Category: Amphibians
The Cane Toad is a very large, terrestrial toad native to the extreme southern United States and Central and South America. The largest toad on record was 15 inches long and weighed almost 6 pounds! Once commonly exported outside their native countries as a means of pest control in sugarcane fields (hence the name “Cane Toad,” these toads have become invasive species in many locales. They have toxic glands that can be deadly to predators and curious pets, and must be handled cautiously. Their incredible appetites, long life spans, and easy breeding make them popular pets.
Learn more about the Cane Toad at Wikipedia and Reptiles Magazine.
Caecilians: The Limbless Enigma
Caecilians are amphibians with long, limbless bodies that resemble worms or snakes more than frogs or salamanders. Their name means “blind ones,” a reference to their tiny, skin-covered (or in some cases, non-existent) eyes - which probably don’t get much use, as they spend most their lives burrowing underground. Caecilians are unusual for amphibians in that 75% of them give birth to live young, oftentimes, fully formed. There are also a few species where the mother actually grows a layer of nutritious, fatty skin that is eaten off by her own young, which is analogous to breastfeeding in mammals.
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