Amphibians
Amphibians
A group of ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates who usually have an aquatic larval state and then morph into an air-breathing, land-dwelling adult.
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Frogs
Amazon Milk Frog
Trachycephalus resinifictrix
- Amazon milk frogs are also known as mission golden-eyed tree frogs.
- They are found in the humid and tropical Amazon Rainforest in South America where they spend most of their time up in the trees.
- They are one of the largest tree frogs in South America, measuring up to 4 inches!
- They get their name from the poisonous milky substance they produce both to deter predators and keep their skin moist.
- Their sticky footpads help them live high up in the trees!
- Females will lay about 2,000 eggs at a time in a tree hole or succulent plant.
- The eggs hatch into tadpoles in just one day!
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
- American bullfrogs are one of the largest frogs in North America!
- They can weigh more than a pound and females are usually larger than males.
- While native to North America, these frogs have been introduced in ecosystems all around the world and are incredibly invasive.
- Bullfrogs are very successful in many ecosystems and often outcompete other amphibians because they have an adaptable diet and reproduce quickly.
- They will eat any prey that will fit in their mouths, from worms to small mammals to young turtles!
- Females can lay as many as 20,000 eggs in one clutch.
Anthony's Poison Arrow Frog
Epipedobates anthonyi
- Anthony's poison arrow frogs are a type of poison dart frog that is endemic to Peru and Ecuador.
- They are small frogs measuring less than an inch in length with red and white stripes.
- They generally live on the forest floor where they hide in leaf litter.
- Poison arrow frogs secrete a toxin that has been used by native people on arrow tips while hunting.
- Females will lay up to 40 eggs in the leaf litter where they are hidden and protected by the male.
- When the eggs hatch, the male will carry the tadpoles to a nearby body of water where they will mature into frogs.
Clown Tree Frog
Dendropsophus ssp.
- There are several species of clown tree frogs or clown frogs that live in the Amazon Rainforest.
- Most species are nocturnal and, like other tree frogs, arboreal.
- They are fairly small frogs ranging from 1 to 2 inches.
- New species are constantly being discovered in the Amazon; new species have clown frogs have been identified in just the past few years.
- In some species of clown tree frogs, the females can be nearly twice as large as the males.
- Clown frogs are an incredibly popular pet and are often removed from the wild to support the demand.
Corroboree Frog
Pseudophryne ssp.
- There are two species of corroboree frogs that live in a small portion of Australia.
- Corroboree frogs produce a powerful poison that can very harmful if eaten.
- They are one of the only poisonous frogs that produce their own toxins instead of obtaining the toxins from their diet!
- They are terrestrial (found on the ground) instead of in water or trees.
- Unlike other frogs, they are often observed walking rather than jumping.
- Corroboree frogs are at risk for extinction. The southern species is thought to have less than 200 individuals in the wild and is one of Australia's most endangered species.
Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog
Litoria fallax
- Sometimes known as the eastern sedge-frog or the pygmy tree frog, the eastern dwarf tree frog is native to the east coast of Australia.
- Dwarf tree frogs frequently hangout in banana trees and are often accidentally collected and shipped around in fruit containers.
- They are a small frog reaching about one inch in length!
- Their color can range from a yellow-green color to brown depending on the temperature.
- Eggs are laid in small bunches that attach to reeds or other vegetation in the water.
Glass Frogs
Family: Centrolenidae
- Glass frogs are a family of frogs native to tropical forests of Central and South America.
- There are thought to be more than 100 species of glass frogs, but because of their elusive nature, it is challenging to know for sure.
- They are named for the see-through skin on their abdomen; you can see their organs!
- Glass frogs are very small, most average about one inch in length.
- Most species of glass frogs are lime green or yellow with small spots that can be black, white, blue, red, or yellow!
- Unlike most frogs, male glass frogs will guard and protect their eggs!
- Tadpoles that live in low-oxygen water may be red because of the blood flow near their translucent skin!
Grey Treefrog
Dryophytes versicolor
- Gray treefrogs are arboreal frogs, meaning they live in the trees, that can be found in the eastern US and southeastern Canada.
- These frogs are experts at camouflage and can change between brown, gray, and green based on their surroundings.
- Their scientific name "Hyla versicolor" translates to "variable color."
- Females are usually slightly larger than males, measuring more than 2-inches in length!
- Frogs will brumate during the winter when temperatures are too cold for them to function.
- Tadpoles sometimes hatch from their eggs in just three days!
Moor Frog
Rana arvalis
- Moor frogs are native to Europe and Asia and can be found in a wide variety of ecosystems, from tundras to swamps, to grasslands.
- They are one of the most common amphibians in their range.
- Moor frogs are usually red-brown in color, though they can have yellow or green colorations.
- They have different adaptations based on the type of ecosystem they inhabit.
- Moor frogs will brumate throughout the winter months; frogs found at higher latitudes brumate longer than those found in warmer regions.
- Moor frogs can lay anywhere from 500 to 3,000 eggs at once!
Northern Red-Legged Frog
Rana aurora
- Northern red-legged frogs range from British Columbia to northern California.
- They live in and around wetlands, rivers, and ponds and prefer areas with thick vegetation.
- These frogs have a highly variable breeding season based on range and water temperature.
- Southern populations tend to breed earlier because water temperatures warm quicker!
- Males become territorial and defend their breeding ponds.
- Females will attach their eggs to vegetation in still waters at night.
Peacock Tree Frog
Leptopelis vermiculatus
- Peacock tree frogs are found in the rainforest areas of Tanzania in eastern Africa.
- They are also known as Amani forest tree frogs or vermiculated tree frogs.
- Peacock tree frogs have a brown and a bright green morph; some species will even change from green to brown as they age!
- They have huge eyes relative to their body size.
- Male peacock frogs have two calls; one attracts females while the other serves as a warning to other males.
Poison Dart Frog
Family: Dendrobatidae
- Poison dart frogs live in the rainforests of Central and South America.
- The vibrant colors of the poison dart frogs are thought to be a warning to predators of their toxicity.
- There are more than 170 species of dart frogs ranging in color from blue to yellow to black, all with varying levels of toxicity.
- Their poisonous excretions are a result of their wild diet of ants, mites, termites, and other small invertebrates.
- They are named dart frogs because indigenous people would coat the tip of their arrows with the frog's secretions.
- The golden dart frog is the most toxic species, with one frog containing enough toxins to kill 10 men!
Red-Eyed Tree Frog
Agalychnis callidryas
- This small frog species lives in tropical rainforests throughout most of Central America.
- They are arboreal, meaning they live up in the trees!
- Blue and yellow stripes under their legs are thought to distract predators as they jump away to safety.
- Their red eyes are also thought to startle predators when opened quickly.
- Their green color helps them blend into leaves to hide from predators; during the day they will rest with their bright eyes closed and their colorful stripes hidden to stay better camouflaged.
Southern Leopard Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus
- Southern leopard frogs are found in eastern North America near fresh, sometimes brackish, water.
- They are easily identifiable by the light-colored lines running down both sides of their back.
- They are more terrestrial than other leopard frogs and can be found far away from water during the warm season.
- During the breeding season, males will make a chuckling sound accompanied by a noise that sounds like someone is rubbing an inflated balloon.
- Females can lay more than 1,000 eggs that will hatch in 2-3 weeks but can hatch quicker if there are nearby threats!
- There is a lot of debate in the scientific community about how many species of leopard frogs exist.
Tomato Frog
Dyscophus ssp.
- There are three species of tomato frogs that are only found on the island of Madagascar!
- When they are threatened, these frogs will puff up like a balloon and secrete a toxin that numbs the mouth and eyes of their attacker.
- Their color can vary from yellow to orange to red.
- Tomato frogs will spend the cooler months buried underground.
- They are skilled ambush hunters and will sneak up on insects, but they will also hunt in the water for aquatic prey!
- Their populations are threatened by the loss of clean water they need to breed.
White-Lipped Tree Frog
Nyctimystes infrafrenatus
- White-lipped tree frogs are the world's largest tree frog, reaching more than 5 inches in length!
- They can be found in the rainforests of Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding islands.
- They can be green or brown but always have a white stripe across their face and body.
- Their back feet are webbed, though they spend little time swimming and most of their time in the trees.
- Tadpoles are herbivores but become carnivorous as adults, eating insects and other invertebrates.
Toads
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
- American toads are one of the most common toads seen in the eastern US and southeastern Canada.
- There are three subspecies of American toad: the eastern American toad, the dwarf American toad, and the Hudson Bay toad.
- American toads are very adaptable and can survive in many different habitats as long as there is water available during the breeding season.
- Their skin color can vary between individuals but can also change based on climate and stress.
- Their blotched coloration makes them well camouflaged!
- American frog eggs are dark on top and light on the bottom, making them camouflaged from above and below.
Green Toad
Bufotes viridis
- Found throughout much of Europe and Asia, these toads are capable of living in many different types of habitats.
- They live in forests, grasslands, and are capable of tolerating areas with little moisture, like deserts!
- Green toads can even survive in regions that reach more than 100 degrees.
- They can be more than 4-inches long and feed heavily on invertebrates like ants, spiders, and crickets.
- Green toads are active at daytime and night-time depending on the time of year.
- Green toads are important prey species for some species of snakes that feed exclusively on toads.
Natterjack Toad
Epidalea calamita
- Natterjack toads inhabit coastal shrubby and sandy areas of Europe where they are elusive and rarely observed!
- They have short legs which give them poor hopping abilities, but they are still able to move great distances while hunting beetles overnight.
- Natterjack toads are relatively small measuring about 2.5-inches.
- In the spring, males will call for females using their large vocal sac which allows them to be heard more than a mile away!
- Females can lay more than 7,500 eggs during the breeding season.
- In many parts of Europe, it is illegal to harm or capture natterjack toads.
Oriental Fire-Bellied Toad
Bombina orientalis
- Oriental fire-bellied toads are one of six species of fire-bellied toads.
- They are found in slow-moving bodies of fresh water in China and Russia.
- Named for their red-orange abdomen, fire-bellied toads will flash their red bellies upward to warn predators of their toxic secretions.
- Fire-bellied toads only reach about 2-inches in length.
- Unlike most toads, their pupil is triangular.
- During the cold months, fire-bellied toads will brumate in logs or leaf piles.
- These toads are unique in that they do not have an eardrum and males vocalize on inhalation instead of exhalation.
- Fire-bellied toads are very social!
Sonoran Desert Toad
Incilius alvarius
- Also known as the Colorado River toad, this is the largest North American toad.
- Sonoran Desert toads are found throughout the American southwest in various desert ecosystems.
- Spending most of the year in burrows, they only emerge when they feel the rumbles of the first monsoon.
- Females lay their eggs in bodies of water, many of which are large puddles formed from the storms.
- They secrete a milky toxin from their skin to keep themselves moist and to deter predators.
- One female can lay up to 8,000 eggs in one breeding season!
Western Toad
Anaxyrus boreas
- The two subspecies of western toads (the boreal toad and the California toad) are found throughout western North America.
- They are quite large, measuring up to 5 inches long.
- They are easily identifiable by the large white stripe that runs down the center of their backs.
- Western toads are accomplished jumpers for a toad but tend to walk rather than jump.
- Females have been reported laying more than 18,000 eggs in a single clutch, though they average 6,000-12,000 eggs.
- The western toad is heavily threatened by the chytrid fungus that commonly spreads through water and has affected amphibian populations around the world.
Newts and Salamanders
Alpine Newt
Ichthyosaura alpestris
- Alpine newts are native to central Europe but have been introduced in Great Britain and New Zealand.
- They often have spots along their sides and back and have a bright orange belly.
- Alpine newts hang out in forested areas near still ponds.
- They are preyed upon by birds, fish, hedgehogs, and snakes.
- Males get brighter in color during the breeding season.
- When threatened, they will lift their heads and chest exposing the bright orange color.
Axolotl
Ambystoma mexicanum
- Sometimes known as the Mexican walking fish, axolotls are salamanders that never goes through a metamorphosis.
- Axolotls remain in their aquatic larval phase with gills for their whole lives!
- Axolotls have the amazing ability to regrow limbs.
- They can be a white-pink color or brown.
- Axolotls are bottom feeders and often suck of gravel with their food that they use to help grind up food and control their buoyancy.
- They are only found in a small network of canals near Mexico City.
- Axolotls have external gills behind their heads which allow them to breathe underwater.
- Their populations are heavily threatened by water pollution because they are restricted to a small range.
Chinese Giant Salamander
Andrias davidianus
- Chinese giant salamanders are one of the largest amphibians on the planet, weighing more than 60-lbs and reaching 6-ft in length!
- They are one of a few species of giant salamanders, along with the Chinese giant salamander and the American hellbender.
- They spend their whole lives underwater breathing through their skin.
- These salamanders are only found in the streams and lakes of the Yangtze River in China.
- They mostly eat insects, fish, and other amphibians!
- The Chinese giant salamander is critically endangered due to the destruction of their home and hunting/collection.
Eastern Newt
Notophthalmus viridescens
- Also known as a red-spotted newt, eastern newts are native to ponds, streams, and wet forests of eastern North America.
- They produce a toxin which they excrete through glands on their skin.
- Eastern newts have highly variable color and spotting which ranges between subspecies and can also represent sex or age!
- Eastern newts are carnivores, eating insects, small crustaceans, and worms.
- Eastern newts use their tails to help them swim quickly in water but are slow on land.
- These newts can navigate through new areas using magnetic orientation which acts as an internal compass!
Fire Salamander
Salamandra salamandra
- Fire salamanders are native to the forests of central Europe.
- The fire salamander can actually spray its toxic liquid at a predator from poison glands behind the eyes.
- Unlike most amphibians, the fire salamander has live births!
- Their bright yellow spots are thought to be a warning to predators of their poison.
- Fire salamanders are nocturnal and spend most of the day hiding under logs and rocks.
- Because of the size of this salamander's range, it behaves differently in various regions. In warmer regions, the fire salamander becomes inactive during the warm months. In the cooler region, it will become inactive in the colder months.
Rough-Skinned Newt
Taricha granulosa
- Rough-skinned newts are native to the Pacific Northwest
- While they may have a rough appearance most of the year, the males' skin will become smooth during the breeding season.
- The belly of both sexes is an orange-yellow color while their back can range from brown to yellow or tan.
- They excrete a highly potent neurotoxin through skin glands, the same toxin produced by pufferfish, which can lead to paralysis or death if eaten.
- While dangerous to most, the common garter snake makes an easy meal of the rough-skinned newt thanks to a resistance to the toxin.
- Rough-skinned newts are capable of staying in and reproducing in their larva phase, but it significantly lowers their lifespan.
Speckled Black Salamander
Aneides flavipunctatus
- Also known as the black salamander, these amphibians can be found in forests and grasslands in the western US.
- They can be a variety of colors and patterns based on their location.
- Some are all black, some have small or large white or yellow speckles, and some have a green coloration.
- Black salamanders feed on mostly millipedes, beetles, and ants.
- When threatened, they will run, secrete a sticky substance through their skin, or stand in a defensive posture.
- Black salamanders used to be common in their range but have become more scarce because of habitat loss.
Tiger Salamander
Ambystoma tigrinum
- Tiger salamanders are one of the largest land-dwelling salamanders in North America, growing around 8 inches in length.
- While they don't live in water, they must live near it to breed.
- They spend most of their lives hiding underground, so they must live somewhere the ground is moist enough for them to burrow.
- Tiger salamanders are known to breed in the same location they were born.
- They are ferocious predators that feed on invertebrates and other amphibians at night time.
- They are the State Amphibian in Illinois!
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