A boa constrictor in Idaho!
Have you been lucky enough to see Idaho’s only boa constrictor? The rubber boa is smaller than the giant boa constrictor of South America and…
Category: Reptiles & Amphibians
Discover frog sounds: How do frogs make sounds? Why?
Only one frog really says “rib-bit”- the Pacific chorus frog. All other frogs have their own calls-chirps, hoots, croaks and more. These frog mating calls…
Snakes shed skin in order to grow
Many animals expand their skin as they grow such as mice, birds and deer. Some insects, like a grasshopper, shed their exoskeletons (a rigid covering…
Find out how to identify a Pacific chorus frog
Lately, the kids have been finding frogs and toads around the garden. One frog stumped me. When trying to identify it, I thought it couldn’t…
Incredible transformation from tadpole to frog
Changing from a swimming tadpole to a jumping frog is truly incredible. The change is gradual since almost every organ is modified during metamorphosis. A…
Not all shells created the same
There in the grass were big snail shells, medium snail shells and itty bitty snails in tiny shells. I’d only ever seen big snail shells…
Elusive “blue-tailed” western skink
A flash of blue darted across the ground in front of me as I entered Grandma’s barn—a blue-tailed skink! Luckily, the skink paused long enough…
What is the difference between reptiles and amphibians?
Is a turtle a reptile or an amphibian since it can swim but also lives in deserts? Amphibians include salamanders, toads and frogs. Reptiles include…
Some animals capable of growing new appendages
Lizards are one of the more well-known animals to regrow their tail after shedding it to evade predators. Last week, I wrote about autotomy (the…
Animals utilize self-amputation for numerous reasons
Northern alligator lizards and western blue-tailed skinks possess two unique abilities in the animal world–they can self-amputate their tail and grow it back. The process…
Tiny salamander delivers big surprise to predators
What has large bulbous eyes, a blunt snout, a long fourth toe on its hind foot and is three to four inches long? A long-toed…
Frogs breathe through skin and swallow with their eyes!
In the spring, I’m always listening for the first robin to sing and the first frog to ribbit. But in the fall, I never know…
Discover frog sounds: How do frogs make sounds? Why?
Only one frog really says “rib-bit”- the Pacific chorus frog. All other frogs have their own calls-chirps, hoots, croaks and more. These frog mating calls…
Snakes shed skin in order to grow
Many animals expand their skin as they grow such as mice, birds and deer. Some insects, like a grasshopper, shed their exoskeletons (a rigid covering…
Find out how to identify a Pacific chorus frog
Lately, the kids have been finding frogs and toads around the garden. One frog stumped me. When trying to identify it, I thought it couldn’t…
Incredible transformation from tadpole to frog
Changing from a swimming tadpole to a jumping frog is truly incredible. The change is gradual since almost every organ is modified during metamorphosis. A…
Not all shells created the same
There in the grass were big snail shells, medium snail shells and itty bitty snails in tiny shells. I’d only ever seen big snail shells…
Elusive “blue-tailed” western skink
A flash of blue darted across the ground in front of me as I entered Grandma’s barn—a blue-tailed skink! Luckily, the skink paused long enough…
What is the difference between reptiles and amphibians?
Is a turtle a reptile or an amphibian since it can swim but also lives in deserts? Amphibians include salamanders, toads and frogs. Reptiles include…
Some animals capable of growing new appendages
Lizards are one of the more well-known animals to regrow their tail after shedding it to evade predators. Last week, I wrote about autotomy (the…
Animals utilize self-amputation for numerous reasons
Northern alligator lizards and western blue-tailed skinks possess two unique abilities in the animal world–they can self-amputate their tail and grow it back. The process…
Tiny salamander delivers big surprise to predators
What has large bulbous eyes, a blunt snout, a long fourth toe on its hind foot and is three to four inches long? A long-toed…
Frogs breathe through skin and swallow with their eyes!
In the spring, I’m always listening for the first robin to sing and the first frog to ribbit. But in the fall, I never know…