SOUNDS GROSS BUT IT PROTECTS THE EGGS FROM DRYING OUT AND SOAKING UP TOO MUCH OF THE WATER.

HOW FAST THEY DEVELOP DEPENDS ON THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATERER.

THE WARMER THE WATER, THE FASTER THE EGGS TURN INTO LARVEE.

AMPHIBIAN LARVEE WILL STAY IN THE WATER UNTIL THEY BECOME ADULTS.

THIS IS CALLED META MOREFIZZSIS.

THIS IS A DOUBLE LIFE.

>> WHAT DID THE FROG ORDER AT McDONALD'S.

>> FRENCH FRIES AND A DIET CROAK.

>> THEY ARE EATING MHINES AND MUNCH ON WATER PLANTS LIKE ALGAE AND THEN BUGS THAT LIVE IN THE WATER.

>> WHAT DID THE FROG SAY TO THE FLY?

>> YOU'RE HIGH ABOVE ME.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> MOST ADULT AMPHIBIANS EAT INVERT WHERE A WHERE A--INVERT BRAS.

THEY CAN EAT MICE AND BIRDS AND AMPHIBIANS EAT A LOT OF ANIMALS WE THINK OF AS PESTS.

>> HOW DOES THE FROG CATCH SOMETHING LIKE A FLY?

>> HEY!

>> THEY'RE REALLY FAST.

>> AMPHIBIANS ARE ABLE TO CATCH THEIR FOODS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BIG MOUTHS AND AN AWESOME TONGUE.

THEIR TONGUE IS STICKY AND ATTACHES IN THE FRONT OF THE MOUTH INSTEAD OF THE BACK LIKE YOUR TONG.

WHEN A FOOD FLIES BY, OPENS THE MOUTH AND THEN THE TONGUE.

COULD YOU DO THAT?

HOW ABOUT SOMETHING EASIER?

*[ MUSIC ] >> MAYBE NOT.

AMPHIBIANS HAVE BECOME IMPORTANT IN HELPING SCIENTISTS TAKE CARE OF THE WORLD AROUND US.

BIOLOGISTS STUDY THEM TO LEARN ABOUT PROBLEMS IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHEN THE AMPHIBIAN NUMBERS DROPS, THE SCIENTISTS LOOKING FOR THEAUSES AND PROBLEMS AND HELPS US.

SPRING IS THE TIME TO LOOK AND LISTEN FOR FROGS.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

HOP OVER TO THE NEAREST POND AND MEET YOUR AMPHIBIAN NEIGHBORS.

>> THERE, ALL RIGHT!

>> JOINING ME NOW TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT AMPHIBIANS ARE TWO GUESTS.

ADARE EVANS, AN EDUCATION SPECIALIST WITH THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND ERIC LEITZINGER, A BIOLOGIST WITH THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

>> AND OF COURSE WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

CALL US HERE TOLL FREE AT 1-800-973-9800 OR EMAIL US AT D4K@IDAHOTV.ORG.

THIS IS FROM NICOLE, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REPTILE AND AMPHIBIAN?

>> REPTILES ARE, BOTH COLD-BLOODED.

REPTILES ARE MORE CLOSELY RELATED TO BIRDS.

THEY HAVE THICKER SKIN.

AMPHIBIANS HAVE THIN SKIN THAT CAN BREATHE THROUGH THE WATER.

THEY, WELL, THEY HAVE MANY DIFFERENCE.

>> AMPHIBIANS GO THROUGH A META MOREFIZZSIS AND THEY WILL LAY EGGS IN THE WATER.

>> CHRIS IS AFTER RIVERSIDE, HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY ARE FROGS TONGS TONGS--TONGUES STICKY?

>> THE FIRST THING, NOT ALL FROGS HAVE TONGUES.

MOST DO.

THE REASON WHY IS SO THEY CAN BASICALLY SHOOT IT OUT AND CAPTURE WHAT'SOING BY MORE EASILY.

IF SOMETHING IS MOVING QUILY, YOU HAVE TO STICK OUT THE TONGUE QUICKLY.

IT ROLLS OUT AND TOUCHED THE INSECT AND ROLLS BACK.

>> DUCKS BACK IN.

>> YEAH.

WHEN THEY CATCH SOMETHING, THEY USUALLY DON'T HAVE THEIR EYES OPENED.

IMAGINE LOOKING CLOSELY AND STICKING YOUR TONGUE OUT AND ROLLING IT BACK IN IS INCREDIBLE.

>> KATY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S THE MOST NATURAL HABITAT?

>> AROUND WATER A POND OR EDGE OF A STREAM OR LAKE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T FIND THEM IN DESERTS AS LONG AS THERE'S A WATER SOURCE, YOU MIGHT FIND AN AMPHIBIAN.

>> COLIN WANTS T KNOW WHAT'S THE LARGEST AMPHIBIAN IS IN THE WORLD?

>> THE WORLD?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LARGEST IS BUT IN IDAHO PACIFIC GIANT SALAMANDER THAT'S SIX INCHES LONG AND LARGEST FROG IS A BULLFROG.

IT'S NOT A NATIVE SPECIES IN IDAHO.

>> AT CYNTHIA ANN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF AMPHIBIANS.

>> IN IDAHO 10 FROGS, FOUR SALAMANDERS AND ONE NEWT.

>> ARE THERE ANY THAT CHANGE COLOR DEPENDING ON THEIR SURROUNDING?

>> YES.

THERE ARE SOME FROGS THAT CHANGE THEIR COLOR.

IT'S WHAT WE CALL A CRIPTIC COLORATION.

THEY TRY TO BLEND IN LIKE A CHAMELEON BUT NOT THAT DRAMATIC.

JUST SUBTLE SHADES OF DARKER OR BROWN.

>> FAITH IN HAVEN MEADOWS WANTS TO KNOW WHY FROGS DON'T KEEP THEIR TAILS WHEN THEY GROW UP?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

PROBABLY BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED IT ANYMORE.

THEY NEED THE TAIL AS A TAD POLE WHEN THEY ARE IN THE WATER.

IT HELPS THEM STEER THROUGH THE WATER AND FORCES THEM FORWARD.

ONCE THEY GROW LEGS, THEY DON'T NEED THAT TO MOVE ANY LONGER.

>> CONNER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW LONG THEY LIVE.

>> MOST FROGS LIVE FIVE TO 10 YEARS.

THE LONGEST I HEARD OF LIVING WAS A TOAD IN ENGLAND THAT LIVED FOR 37 YEARS UNDER SOMEONE'S PORCH.

IT WAS FAMILIAR AND ALMOST LIKE A PET.

IT WOULD COME OUT AND THEY WOULD ACTUALLY STROKE ITS BACK.

>> CINDY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW COME AMPHIBIANS DON'T HAVE EARS?

>> THEY DON'T HAVE AN OUTER EAR BUT ON THE SIDE OF THE HEAD THEY HAVE A TIMPANIC MEMBRANE LIKE THE EAR EARDRUM.

WHEN SOUND HITS IT IT VIBRATES.

>> AND FROM MRS.

LITTLES' CLASS THEY WOULD LYING TO KNOW IF THEY HAVE LUNGS?

>> YES.

SOME DON'T HAVE LUNGS.

SOME SALAMANDERS THAT LIVE IN WATER ALL OF THEIR LIVES NEVER GET LUNGS AND KEEP THEIR GILLS.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY LIVE.

>> DO AMPHIBIANS HAVE TO BE WET TO BREATHE?

>> NOT AS ADULTS.

THEY ARE MOVE A FAIR DISTANCE FROM THE WATER AND BREATHE THROUGH THEIR LUNGS.

THEY ARE TIED TO THE WATER SEASONALLY.

>> LET'S GET TO THE FIRST CALLER.

TAMMY IN COEUR D'ALENE.

TAMMY?

LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET TAMMY HERE.

LET ME ASK ANOTHER QUESTION FROM EMAIL.

NICOLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AMPHIBIANS ARE CALLED AMPHIBIANS.

>> AMPHIBIAN MEANS DOUBLE LIFE.

THE REASON THEY ARE CALLED IS BECAUSE THEY LIVE PART OF THE LIFE IN THE WATER AND PART ON LAND.

THAT'S WHERE THE AMPHIBIAN KIND OF COMES FROM.

>> LET ME TRY TO GET THIS.

THERE WE GO.

LET'S SEE.

IS THIS TAMMY?

>> YES.

>> THERE WE GO.

YEA!

>> HI.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> HI.

I'M CALLING IN FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, McKAYLA, WAS WONDERING IN A FEMALE OF ALL COLONY OF FROGS BEAR YOUNG?

>> CAN THEY REPRODUCE ASEXUALLY?

>> I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ONE THAT.

DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T EXIST.

AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE'S NOT A COLONY WHERE FEMALES CAN REPRODUCE WITHOUT THE AID OF A MALE.

>> QUESTIONS FROM MRS.

BANEY'S CLASS IN MOSCO.

HENRY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE LIFE SPAN OF SALAMANDER?

IS IT A DIFFERENT THAN A FROG?

>> I HEARD A SALAMANDER CLOSE TO 100 YEARS.

A GIANT WATER SALAMANDER IN JAPAN AND CHINA CAN LIVE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

>> DAYTON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S THE MOST UNCOMMON PLACE TO FIND THEM BESIDES THE PORCH IN ENGLAND.

>> MOST UNCOMMON IS THE HOTTEST DRYEST DESERT YOU CAN THINK OF.

THEIR LEGS HAVE TO STAY WET FOR OXYGEN TO PASS THROUGH AND IF THE LEGS DRY OUT, THEY WOULDN'T LIVE THERE.

>> JOHN WANTS TO KNOW HOW THEY STAY ALIVE WITH SO MANY OER PREDATORS.

>> THEY BLEND IN AND HIDE FROM PREDATORS.

THEY ARE FAST AS ADULTS AND AVOID THEM AND SWIMMING AND BURR --BURROWING IN THE GROUND.

>> MEGAN WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF A TURTLE IS A REPTILE?

>> NO.

CLASS.

THINK OF THEM IN THE SAME >> SCIENTISTS GROUP REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS UNDER HERPETOLOGY.

THEY DID IT BEFORE SCIENTISTS UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES.

THEY KNEW THEY LAID EGGS AND SOME ON LAND CRAWLING TOGETHER SO THEY GROUPED THEM TOGETHER.

NOW THAT WE KNOW MORE HABIT THEM, THEY REALLY OUGHT TO BE SEPARATE.

>> I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN DO ERIC WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW DO THEY MAKE POISON IN THEIR BODIES?

IS THERE SOME SALAMANDERS OR FROGS OR TOADS THAT ARE POISONOUS?

>> THERE'S THE DART FROG IN SOUTH AMERICA.

THEY CREATE IS UNDER THEIR SKIN.

YOU TOUCH IT AND IT RUBS OFF ON YOU.

>> POISON DARK FROG GETS IT FROM WHAT IT IT'S.

IF IT'S TAKEN OUT AND IS PUT IN CAPTIVITY, IT LOSSES THE POISON SECRETION.

TOADS ARE GLANDS ON THEIR BODIES WHICH PRODUCE TOXIN.

THAT'S A WAY OF REPELLING THINGS.

>> DAVID IN WHEEZIER.

>> HI, MY QUESTION IS HOW DO AMPHIBIANS BREATHE UNDERWATER?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

>> AS ADULTS THROUGH THEIR SKIN.

AS LARVEE THEY HAVE GILLS.

>> THEY START WITH GILLS?

>> THEY START WITH GILLS AND AS THEY GROW THEY LOSE THE GILLS AND HAVE LUNGS.

>> LET'S TRY DALENY.

>> DO FROGS SHED THEIR SKIN?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THEY DO SHED THEIR SKIN.

THEY HAVE TO.

ABOUT EVERY TWO WEEKS A FROG SHEDS ITS SKIN.

THE SKIN IS MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR THE A FROG BECAUSE IT AGAINST WATER FROM THE SKIN.

THEY DRINK THE WATER.

THEY ABSORB IT FROM THE SKIN.

AFTER IT WEARS OFF THEY BASICALLY TAKES OFF THE SKIN LIKE A SWEATER.

THEY PULL IT OVER THE HEAD AND THEN USUALLY EAT IT WHICH SOUNDS GROS THEY DO THAT BECAUSE THEY NEED THE MINERALS AND NUTRIENTS IN THE SKIN.

>> LET'S GO TO REBECCA IN MIDDLETON.

>> WHY ARE FROGS SO SLITTERY.

>> WHY DO THEY HAVE THAT TEXTURE TO THEM?

>> THAT SLIME PROTECTS THEM FROM INFECTION AND DISEASE AND HELPS THEM STAY MOIST, TOO.

THEY NEED TO BE MOIST.

>> SO THE SKIN PROTECTS THEIR SKIN FOR THAT?

OKAY, GREAT.

LET'S G TO ELIZABETH.

>> HOW LONG CAN FROGS LAST WITHOUT FOOD?

>> HOW LONG CAN THEY LAST WITHOUT FOOD?

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

>> GOOD QUESTION.

>> IN THE WINTER WHEN THEY ARE MIGHT HIBERNATING THEY CAN GO MONTHS.

A LONG TIME.

>> MONTANA AND BOISE.

>> HI, WAS WONDERING IF FROGS CHIRP OR CROAK TO ATTRACT MATES.

WHAT DO NEWTS AND SALAMANDERS DO?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

MOST DON'T MAKE A SOUND.

WHAT THEY DO IF THEY FIND A MATE THEY ARE INTERESTED IN,HEY WILL BOB THEIR HEAD AROUND AND STAND UP ON THEIR LEGS TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK BIGGER BUT MOST DON'T MAKE SOUND.

>> FROM MRS.

ANDERSON'S CLASS.

WHY DO TOADS HAVE BUMPS?

WHY ARE THERE BUMPS ON TOP OF THE SKIN?

>> THE BUMPS ARE THE GLANDS THAT I MENTIONED THAT SECRETE TOXINS.

YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL IF YOU HANDLE A TOAD AND TOUCH OUR EYE OR NOSE AND MOUTH, IT COULD BE IRRITATING.

WE HAVE ONE TOAD CALLED SPADE-FOOT TOAD AND THE TOXINS IT SECRETES CAN MAKE YOU SNEEZE.

YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF VIOLENTLY SNEEZING.

>> AND ASHLEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FROGS AND TOADS.

>> TOADS DEPEND ON LESS WATER THAN FROGS DO.

THEY HAVE ROUGHER AND THICKER SKIN.

FROGS NEED TO BE IN WATER MORE OFTEN THAN TOADS DO.

TOADS YOU'LL FIND IN THE BACKYARD AND GARDEN WHEN IT'S TIME TO MATE AND THEN THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE WATER AND EVEN IN THE WATER AS ADULTS MUCH MORE OFTEN AN TOADS ARE.

>> JANE WANTS TO KNOW HOW COME I NEVER FIND LIZ ZARDS OR SALAMANDERS IN MY HOME?

IF I CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT, WILL THEY STAY?

>> THE PROBLEM IS THEY DON'T TRAVEL VERY FAR.

UNLESS YOU HAVE FROGS AND TOADS CLOSE TO YOUR HOME EVEN IF IT'S THE BEST PLACE THEY HAVE EVER SEEN FROG KINGDOM WONDERLAND, IF THEY HAVE TO GO FAR TO BE THERE, THEY WON'T.

>> IF I MAKE A POND AND PUT FROGS IN THERE, WOULD THEY STAY?

>> THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THEY WOULD COME.

>> THEY MIGHT STAY.

I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE FROGS COME AND LAY EGGS IN THE BACKYARD PONDS EVERY YEAR AND HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE PREDATORS AND RACCOONS AND HERRING BIRDS.

>> CALEB FROM PAUL.

CALEB?

ARE YOU THERE CALEB?

>> YEAH.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> HOW DO FROGS GET MUTATED?

>> WE HEAR ABOUT MUTANT FROGS.

THIS IS NOT WHAT--PAUL, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE NAME OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES?

>> A LOT OF FROGS WE MAY CONSIDER MUTANT FROGS MIGHT HAVE SIX LEGS OR LEGS GROWING OUT OF THEIR HEAD, SOMETHING DISTURBING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING IT FIGURE OUT WHY THAT'S HAPPENING AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT THEORIES AS TO WHY.

ONE REASON IS PARASITES.

THERE ARE LITTLE PARASITES THAT LIVE IN THE WATER CALLED TRIMATOADS.

IF YOU HAVE GTING OUT OF THE WATER AND FELT ITCHY ANDUMPY, THAT'S THAT PARASITE.

WHEN THEY GET IN THE FROG THEY CHANGE TO A CYST WHICH IS A HARD MARBLE.

IT'S LIKE A STAGE OF A CACOON.

IF THEY CHANGE IN THE AREA OF WHERE THE FROGS GROW, THEN THERE ARE DEFORMITIES IN THE LEGS.

THERE MY NOT BE TOO MANY AT ALL.

POLLUTION AND PARASITES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO AFFECT FROGS AN AWFUL LOT.

WITH THIN SKIN IT SOAKS DIRECTLY IN THEIR BODY.

THEY DON'T HAVE NATURAL DEFENSES AGAINST CHEMICALS IN THE WATER.

>> LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET TO ANOTHER CALLER HERE.

SHAWN IN CALDAN.

>> HOW DO THEY HIBERNATE?

>> USUALLY THEY GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF POND AND BORROW INTO THE SOFT DIRT AND DEEPLY SO THEY CAN STAY BELOW THE FROZEN PART OF THE GROUND.

ME BORROW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE POND.

>> DO WE KNOW HOW THEY SURVIVE?

>> THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TURN THE GLUCOSE, THE SUGAR IN THEIR BLOOD, INTO LIKE AN ANTI-FREEZE.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THEIR BODY STARTS TO SLOW DOWN, THEY WILL CHANGE THE SUGAR INTO ANTI-FREEZE AND IT GATHERS IN THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACES YOU NEED TO STAY ALIVE.

IT GATHERS IN THE ORGANS AND BRAIN AND LIVER AND BOTH ORGANS WILL STAY LIVING AND REST CAN FREEZE SOLID NOT WHY THEY DON'T HAVE TO USE A LOT OF ENERGY.

THEY CAN KIND OF SIT DOWN THERE AND HANGOUT UNTIL THINGS START TO WARM UP.

>> THEN THEY WARM UP.

>> YEA THEN THEY WARM UP AND THAW OUT AND COME BACK TO LIVE.

>> IF YOU ARE ON THE PHONE STAY WITH US, WE'LL RECORD THE WELCOME BACK--WEB PROGRAM.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START STUDYING FROGS?

>> I REALLY DON'T I JUST THINK THEY ARE COOL.

I USED TO COLLECT THEM AS A KID, GO OUT IN THE LOCAL PONDS AND CATCH FROGS, TURTLES AND SNAKES AND WHATEVER I COULD AND BRING THEM HOME.

>> WHY BECOME A BIOLOGIST?

>> BECAUSE I FIND IT FASCINATING.

>> IF YOU WANT TO BE A BIOLOGIST, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO, WHAT SHOULD YOU STUDY?

>> IF YOU LOVE SIGHIENCE AND MATH, THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOVE.

TO BE A SCIENTIST HAS TO HAVE LOVE FOR QUESTIONING.

I THINK KIDS WHO ASK WHY A LOT MAKE GREAT SCIENTISTS BECAUSE THEY LOOK BEYOND THE BOX.

>> QUESTION, HOW DOES A FROG CROAK?

>> THEY HAVE VOCAL SACKS USUALLY UNDER FLAIR CHINS, SOME FROGS HAVE THEM IN THE ARMPITS.

NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG HAS BAGS UNDER THE ARMPIT AND INFLATES THEM WITH AIR AND THAT MAKES THE SOUNDS.

WHEN YOU SEE A FROG WITH A THROAT EXPANDED OUT, IT'S MAKING SOME SORT OF SOUND WITH THAT.

>> THIS IS THE YEAR OF THE FROG AS DESIGNATED BY THE NATIONAL ZOO AND AQUARIUM SOCIETY AND THEY DID THAT BUT FROGS ARE ENDANGERED WORLDWIDE.

WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?

>> IT'S A PROBLEM IN TROPICAL AREAS.

COLUMBIA HAS OVER 200 SPECIES OF FROGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ENDANGERED WHICH IS INCREDIBLE TO THINK ABOUT.

THE REASON I THINK IT'S BECOMING A PROBLEM IS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SENSITIVE TO CHANGES IN THE HABITATS.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ANIMALS IF THERE'S A CHEMICAL INTRODUCED IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR