Anura (Frogs!) - Taxonomy Tales

Taxonomy Tales is a new series covering major categories of life on earth--from mollusks to cetaceans to marsupials, we will learn them all! These classes can be taken in any order. This class explores the class "Anura", which includes more than 5,000 species of frogs and toads!

The class Anura is so diverse and plentiful that we cannot learn about them all, but we will focus on the following families:

1) Dendrobatidae
2) Hylidae
3) Microhylidae 
4) Bufonidae
5) Ranidae

These may sound like challenging words! I do love to teach my students big words when scientifically appropriate, but in an approachable way. We will use the common names along the way so students do not get overwhelmed by scary-looking words.

We will also discuss some specific species like cane toads, red-eyed tree frogs, poison dart frogs, desert rain frogs, and glass frogs, and more (subject to change as I edit my classes frequently). For each group, we will compare and contrast the characteristics and lives of the animals it includes. Along the way, students will learn new vocabulary and ecological concepts that they can apply to other topics in zoology.  

This class is lecture-style with slides and photos, but highly interactive. Students are given the opportunity to ask and answer questions, ponder scientific ideas, and discuss with their classmates. Students may participate via video, audio, the chat room, or may just sit back and enjoy! 

Please note that frogs are also discussed in my courses Herpetology 101, The Weirdest Reptiles and Amphibians on Earth, and are briefly covered in Zoology 101 Flex. This class is a unique experience with tons of new information.

Taxonomy can be a complex study and the way we categorize living things is constantly changing. I follow the most widely accepted taxonomic categorizations and sometimes simplify for the level of these learners. Despite the big words used, there is no pre-requisite knowledge to be successful in this class.