Posts Tagged With: amphibians

CREEPY ANIMALS WEEK- DAY 4!

Who’s excited to meet another creepy animal? We think this amphibian is kind of cute with their warty skin! But watch out, these toads are quiet toxic just like their rough skinned newt friends!

THE MARINE TOAD!

Range/Habitat: Central-South America/ wetlands, rivers, lakes

Diet: Carnivore: ants, beetles, invertebrates

Length: 4-6”

Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Marine toads are also known as cane toads.
• Marine toads are world’s largest toads.
• They have a tough warty skin.
• Marine toads are nocturnal (active at night).
• They are very hardy and can survive in many different habitats.
• Marine toads have large glands that secret a very toxic poison.

Marine toads are big bad dudes! They will eat almost anything too! We do think it’s best if we just let them hang out by themselves, you know with their toxic skin and all!

CREEPY ANIMALS WEEK!

Professor Tamandua and the rest of the University Staff are on a fall break, so we’re taking this opportunity to spotlight some creepy animals this week in honor of Halloween! First up, a newt…

This little animal is often referred to in stories about witches, or at least their eyes are! Ever heard of the eye of newt? Well this one doesn’t have scary eyes, but they have scary skin! Come meet them…

MEET THE ROUGH SKINNED NEWT!

Range/Habitat: Western United States-Canada/ woodlands and ponds

Diet: Carnivore: aquatic invertebrates, tiny fish

Length: 3 ½”- 7 ½”

Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

• The Rough Skinned Newt is an amphibian. Other amphibians also include frogs, toads and salamanders.
• Rough skinned newts have rough, bumpy skin as implied by their name.
• They are extremely toxic. They produce a strong toxin that can cause death if eaten. It can also be absorbed through the skin if you have an open cut or wound.
• They are brownish-black in color with yellow to orange bellies.
• Rough skinned newts feed at night.
• They can live as long as 12 years!
• The common garter snake is the rough skinned newt’s only predator. The snakes have developed immunity to their toxin.

Wow! Who knew a cute little newt could be so poisonous? Well we think they are pretty awesome! We think this animal is best seen and not eaten!

AMPHIBIAN TUESDAY # 88

We’re celebrating amphibians today! Our adventures are taking us the northwestern corner of the United States to find a salamander! You know we love our amphibian friends! Grab your gear and your wellies and let’s head out!  

MEET THE PACIFIC GIANT SALAMANDER!

   Range/Habitat: Northwestern U.S.A.-South west Canada

   Diet: Carnivore: invertebrates and small aquatic vertebrates

   Length: 6 ½-13”

   Conservation Status: unconfirmed

Fun Facts:

•          Giant Pacific Salamanders are nocturnal.
•          They are usually found by streams.
•          Giant pacific salamanders excrete mucus from their tail when threatened.
•          Giant pacific salamanders stay in their juvenile aquatic stage their whole life.
•          They either become terrestrial or they stay aquatic with gills.
•          Giant pacific salamanders are the largest terrestrial salamander in the world.

These gorgeous salamanders can be over a foot long. How weird is that some of these salamanders stay in their aquatic stage their whole lives?

AMPHIBIAN TUESDAY # 81

We’re off to Southeast Africa to meet today’s amphibian. These cool little frogs live underground, so we’ll have to be extra observant to find them! Put your best safari outfit on and let’s go!

MEET THE BUSHVELD RAIN FROG!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Africa/ forests-grasslands

   Diet: Carnivore: insects, small animals

   Length: 1 ¼-2 ¼”

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

•       Bushveld rain frogs live underground.
•          Bushveld rain frogs have short legs.
•          They come out of their burrows to breed after rain.
•          Bushveld rain frogs inflate themselves and get wedged in their burrows when threatened.
•          The female Bushveld is larger than the female.

Bushveld rain frogs are super cute. It is cool that they can inflate themselves. Can you imagine if Ellie could blow herself up? HAHAHAHAHA!