We created and distributed a comic book with stories about the biology, ecological importance, and traditional Quechua legends of frogs and toads. The Spanish-language version is posted here and the English-language version is posted here.
The idea for the comic book was born out of a recognition that, today, many people living in the Cordillera Vilcanota feel genuine fear and disgust towards their amphibian neighbors. They are believed to suck blood, pursue menstruating women, be omens of death, transmit warts, and even poison crops.
The Incan and pre-Incan aspect towards amphibians, however, was much more positive. Quechua ancestors saw the toad, or Hanp'atu, in their dark constellations, the Yana phuyu. It was only natural that amphibians were associated with agricultural abundance. In October the rains would begin, Hanp'atu would peak over the horizon for the first time, toads would emerge from their dry season brumation to explosively breed, and the night would be filled with the songs of these abundant vertebrates.
Together with four talented high schoolers from the Innovation Center of St Vrain Valley Schools (Lily Herring, Cara Robbins, Adah McMillan, and Pamela Tseng), we designed a 17-story comic book that confronts the modern urban legends and reintroduces the ancient Quechua legends about amphibians.
Our stories include discussions of the following:
what are the traits of amphibians, and how are frogs and toads different
how can you distinguish each of the species found across the Cordillera Vilcanota
what are the Yana phuyu
what is frog juice/broth, and how does this trade affect amphibians
how do amphibians serve as biological control agents
what is the diet of frogs and toads
why do toads like to enter houses
how do amphibians serve as ecological indicators
how did the Inca associate amphibians with rain
what is chytrid
how will climate change affect amphibians, other wildlife, and people
how can mining affect our environment
what is the impact of introducing non-native trout in Andean streams and rivers
how does amphibian metamorphosis work
And now out book is being printed and used in the school system in the USA as well! Here our book is being used by middle-school-aged children in the Denver, Colorado, area, where at least 500 English-language and 200 Spanish-language books have been printed for science classrooms to date.
