Amphibians
Barred Tiger Salamander
COMMON NAME: Barred Tiger Salamander
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ambystoma mavortium
Barred Tiger Salamanders are the largest land-dwelling salamander in North America. Like all amphibians they have soft, semipermeable skin which is kept moist by a coating of mucus. They spend the first portion of their lives under water, hatching from eggs and undergoing metamorphosis.
Fun Fact: In 1994, after a campaign initiated by the students at OK Elementary School, The Barred Tiger Salamander was officially designated the Kansas State Amphibian.
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Vietnamese Mossy Frog
COMMON NAME: Vietnamese Mossy Frog
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Theloderma corticale
Found amongst the rainforests and limestone cliffs of Northern Vietnam, this frog is named for its green, moss-like textured skin which acts as a highly effective camouflage.
Their diet consists of insects such as crickets and cockroaches.
Breeding takes place during the wet season, when rocky cavern floors become flooded. A female will affix eight to ten eggs above the water line. When tadpoles hatch, they will drop to the pool below where they will spend the next three months developing.
The largest threats to this species are habitat loss and the chytrid fungus. Amphibians breathe via their skin as well as their lungs. The chytrid fungus feeds upon the keratin on amphibian skin and spreads quickly, reducing the animal’s ability to breathe.
Fun fact: This frog has been found living at altitudes of more than 3,000 feet.