During the spring, it’s common to encounter salamanders and other amphibians, especially on warm wet days. However, these amphibians seem to vanish when the temperatures drop during the winter. During the winter, salamanders retreat to protected areas that can shield them from the freezing temperatures. Terrestrial salamanders hibernate in logs or underground burrows below the … Read more
Frogs are obligate carnivores, which means they eat prey instead of plants or vegetation. These amphibians are generalist predators who eat almost any prey they can catch and fit into their mouths. Frogs are ambush hunters instinctively attracted to movement while hunting for food. For this reason, most frogs will not eat dead bugs that are … Read more
Salamanders are generalist carnivores that feast on worms and a wide variety of bugs. These amphibians are not picky eaters and will eat almost any prey they can catch and fit into their mouths. Salamanders are ambush predators and are instinctively attracted to movement while hunting for food. For this reason, most salamanders do not … Read more
Many people know that most salamanders love to hang around in or near freshwater bodies, such as ponds, lakes, or streams. But have you ever wondered why salamanders need water? Salamanders need water to keep their skin moist, rehydrate, regulate their temperature, and reproduce. Salamanders are amphibians, which means they live part of their lives … Read more
It’s common to encounter salamanders and other amphibians during the wet, warm season, but they seem to disappear during the winter. So how do these creatures survive the winter? Salamanders survive the winter by hibernating. Terrestrial salamanders hibernate in logs or underground burrows below the frost line. Many aquatic salamanders hibernate by burying themselves in … Read more
Amphibians have unique skin compared to that of many other vertebrates. They use their skin to breathe, and also to ‘drink’ water. Many salamanders feel slimy because their skin is covered in a mucous coating, which helps them keep their skin moist, enabling them to efficiently breathe through their skin. The slime also creates an environment … Read more
Toads are interesting creatures that live part of their lives on land and part in water. These amphibians are great swimmers and typically migrate to ponds during the breeding season. But can toads drown? Despite their ability to breathe underwater through their skin, toads can drown. The oxygen they absorb while underwater is usually not … Read more
Toads are interesting creatures that live part of their lives on land and part in water. These amphibians are great swimmers and typically migrate to ponds during the breeding season. But how long can toads stay underwater? Generally, toads can stay underwater for 15 to 30 minutes before returning to the surface for air. However, … Read more
Toads are amphibians, which means they spend part of their lives in water and part on land. During the breeding season, it is common to see hundreds of toads migrating to ponds where they can swim and lay their eggs. But can toads breathe underwater? Toads can breathe underwater via cutaneous respiration. Dissolved oxygen in … Read more
Salamanders are very secretive creatures. Due to this, several myths and legends have arisen about them over the centuries. Many ancient people believed that salamanders were fireproof and so cold-blooded that their bodies could extinguish the flames themselves. Ancient people associated salamanders with fire due to their habit of hibernating in moist logs. When these … Read more