Santa Barbara Zoo

Southern Tomato Frogs

Southern tomato frogs (dyscophus guineti), endemic to northeastern Madagascar, get their name from their bright coloring. They reach approximately four inches in length (10.5 centimeters), with the males generally being a bit smaller. Females also have brighter coloration than the males, ranging from brick red to vivid orange red. The undersides of this species are usually washed with yellow and many have black spots over their throats. When stressed, the frogs turn a dull brown color and can also puff up with air to appear larger. In the wild, they bury themselves in the ground and wait for movement, striking out at passing insects. They are found in rainforest areas or in vegetated areas near water. They can be seen at the Zoo in the Eeeww! exhibit.

Black and White Ruffed Lemurs Born

A pair of highly endangered black and white ruffed lemurs were born at the Santa Barbara Zoo on April 15, 2008. Keepers found one female and one male offspring in a nest box with their mother inside their exhibit's holding area that morning. Keepers confirmed nursing and proper maternal care and the young lemurs were examined by veterinary staff. The same pair of adult black and white ruffed lemurs have had litters in three of the past four years. The parents, who arrived at the Zoo in November 2004, had twin males in May 2005, and then a male and a female were born April 3, 2007. All the previous offspring are in the exhibit with their parents and the new babies. "As with many of our species here at the Zoo, black and white lemurs are a part of a regional zoo management program called a Species Survival Plan, coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums," notes Zoo Director of Animal Programs and Conservation Alan Varsik "Our experienced lemur mother delivered just as anticipated based on our prenatal care. This adds two more members to our now very dynamic family group of eight lemurs." All species of lemurs, endemic to the island of Madagascar, are endangered in the wild. Many, including the black and white ruffed lemur, are part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This scientifically-based, managed breeding program acts as a hedge against extinction by maintaining a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable. The Santa Barbara Zoo participates in 20 of these SSPs.

Join the Frogwatch!

Frogwatch USA is a national citizen science initiative set up by the National Wildlife Federation designed to raise public awareness about the wide diversity of American amphibians and their habitats. The Santa Barbara Zoo is encouraging fellow Santa Barbarans to get involved in this program by monitoring the diversity and intensity of frog and toad calls in our local freshwater sloughs, ponds, streams, or their own backyards. This program is a great opportunity to learn more about our local amphibian species and provide valuable information for researchers.
What: Frogwatch USA volunteers are asked to monitor nearby frog habitats by collecting data on frog and toad calls and reporting that information through the the Frogwatch USA website
Where: Volunteers can choose from a number of established sites in Santa Barbara and Goleta including the Goleta Slough and the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, or can establish their own sites to monitor.
Getting Started: It is quick and easy to register as a volunteer through the Frogwatch USA website. Once volunteers have registered with a designated site they can access printable data sheets, learn local frog calls, and submit data online.
Equipment: Collecting data for Frogwatch USA requires only a flashlight, a watch, a thermometer, and something to write with.
Learning the Calls: The calls of all of the most common Santa Barbara amphibians (including the Pacific treefrog, the California treefrog, and the American bullfrog) can be accessed online at enature or through the Frogwatch USA website. A great audio guide, Frog and Toad Calls of the Pacific Coast, can be purchased from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. With as little as a 20-minute commitment per week you can contribute to our knowledge of California amphibian distributions while enjoying our beautiful Santa Barbara evenings. For more information on participating in the program visit the Frogwatch USA website.
For more information on getting started in Santa Barbara County, contact Piper Presley.

Santa Barbara County Frogs and Toads
Pacific tree frog - Hyla regilla
California tree frog - Hyla cadavrina
California red-legged frog - Rana aurora draytonii
Foothill yellow-legged frog - Rana boylii
Bullfrog - Rana catesbeiana
Western toad - Bufo boreas
Arroyo (Southwestern) toad - Bufo microscaphus californicus
Western Spadefoot - Scaphiopus hammondi

Kallman Family Play Area

The Kallman Family Play Area opened in June 2008. The old playground was closed and will be renovated into a desert tortoise habitat as part of the new California Trails exhibit. The new Play Area allows children of many ages to play together in a comfortable, safe and unstructured environment. Reflected in the backyard theme will be some wonderful play structures for children, including: giant spider web, gopher tunnel, toadstool benches, giant bird's nest, giant eggs, bronze turtle sculpture, sandbox, tree root sculpture, caterpillar race track, frog hop lily pads, tree benches, and a giant ant hill.