They have big googly eyes. They are warty. They kind of resemble Jabba the Hut and they reside under ground for a good part of the year. I know that for most of you (with the exception of 6 year old little boys), they really give you the Icks. Yes, I am speaking of toads, ladies and gentlemen.
The fact of the matter is that even if toads give you the willies, they are important. To you and the planet. What’s not to love about a toad anyways?
They both eat, and are eaten. They play an important role in the food web as both predator and prey, maintaining the delicate balance of nature.
If we didn’t have amphibians, you could be paying $5 for an apple. Amphibians eat pest insects, benefiting successful agriculture around the world and minimizing the spread of diseases, including Malaria and West Nile Virus.
The skin of amphibians has substances that protect them from some microbes and viruses, offering possible medical cures for a variety of human diseases, including AIDS.
Biologists refer to amphibians as “the canary in the coal mine”.They are among the first species to be affected by environmental stressors; so when they show declines in the wild, it serves as a warning to other species, including humans.
Frogs have had a special place in various human cultures for centuries, cherished as agents of life and good luck.
The Houston Zoo is involved in 2 primary amphibian conservation projects, Houston toads and Panamanian Amphibians.
Photo courtesy of Rachel Rommel
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