Meet Our Resident
Burpee’s Tomato Frog is bright orange-red and perfectly named. It inflates its body when disturbed, appearing larger and secreting a sticky defensive fluid—nature’s own version of chemical warning coloration.

Connections to the Museum
This species allows Burpee to demonstrate aposematism, the use of bright colors as a defense signal—a theme echoed throughout the museum’s exhibits linking modern adaptations to fossil evidence of prehistoric coloration.

Natural History & Behavior
Tomato Frogs are nocturnal burrowers, emerging at night to hunt insects. They thrive in humid conditions and spend much of their time partly buried in leaf litter.

Evolutionary Connections
Native to Madagascar, these frogs belong to an ancient lineage that evolved in isolation after the island separated from Africa. Their unique pigmentation reflects evolutionary pathways shaped by isolation—concepts mirrored in Burpee’s island-biogeography interpretations.

Wild Habitat & Distribution
Restricted to lowland Madagascar, including areas around the city of Antongil Bay.

Conservation & Status
Listed as Near Threatened due to habitat loss and collection for the pet trade. Burpee’s individual is captive-bred and helps illuminate Madagascar’s biodiversity crisis and global amphibian decline.