We love you Dr. Scherz!
Also, who else can I message on Tumblr to ask really weird and specific questions about frogs for my fantasy story?
I need a cold weather amphibian, specifically. While magical, it's much more fun to use something that somewhat exists in the real world and make it magical!
So, of the amphibians that survive in the cold weather, which of those live in foresty areas? And of those that are in there, how do they survive? What do they look like?
ARE THERE BIOLUMINESCENT FROGS???
Thanks! I don't really know who else would be suitable. I'll do my best to help.
There really are not a lot of cold-weather amphibians. I think you probably want Boreorana sylvatica (formerly Rana sylvatica or Lithobates sylvaticus), the Wood Frog. They live in forests and can freeze solid and thaw again when the cold passes.
Other than them, there is the European analog, Rana temporaria, and the Siberian salamander, Salamandrella keyserlingii. I do not know how these cope with the cold, but I imagine in a way very similar to B. sylvatica. You can read a bit about cold adaptations in the former in this paper, if you can get access to it (I am sure you can message the authors to ask for the paper and they will be happy to send you a free PDF—NEVER PAY THE PUBLISHER!).
No bioluminescent frogs, but there are quite a few that glow under UV. Boana punctata was the first to have this revealed, but it has since been found to be present in MANY amphibians. Additionally, some species have bones close enough to the surface to reveal the natural UV-fluorescence of their bones. Especially Brachycephalus toadlets have this.
Hope that helps!













