Herpetology Part 2

Amphibians are the other group. These have only jaws. They have slimy skin, no teeth, and no claws. These include frogs, toads, and salamanders.

Frogs live their entire life either in or around water. They're skin is slimy, and their back legs have fins on them. When they mature, they get an air sac for attracting females. When they mate, the male hugs the female and she puts out the eggs. The male fertilizes them and they develop into tadpoles. These eggs come as clumps. Frogs eat by flicking their tongue at an insect. The insect is caught on the sticky spot and is then swallowed. Frogs close their eyes when the swallow, for the same reason a toad does.

Toadslive their life away from water. They usually get enough water from morning dew to live on. Toads DO NOT give warts. Unlike frogs, toads move their head down and gobble up an insect. Toads close their eyes when they swallow, due to the structure of their jaw. Toads and frogs mate in spring. The process is pretty much the same. A female toad produces strings of eggs. If one knows their herpetology, they can tell just by looking at a tadpole what species it will be.

Tadpoles develop into frogs(duh). When a frog/toad has completed the tadpole stage, it's only about 1 cm². They set off to the woods to get to the size that we usually see them at.

Salamanders live in or around water. This is vital to their survival. They're slimy, but, some are VERY pretty. I never took much interest in salamanders, so that's all for this.

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