Jefferson salamander (𝘈𝘮𝘣𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢
𝘫𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮) insitu. On rainy spring nights, Jefferson salamanders and other species can often be found crossing roads in the country side. This makes it that much more important to drive slowly and keep an eye on the road to keep these endangered amphibians safe

Eastern American toad (𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘹𝘺𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘢. 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴). Some populations of American toads have a relationship with the algae 𝘊𝘩𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘱. Here, the algae grows on the skin of the tadpole producing oxygen which can be directly absorbed through the skin, expediting development.

Just a paper i found interesting: crabs that live in trees and have maternal instincts!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Northern green frog (𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘴). These frogs can change their sex! Starting out as tadpoles, sex is determined by chromosomes like many other species, but come metamorphosis, they can develop into either male or female. No one knows why but we know it’s nothing to do with pesticides.

Eastern red-backed salamander (𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘶𝘴). Despite being the most common salamander in much of eastern North America, these are some of the most fascinating salamanders with bacteria on their skin that deters fungal growth, parental care, lunglessness, and complex ways of communicating

Grey treefrog (𝘋𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘴 (𝘏𝘺𝘭𝘢) 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳). These fros are able to freeze solid in Canada’s frigid winter, holding themselves in suspended animation. They do this because of glycerol formed in the liver, and spread through the body. This stops their cells from dying in the cold, keeping them alive

www.atlasobscura.com/articles/sal...

Northern two-lined salamander (𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘺𝘤𝘦𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘢). These salamanders are members of a group called 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘦 or “lungless salamanders”. As one would expect these salamanders lack lungs, likely to hunt for insects in the benthic levels of streams without becoming buoyant #salamander #macro

A common mudpuppy (𝘕𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘮. 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘶𝘴). Mudpuppies are some of the most resilient salamanders when it comes to the cold. In the summer they stay at the bottom of lakes but come winter they travel up streams to hunt in 0°C water. With extra DNA, their bodies can adjust to a wider range of temps

Caesar the western hognose snake (𝘏𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴) #hognose #snake #pet #reptile #reptilePhotography #westernHognose #hognoseSnake #animal #scienceCommunication #scicomm #herping #herpetology #macro #macroPhotography #headshot #snakePhotography #animalphotography #petSnake

Five-lined skink (𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴). Central Ontario is too cold for these lizards, to survive here they hide under rocks on barrens with a southeastern slope which warms up to near-tropical temps. At the northernmost end of their range, species have to adapt to the extremes
#herping #lizard

Wiarton Willy the albino groundhog (𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘹) posing with town criers during the Groundhog Day celebration. While there is nothing to support a groundhog’s ability to predict the weather, the tradition dates as far back as 1887, with bears and badgers used even earlier in Eastern Europe.

Western chorus frog (𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘢) from the Carolinian pop., Those in the Great Lakes lowlands population have mitochondrial DNA more like the boreal chorus frogs further north suggesting a history of hybridization when temperatures were cooler and boreal chorus frogs were further south

Dekay’s brown snake (𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘪), named after Dr. James Ellsworth De Kay, an American naturalist who published a book on Turkey criticizing the Jewish citizens with antisemitist rhetoric. In a time where birds are renamed because of problematic connections, one wonders if reptiles will be next

A juvenile northern red salamander (𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘯 𝘳. 𝘳𝘶𝘣𝘦𝘳). Red salamanders like this can remain active throughout the winter, occupying seepages with water kept warm underground. Many animals and plants rely on these microhabitats emphasizing the importance of protecting ground water

Red-spotted newt (𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘶𝘴 𝘷. 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴). It’s believed newts can see north. The magnetic poles of the earth influence the spin of unpaired electrons in the cryptochromes within the eye. This creates visual cues when the newt faces north, allowing them to find their breeding ponds each spring

Hammond the yellow-bellied slider (𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘺𝘴 𝘴. 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘢). As with my instagram, one can expect to see wildlife photography and write-ups about science and conservation on this page. More coming soon!