Learn about tree frogs of American tropical rainforests. Adhesive disks on their feet help them walk on slippery leaves without sliding, and they lay eggs; within the egg mass, embryos can be seen twitching. The tree frog with a translucent underside is called a glass frog (family Centrolenidae). (42 sec; 7 MB) (more) See all videos for this article The guiro is a scrapper idiophone musical instrumentcommon in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Columbia, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Ecuador. Guiro is a popular percussion instrument in dance music, including salsa.

On the other hand, modern guiros are made of fiberglass, wood, bamboo, plastics, or metal. These materials are more durable and have consistent sounds than traditional guiros. Newer versions of guiro don’t rely on scrapping but on fillings or shakings to produce sound.

Traditional guiros are made from the fruit of the higuero tree native to Puerto Rico. Gourds from many similar trees native to Latin and Central America are used, as well. The gourds are hollowed, dried and the shells carved with parallel notches. The width and placement of the notches or ridges creates slight changes in the sound but they are all very similar. The gourds may also include decorative carvings or paintings, particularly when used in folk or devotional music. The percussive instrument goes by many other names such as Güira, rascador, güícharo, candungo, carracho, rayo What are they usually made from? Karl Peinkofer and Fritz Tannigel, Handbook of Percussion Instruments (Mainz, Germany: Schott, 1976), 154. Synonyms for this device include galvanoscopic frog, frog's leg galvanoscope, frog galvanometer, rheoscopic frog, and frog electroscope. The device is properly called a galvanoscope rather than galvanometer since the latter implies accurate measurement whereas a galvanoscope only gives an indication. [2] In modern usage a galvanometer is a sensitive laboratory instrument for measuring current, not voltage. Everyday current meters for use in the field are called ammeters. [3] A similar distinction can be made between electroscopes, electrometers, and voltmeters for voltage measurements. Generally, the luthier creates a hollow in the gourd and carves parallel notches on its shell. The gourd is then dried and decorated with paintings or carvings.

Blench, Roger. 2021. The musical instruments of the Berom of Central Nigeria. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation. The frog galvanoscope was a sensitive electrical instrument used to detect voltage [1] in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It consists of a skinned frog's leg with electrical connections to a nerve. The instrument was invented by Luigi Galvani and improved by Carlo Matteucci. This is one mean snappy crocodile, stunningly carved, and works well as an ornament! Whilst the one in the photo is natural wood, it does also come in green and is just as snappy! 2. Croaking Frog The shape of the Guiro can affect the sound it produces, with longer Guiros producing lower-pitched sounds. Guiros add a distinctive sound to any music genre, from Latin to pop, and are preferred in different regions of the world. The history of the guiro Blench, Roger. 2009. A guide to the musical instruments of Cameroun: classification, distribution, history and vernacular names. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.The traditional way of making guiros is by using the hollowed-out gourd fruit from the higüero plant, a native tree in Puerto Rico. You can also use gourds from other trees found in Latin and Central America.