#lake amphibians

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Caring for the Cane Toad

Also known as the giant neotropical toad or marine toad, the cane toad (Rhinella marina) is a large species of toad native to Central and South America. They are most often found near permanent sources of water like lakes, wetlands, and slow-moving rivers, as well as tropical rainforests and open grasslands. R. marina can also be found in human-modified areas, like gardens and farmland. They have a wide range of temperatures which they can tolerate; some populations in North America can tolerate up to 53% of their bodily fluids freezing.

Despite their preference for living near water, cane toads are primarily terrestrial. They feed on a wide range of arthropods, birds, small reptiles, and small mammals-- anything they can fit in their mouths. Prey is mainly identified via movement and smell, as R. marina has poor vision and hunts at primarily night. During the day the marine toad hides under logs or in foliage to avoid predators. The most common threats in its native region include caimans, birds of prey, snakes, eels, large fish, and bullet ants. To deter these predators, the cane toad can emit a milky-white substance known as bufotoxin, which is poisonous to many species. Individuals will also inflate their lungs, puffing up their bodies to appear larger than they really are.

R. marina is easily identified as the largest species in the family Bufonidae, reaching up to 24 cm (9.5 in) long and weighing an average of 106g(3.75 oz). Females are significantly larger than males. On adults, the head and back are covered with large wart-like bumps, and the color ranges from light grey to red to dark brown. Juveniles have smooth skin and are usually darker in color. Because of their terrestrial nature, marine toads lack webbing between their fingers.

The giant neotropical toad is capable of breeding year-round, so long as resources are plentiful. Males congregate in bodies of slow-moving or still freshwater, and call loudly to attract a mate. Depending on the number of males and the size of their breeding ground, males may also fight for dominance. After a female choses a mate (or several), she may lay up to 25,000 eggs in strings up to 20m (65 ft) long. The eggs take only 2-7 days to hatch, but few make it past the tadpole stage, which lasts about a month. Only about 0.5% of cane toads reach adulthood, which takes about a year. Without predators R. marina can live up to 10 years.

Conservation status: The IUCN lists the cane toad as Least Concern, due to their large native population and adaptability. Unfortunately, the cane toad has been introduced in many areas, including Australia, southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and North America, and is considered a highly invasive species.

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Photos

Chris Ison

John Sullivan

Richard Shine

[soranatus]

"Gentle Giant of Wizard Island" 12x12", Ink and watercolor, 2023. By Emily Poole.

[margocooper]

Зеленая прудовая лягушка (лат. Pelophylax lessonae). Green pond frog.

[orofeaiel]

Gigantic bullfrog that @seabeck, her brother, and Juniper caught!

[lake-lady]

From the forest...everything is turning very green 💚

[nocternalrandomness]

1943 PBY making a graceful arrival at the International Seaplane Meeting at Bisscarrosse, France

[he-who-needs-to-be-silenced]

Maysozoic day 15:

A school of beelzebuffo swim away slowly from a gar who is already satiated

[avatar-of-the-blank]

Hi, Michael!

Are you a cat or dog distortion. Or both. Or neither.

Sincerely, a fellow queer spiral avatar

AN AXOLOTL, DEAR >>(^_^)<<

[curiosityschild]

Amphibiuary Day 17 - Robot

Imagine an unmanned deep sea submersible, but made by amphibians. Amphibians spend a lot of time in shallow water, they've got to be curious about the deep ocean, right? (Side note, I tried to find out how deep amphibians can go or how deep they COULD go in theory, but I could find no information on this. Disappointing.)

Don't worry, it isn't going to grab the fish. It's just looking.

[sitting-on-me-bum]

A brightly coloured Italian alpine newt photographed in the lake at the Crespina 2 quarry in Tuscany.

Photograph: Manuel Micheli

[kaelula-sungwis]

Japanese tree frog por Teruhide Tomori Por Flickr: Location : Oroshimo, Kusatsu, Shiga pref. ニホンアマガエル

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Uncharismatic Fact of the Day

How many push-ups can you do? The Lake Titicaca frog-- also known as the scrotum frog-- can do quite a lot! In fact, doing 'push-ups' under water actually helps this species to absorb more oxygen through their skin by increasing the water flow around their bodies. This ability is extra important, as the Lake Titicaca frog lives its whole life underwater!

Check out the video for an example of their extreme workout:

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[thestonecuttersguild]

Lake amphibian in a very age appropriate 70′s livery. Oshkosh 2022

[vandaliatraveler]

Blake and I drove out to Tygart Lake yesterday to scout fishing spots. The lake is quite popular with local boaters and fishers, and finding a quiet cove to yourself is no easy task (bushwhacking skills are highly desirable). Blake has an instinctive feel for good fishing spots and an enviable power to draw wildlife to himself, including apparently toads - evidence being the little tater tot (above) that practically jumped into his hands. Never once peed on him.

From top: violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea), a lovely, low-spreading perennial of damp woods and streambanks; lyreleaf sage (Salvia lyrata), an evergreen mint with elegant blue flowers and unusual, multi-lobed foliage; and wild comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum), which is becoming increasingly rare throughout much of its range.

[scooby-doo-exploration]

FROM :  martinezalejandrojr

[lake-lady]

I was filming this newt and he just fell of the rock #newtfail 🥺