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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 24, 2016)
22 // COASTWEEKEND.COM BOOK SHELF // GLIMPSE // WILDLIFE // POP CULTURE // WORDS // Q&A // FOOD // FUN WITH PERMEABLE SKIN, THE NORTHERN RED-LEGGED FROG NEVER DRINKS WATER — IT SIMPLY ABSORBS IT. Rana aurora Northern red-legged frog By LYNETTE RAE MCADAMS A genuine local to the coast, the Northern red- legged frog inhabits the western regions of Northern California, Oregon, Washing- ton and British Columbia, S ATURDAY D ECEMBER 10 TH N OON TO 4 PM L IBERTY T HEATRE Festive shopping that benefi ts local nonprofi ts thriving in the forests and wetlands that relish copious amounts of rain. A medium-sized frog, it has a slender body, smooth brown to reddish-brown skin, black mottling, a dark eye mask, and a single light stripe that runs along the jawline. The undersides of its long legs and also its belly are typically orange or tawny red in color, lending meaning to its scientific name, which translates literally as “dawn-colored frog.” Like all frogs, Rana aurora is an amphibian. Not quite a fish, but not really a reptile either, amphibians PHOTO BY LYNETTE RAE MCADAMS A female Northern red-legged frog in the woods near Cape Disappointment, Washington. lead a double life, starting out in ponds and marsh- es in their larval stage as tadpoles, when they use gills to breathe underwater, then quickly growing legs and lungs to eventually emerge from the birthing pool completely trans- formed — walking (or in this case, jumping) onto dry land. With long, powerful legs, this is the frog you’re most likely to encounter Santa Lucia Festival of Lights Friday, November 25 th Astoria High School 1001 W. Marine Drive when hiking in the Colum- bia-Pacific region; camou- flaged against the forest floor, it can be hard to spot at first, but its tendency to leap out from underfoot at the very last second gives away its identity every time. With permeable skin, the Northern red-legged frog never drinks water — it simply absorbs it — making it an excellent biological indicator of an ecosystem’s overall health; if the water becomes toxic, this sensi- tive frog can’t survive. In ad- dition to its duty in keeping the frog hydrated, this thin, specialized skin also plays a role in nutrition: shed- ding itself quite frequently — even up to once per week — the old, dead skin is consumed by the frog as soon as it manages to pull it off. In addition to its own dermis, some of R. aurora’s other favorite feasts include insects, snails and slugs, worms, tadpoles and small fish. With a long, sticky tongue that attaches to the front of the mouth instead of the back, it catches its prey and then, using a single row of upper teeth to hold the meal steady, blinks once, pushing its eyeballs through the roof of the mouth, creating a bulge that helps shove the food down the frog’s throat — a fitting reminder that in a Pacific Northwest forest, ev- ery day is like Thanksgiving. 2870 Ocean Avenue el t fe t on’ g, bu he d t re in I su cook I have hink i l ke , do S ! I t key IE ur W WO UNCH my t . M l give hug a I’l Raymond, Washington Between Raymond & South Bend on Highwayt 101 at mile post 56 360-875-8016 www.mrdoobees.com d that he smoke Sure glad ith the GANJA e w peace pip ay! And, he’s not d TRIBE all g of back pain . in complain Find us on Holiday Music 6:30 pm Santa Lucia Festival of Lights Program 7 pm Program • Santa Lucia Bride & Attendants • Star Boys • Introduction of the 2017 Scandinavian Court • Lighting of the Christmas tree www.AstoriaScanFest.com Featured Entertainment • North Coast Chorale • Astor Street Opry Company ChrisLynn Taylor & the Cast of Scrooged In Astoria • Nordic & Viking Dancers • Refreshments: United Finnish Kaleva Brothers & Sisters, Astoria Lodge #2 • Public Dancing: Scandinavian Music by Jorgen & Steve Phillips Admission $1 per individual or $5 per family Proceeds will go to the Festival Scholarship Fund Sponsored by the Scandinavian Midsummer Heritage Association Medical Patients & Retired Veterans $ 1 off / $ 10 spent (must show WADH Med Form or Military Card) Always discuss with your healthcare provider prior to combining or substituting cannabis with or for your current medications. This product has intoxicating eff ects and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the infl uence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults twenty-one or older. Keep out of reach of children. All advertised prices in this ad are “While Supplies Last”.
