MIDWIFE TOAD

, , ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CLASS
Amphibia
.... ORDER
~ Anura
FAMILY
Discoglossidae Alytes obstetricians
The midwife toad gets its name from the male's behavior.
After mating, he carries the eggs wrapped around his body until
the young are ready to hatch.
KEY FACTS
- - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
SIZES
Length: Adults, 1-3 in.
Tadpoles, ' /2 in .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 12-18 months.
Mating: April-November.
No. of eggs: Several clusters of
about 60.
Metamorphosis: From egg to
tadpole to toad, about 8 months,
sometimes less.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary or in small groups;
common midwife toad hibernates
in winter.
Diet: Small insects.
Lifespan: At least 5 years.
RELATED SPECIES
The midwife toad's family,
Discoglossidae, has 10 species;
most toads belong to the family
Bufonidae, which has about 300
species.
Range of the the midwife toad.
DISTRIBUTION
The common midwife toad is found in Spain, France,
Belgium, and adjoining countries. Three other species are
found in Majorca, Morocco, Portugal, and western Spain.
CONSERVATION
Numbers are declining as habitats and breeding pools are
destroyed by man. In some areas, midwife toads are bred in
captivity for release into suitable sites.
THE MALE TOAD AS MIDWI FE
MCMXCI IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
By carryi ng the eggs on his hind
legs, the male toad can keep them
out of the pond water, where they
li kel y to be eaten.
The eggs are joined together by
tough threads wrapped around the
male's hind legs. The tadpoles are
not released into the water until
they are large enough to fend for
themselves.
PRINTED IN U.SA 0160200091 PACKET 9
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Four separate species of midwife toad are
found across Western Europe, North Africa,
and Majorca. Shy, nocturnal animals,
they give away their presence
by their ringing call.
~ H A B I T A T
During the day the midwife
toad hides under stones and
logs or in underground tun-
nels. It often hides in dry,
sandy soil, which it finds
easier to dig into, using its
forelegs and snout.
It emerges at dusk to
[
DID YOU KNOW?
A midwife toad's poison
can kill an adder in a few
hours.
Midwife toads can be
found in the snows of the
Pyrenees mountains, living at
heights of 5,000-6,500 feet.
The earl iest known amphib-
ian lived about 350 million
years ago.
forage for food but always
returns to the same hiding
places before dawn.
During the winter, the
common midwife toad
hibernates in its hole or in a
burrow deserted by a small
mammal.
Unlike the thin tongue of
many amphibians, the mid-
wife's tongue is round and
flattened . Its family name,
Discoglossidae, means round
tongue.
In parts of France midwife
toads live in sand dunes next
to the sea. They share this
habitat with natterjack toads.
~ BREEDING
The midwife toad is unique
among other frogs and toads
of Europe in that the male
cares for the eggs until they
hatch.
Breeding occurs in May.
Once a female responds to the
male toad's calls, he stimulates
her into laying eggs. He
fertilizes the eggs immediately
and carries them on his body
for several weeks until they are
ready to hatch into tadpoles.
Both toads may mate with
others, as well. The male
carries on his legs all of the
batches of eggs that he has
fertilized, attached by strings.
The male keeps the eggs
moist as the embryos feed
and grow on the yolk. When
they are ready to hatch, he
places his hind legs in the
water at the edge of a pool.
The tadpoles burst out of the
eggs and into the water.
Many tadpoles do not
change into toads until the
following summer. The next
year they are big enough to
breed.
Right: The toad's back is covered
with poisonous "warts" which
help to protect the eggs.
~
u:::
Above: A
tadpole that is
close to
completing its
development
into an adult.
- Left: Black
. ~ tadpoles about
~ to hatch can
~ be seen inside
~ the eggs.
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~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The midwife toad crawls
around the area close to its
hiding place at night to
search for food . It uses the
end of its long sticky tongue
to pick up its prey, such as
beetles, crickets, flies,
~ DEFENSES
The back of the midwife toad
is covered with small warts.
These warts give off a strong-
smelling poison when the
toad is handled or attacked.
The poison is so powerful
that the toad has few ene-
caterpillars, centipedes, and
millipedes.
Tadpoles feed on vegetable
matter. They chew with tiny,
horny teeth. Young toads eat
smaller sizes of the same prey
that adults feed on.
mies or predators.
The poison also helps to
keep the egg strings on the
male's back safe from attack.
The tadpole does not
possess the poison and falls
prey to fish and insects.
SPECIAL ADAPTATI ONS
The Majorcan midwife toad
has adapted to the harsh, dry
conditions of this Spanish
island. It is found only in
deep canyons in the northern
mountains . Its body has
become flattened throug h
evol ution to enable it to
squeeze into narrow crevices
in the rocks. The only mois-
t ure available is in small, rain-
fi lled puddles on ledges. Tad-
poles are born and develop in
t hese li ttle pools.
Fossi ls of this speci es have
also been fou nd in Europe.
"'" CARD 1 3
COMMON FROG
_____________________ G_R_O_U_P_3_:_R_E_PT_I_LE_S_& __

CLASS
Amphibia
ORDER
Anura
.. FAMILY
Ranidae
.. GENUS Est SPECIES
Rona temporaria
The common frog, like all amphibians, begins its life in the water.
It hatches from an egg as a fishlike tadpole before growing legs
and lungs as an adaptation for its adult life on land.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Males, 3 in. Females, 4 in.
Immature frogs up to 11/2 in .
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Mating: Early spring.
No. of eggs: 2,000-4,000.
Metamorphosis: 12-14 weeks
from tadpole to immature frog.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary; sociable during
breeding season.
Diet: Small insects, including flies,
beetles, crickets, slugs, snails,
centipedes, and worms.
Range of the common frog.
DISTRIBUTION
Lifespan: Up to 12 years in
captivity.
Range extends across northern Europe and east into the
Soviet Union and Asia.
RELATED SPECIES
CONSERVATION
Close relatives include the edible
frog Rona escu/enta, the North
American bullfrog R. catesbeiana,
and the leopard frog R. pipiens.
Frogs were common earlier this century, but numbers have
declined drastically because of habitat loss and use in
laboratories. Pollution from pesticides and fertilizers also
takes its toll.
LlFECYCLE OF THE COMMON FROG

lays 2,000 to


4,000 eggs,
called spawn .
They are
protected by a
layer of jelly
and clustered
together.
The speed of the eggs' development
depends on water temperature, but
within a few days the tadpoles begin to
grow. Their black bodies become clearly
visible through the jelly.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
I
Ten days later the tadpoles have eaten all
the jelly and emerge to feed on algae.
During the next 12 to 14 weeks, they
develop legs and slowly lose their tails.
Their gills are replaced by lungs so that
they can breathe air when they leave the
water in June. Adults return to breed two
or three years later.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200181 PACKET 18
As a tadpole, the common frog has gills
like a fish. As it matures, it grows lungs that
work when the frog puffs its throat in and out.
The adult frog can also breathe through
its moist skin, which allows it
to hibernate underwater.
~ HABITS
The common frog lives in
grassy meadows and woods,
on moors and marshes, along
canals and rivers, and beside
lakes and ponds.
During summer the com-
mon frog is most active at
night. It spends the day in
damp, hidden places, such as
DID YOU KNOW?
Some frogs have a disease
called neotony: they never
develop into adults and
remain tadpoles their entire
lives.
The frog changes its skin
color to camouflage itself
under a log or in reeds at the
edge of a pond. Sometimes it
emerges during the day to
bask in the sun.
The frog hibernates from
November to March either
on land in a secluded spot, or
underwater, hidden in the
soft mud.
among vegetation.
During breeding season,
males may attempt to mate
with any moving object,
thinking that it is a female.
The adult frog cannot feed
underwater like the tadpole.
~ NATUREWATCH
Common frogs can be seen in
the spring when they return to
the water to lay eggs. Males
make noisy croaking sounds
that make the frogs easy
to find.
After hatching, thousands of
~ PREDATORS
Hedgehogs, stoats, badgers,
otters, grass snakes, and owls
all prey on the common frog.
The frog's thin skin and lack
of defenses make it easy prey.
Tadpoles are eaten by fish,
ducks, newts, and various
types of aquatic insect.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The adult frog eats snails,
beetles, spiders, wood lice,
centipedes, and worms. In fall
the frog eats more to prepare
for hibernation.
The frog sits motionless,
waiting to ambush insects
with its sticky, whiplike tongue.
Once it catches its prey, the
frog blinks its large eyes,
causing them to push down
into its mouth, thus forcing the
food down its throat.
Right: Tadpoles eat algae until
they are large enough to catch
insects.
tadpoles can be seen swim-
ming along the edge of the
water.
Throughout the summer and
fall common frogs can be seen
in most parts of their habitats
on dry land.
Left: Common
frogs are now
more common
in backyard
ponds than
they are in the
countryside.
Even a small
pond can
support a
thriving
colony.
Man is a predator of the
common frog: large numbers
are caught every year for use
in school and research labor-
atories. In France and Bel-
gium the frog is eaten in
early spring, when the large
edible adults are hibernating.
~ BREEDING
The frog spends most of the
year away from water, return-
ing in spring to breed.
Male frogs gather at the
water's edge, where they
croak continuously to attract
females. Once a male finds a
female, he seizes her, jumps
on her back, and clasps her
firmly. The two frogs remain
locked in this position until
the eggs have been laid and
the male has fertilized them.
Adult frogs remain in or
near the water for one to
two months after mating.
Above: Frogs
mate until the
eggs have been
laid and
fertilized.
Left: The male
has special
pads to help
him grip the
female.
"" CARD 14
FIRE SALAMANDER ~
"" GROUP 3: REPTILES &: AMPHIBIANS ~ . \ 7
{
... GENUS SPECIES ~
~ Salamandra salamandra
ORDER .. FAMILY
~ Salamandridae Caudata
The fire salamander, widespread throughout Europe and parts
of Asia, is distinguished by its brilliant coloration and striking
patterns, which serve as a warning to predators.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Males up to 6 in., of
which at least 2 in. is tail. Females
can grow to 12 in.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years.
Mating: Usually in early summer,
but can take place in spring and
fall.
Gestation: Up to 8 months.inside
the females.
No. of eggs: 25-40.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually solitary; sometimes
hibernate together.
Diet: Tadpoles: water fleas, small
worms, and aquatic insects. Adults:
worms, slugs, snails, and insects.
RELATED SPECIES
The alpine salamander is entirely
black and lives in the Alps. It gives
birth to 1 or 2 very large, air-
breathing young.
()
1/
Range of the European fire salamander.
DISTRIBUTION
Europe from Spain and Portugal in the west to the western
Soviet Union, Turkey, and . Israel in the east. Also found in
North Africa and Corsica.
CONSERVATION
Under threat from loss of habitat, the fire salamander has
also been collected for laboratory use and the pet trade. It is
now a protected species in much of Europe.
LlFECYCLE OF THE FIRE SALAMANDER
After an eight-
month gestation
period, the female
deposits the tad-
poles in a small pool
of water. At this
stage they are fully
aquatic.
At approxi-
mately three
months, the
tadpoles'
feathery gills are
replaced by
lungs, and their
legs develop.
Resembling a miniature replica of
the adult, the young salamander
leaves the water for life on land.
The typical fire salamander is
black with yel/ow spots, but throughout its
enormous range there is considerable variation.
In Spain and Portugal it has orange spots,
while in Italy, it has thick yel/ow stripes.
~ H A B I T A T
The fire salamander requires a
habitat with plenty of shade
trees, moisture, and ground
leaf cover. It can be found on
hills at altitudes as high as
3,200 feet.
While salamanders seldom
venture into water, they need
to be close to a shallow
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The fire salamander hunts
mainly at night, and particu-
larly after a rain. It moves
through the leaves that litter
the forest floor in search of
slow-moving prey such as
worms, slugs, snails, wood
lice, earwigs, and centipedes.
source of water in which to
deposit their young during the
breeding season.
Because increasingly more
trees in Europe are being felled
for timber, the fire salaman-
der's habitat is being threat-
ened and, consequently, so is
its survival.
After spotting its prey, the
salamander seizes it in its
jaws, shaking it from side to
side before swallowing it.
In their tadpole stage, fire
salamanders feed on small c::
worms and other tiny aquatic I
insects. '-'
Most fire salamanders hiber-
nate from early winter until
spring, sleeping under rocks or
in crevices. From spring to
early summer, they mate on
land or in shallow water.
The male follows the female
and nudges her with his head,
trying to climb on top of her.
She rejects his attempt and he
left: Born as tadpoles, fire
~ salamanders take three months to
~ undergo metamorphosis (develop
~ into adults).
finally crawls underneath her
and releases a capsule of
sperm. She picks up the sperm
and pushes it into her cloaca,
or genital cavity.
The eggs are fertilized and
remain in the female's body
until they are ready to hatch
the following spring. Then, at
night, she deposits 25 to 40
tadpoles into pools of water.
The tadpoles are an inch
long and have brown and
black markings. They have
Fire salaman-
ders show
considerable
variation in
their skin
patterns and
colors. But in
every case the
colors warn
predators of
the salaman-
der's poisonous
defense.
four legs and three pairs
large, feathery gills behind
their heads.
Three months later their
lungs develop, they lose
their gills, and they leave
the water to live on land.
DID YOU KNOW?
The name fire salamander
probably originated in Ger-
many's Black Forest region.
Logs were piled up next to
the house for use in the win-
ter, which provided ideal hi-
bernating places. When the
logs were thrown on the fire,
the heat would wake the
sleeping salamander, which
would emerge from the log
to escape the fire.
Salamanders are some-
times mistaken for lizards.
But unlike lizards, their heads
are rounded and their skins
I ~ \I' SPECIAL
~ ADAPTATION
The fire salamander protects
itself from predators by se-
creting a white sticky sub-
stance called salamandrin
from small pores located on
its head and back.
The substance is powerful
enough to kill small mammals
and can cause an animal the
size of a large dog a great
deal of discomfort. It will even
cause vomiting and tempo-
rary blindness in a human.
Salamandrin-secreting pores
"" CARD 15
INDIAN PYTHON
______________________ G_R_O_U_P_3_:_R_E_PT_I_lE_S_& __
GENUS &: SPECIES
A giant among snakes, the Indian python hunts by night,
tracking its prey by scent and suffocating it in the powerful
and deadly grip of its coils.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Up to 30 ft., but usually
shorter.
Weight: Up to 350 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3 years.
No. of eggs: 60-100, increasing
with age.
Incubation: 60-80 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary and nocturnal.
Diet: Small mammals, deer, pigs,
and monkeys.
Lifespan: Estimated at up to 40
years, but 20-30 is more common.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 27 species of pythons,
and 39 species of the closely
related boas, which include the
biggest snake in the world, the
35-ft. green anaconda Eunectes
murinus of South America.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE
INDIAN PYTHON
The python climbs a tree by gripping
the trunk with its scales and sliding up.
It then wraps itself around a branch and
hangs there until it detects an animal
passing underneath.
Range of the Indian python.
DISTRIBUTION
The Indian python is found throughout southern Asia from
Pakistan t hrough India and Sri Lanka t o southern China,
Malaysia, and the Australasian islands.
CONSERVATION
Hunt ed extensively for its skin, the Indian python has be-
come rare in many areas. It is officially listed as threatened
and is likely to become an endangered species.
Heat sensors:
Spur: The larger
spur of the male
----;s used in mating.
Tongue: Used
to sample air
particles for the
scent of prey.
The body heat of
a warm-blooded
animal can be
detected by the
python, using
these highly
sensitive heat
receptors on its
mouth.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLI FE FACT FI LETM us P 6001 12010 PACKET 10
The Indian python is a deadly
predator: it can kill and eat animals
as large as a leopard. It has also evolved an
efficient system for incubating its eggs,
warming up its blood through repeated
twitching of its muscles.

The python hunts at night,
spending the day basking in
the sun or coiled up in a
cave or burrow. Its excellent
sense of smell and good
night vision help it to hunt.
By day, the pupils of its eyes
are vertical slits, but at night
they expand to allow in
more light, much like a cat's
eyes. The python identifies its
prey by movement, rather
than by the animal's shape.
A python prowling for food
moves rapidly through the
undergrowth with wavelike
movements, or it may creep
forward like an earthworm,
using the scales on its stom-
ach for traction. It also climbs

The python's ancestors were
lizardlike reptiles with legs, and
the python still retains a tiny
pair of vestigial hind limbs.
With these limbs the male lies
alongside the female and taps
the area around her vent, or
genital opening. He continues
until she allows him to mate.
trees to watch for its prey.
The python is an agile swim-
mer and is often found near
water. It can dive and surface
by pumping air in and out of
its body, and it can stay sub-
merged for up to 30 minutes.
A cold-blooded reptile, the
python must absorb heat from
its surroundings to keep its
muscles working. In northern
India, the python cannot keep
warm enough to stay active
throughout the winter, so it
usually lies dormant for several
months.
Above: If a python is not able to
produce enough of its own body
heat, it will lie in the sun to
absorb heat.
Inset: The python's sensitive eyes
give it excellent night vision.
The female makes a shallow
nest four months after mating
and lays as many as 100 soft,
sticky eggs. These stick to-
gether, forming a mass of
eggs, which helps to keep
the individual eggs warm.
If the air temperature drops
below 96.8 F, the mother will
&: HUNTING
The Indian python preys
mainly on warm-blooded
mammals, which it locates by
using its acute sense of smell
and the highly sensitive heat
receptors near its mouth.
As it moves through the
forest, the snake tastes the air
with its forked tongue and
transfers the air particles to a
pit in the roof of its mouth,
called the Jacobson's organ.
This organ detects the scent of
any prey that may be nearby.
As the snake gets closer to its
prey, its heat sensors, located
on either side of its mouth, can
detect the warm-blooded
animal from over a yard away.
Darting forward, the python
grabs its prey with its sharp,
PYTHON &: MAN
The Indian python is a massive
snake that can grow to 30 feet
in length. Although most
stories about pythons' killing
people are exaggerated, there
are several authentic accounts.
In Hong Kong, a baby was
devoured by an Indian python
and, in Indonesia, one killed a
fourteen-year-old boy.
While pythons are capable of
killing humans, it is usually
humans who kill them. Their
raise her body temperature
by contracting her muscles-
unusual behavior for cold-
blooded reptiles. She then
wraps herself around them.
Right: Having been incubated at
the correct temperature by its
mother, a perfectly formed baby
python emerges from the egg.
backward-facing teeth, wraps
it in its coils, and squeezes.
Every time the prey animal
breathes out, the snake tight-
ens its grip until, eventually,
the animal suffocates.
Having killed its prey, which
may be as large as a small
deer, the python releases its
richly patterned skin is greatly
prized and, as a result, the
Indian python has become
quite rare in some areas.
The python is also used in
snake charmers' acts, particu-
larly in western India. The
performers usually take the
precaution of cooling the
snakes to lower their blood
temperature and, conse-
quently, dull their senses
before starting a show.
hold and, starting with the
head, swallows it whole. This
process can take many hours
and the python may not need
to eat again for months.
Below: Having suffocated this
brown rat, the python slowly but
surely begins to swallow it
whole.
DID YOU KNOW?
The python suffers from
stomach gas. Gases gener-
ated in its stomach after
eating may cause its body to
swell up for several days.
A 19-foot python was
found with a leopard in its
stomach.
A pyt hon only needs t o eat
the equivalent of its body
weight in food each yea r, so
it may eat just once or twice
duri ng that time.
"'CARD 16
FER-DE-LANCE
\( ______________________
... ORDER
Viperidae
FAMILY
Squamata
... GENUS &: SPECIES
'11IIIIIIII Bothrops atrox
The fer-de-lance is considered the most dangerous snake
in all of Central and South America. It causes more human
fatalities than any other American reptile.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Average about 6 ft., but
can reach over 8 ft.
BREEDING
Mating: Year-round.
Gestation: 3-4 months in
equatorial regions.
No. of young: Around 60 live
young per litter.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Mainly solitary.
Diet: Small mammals and birds.
Young live on frogs and lizards.
Lifespan: Over 20 years has been
recorded.
RELATED SPECIES
Another fer-de-lance, Bothrops
lanceolatus, is found only on the
island of Martinique in the West
Indies. The Andean fer-de-lance,
Bothrops andianus, lives in the
mountains of Peru.
Range of the fer-de-lance.
DISTRIBUTION
The fer-de-lance inhabits tropical forests in Venezuela, Brazil,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern Argentina, the
Guianas, and possibly Trinidad.
CONSERVATION
The fer-de-lance is one of the most numerous of the pi t
vipers and is not endangered.
HOW THE FER-DE-LANCE KILLS ITS PREY
Weapons of attack: While snakes such as the boa constrictor,
anaconda, and python use their muscular coils to crush
or suffocate prey, the fer-de-lance relies on its
lightning speed, accuracy, and highly toxic
venom to first subdue and then
kill rodents and other
small mammals.
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SENSORY ORGANS
The fer-de-lance sees no better
than humans at night, but it has
heat-sensing organs in indenta-
tions on both sides of its nostrils
that act like infrared sensors,
allowing the snake to "see" its
warm-blooded prey at night.
0160200301 PACKET 30
The fer-de-lance is frequently found on coffee
and banana plantations in Central and South
America, where unsuspecting workers are bitten and
often die from the snake's extremely toxic venom. Like
all vipers, the fer-de-lance attacks with lightning
speed that makes it almost undetectable.

A terrestrial (ground-living)
snake, the fer-de-lance lives in
forest areas and along stream
edges and ditches. It also
searches for mice and rats in
human-populated areas and
on plantations.
When disturbed, the large
pit viperwill take flight, but it
also strikes at enemies if they
come within reach.
Like other pit vipers, this
snake has two indentations
behind and above the nostrils
that can detect a .0fF rise or
drop in temperature. It
detects a warm-blooded
mammal by the difference
between its temperature and
the surroundings'. Using the
two pits as infrared sensors
and its tongue for "taste" at
night, the fer-de-lance lines
up its head with the prey and
strikes accurately in darkness.
Glands on both sides of the
head provide venom to the
fangs, and large jaw muscles
inject it. This structure gives
the fer-de-lance the wide,
triangular-shaped head
common of most vipers.
Above: The
fer-de-lance
can strike ani-
mals too large
for prey with-
out injecting
venom. In this
way, it fright-
ens off the
intruder with-
out wasting
venom.
Below: The fer-
de-lance feeds
mainly on small
mammals such
as rodents. It
tracks down
prey by using
two heat-
sensing pits
located
behind the
nostrils.

After mating, the female keeps
the young in her body, mov-
ing in and out of the sun to
keep the developing embryos
at a constant temperature.
The litter contains 50 to 70
young measuring 12 inches
long. Once born, the young
snakes fend for themselves,
feeding on frogs and lizards.
The young climb trees, but
they stop when they mature.
Juvenile fer-de-Iances often
have brighter colors and
patterns than adults. They also
have yellow or beige tails.
Right: Milking a fer-de-lance of its
venom. Frant-positioned fangs are
a trait of all vipers.
DID YOU KNOW?
Two deaths resulted from
one fer-de-lance bite when
a plantation worker was
struck on the foot and his
wife bathed the punctured
area. Because she had fine
cuts all over her hands, the
venom entered her blood-
stream as well . She and her
husband both died.
Like all snakes, the fer-de-
lance can climb and swim.
The venom yield of a fer-
de-lance averages about
FOOD Est HUNTING
Mainly active at night, the
fer-de-lance may forage or
wait for prey in undergrowth
at any time of day. It eats
mostly rodents and other
small mammals.
When about to strike, the
fer-de-lance adopts the stan-
dard viper position: its head
and upper body form an S-
shape. The snake flicks its
tongue, tasting the air for
traces of prey.
With a lightning strike it
injects a lethal dose of poison.
On larger prey, it moves away
0.004 ounce and can be as
much as 0.011 ounce. The
lethal human dose is just
0.002 ounce.
A viper can strike so fast it
is hard to tell it moved from
the defensive S-position.
and waits for the poison to
take effect. It then follows the
scent trail of the now-dead
animal and eats it.
Vipers are unique among
snakes because only they
have independently hinged
fangs that lie flat against the
roof of the mouth when the
jaws are closed. The fangs
move upright when the snake
strikes, yawns, or draws prey
into its mouth.
Reserve fangs located be-
hind the fangs periodically
replace a lost front fang.
"" CARD 17
GREAT CRESTED NEWT
______________________ __ P_3_: R_E_P_T_ll_E_S_&_A_M __
... ORDER FAMILy .... GENUS & SPECIES
"1IIIIIIII Caudata Salamandridae "1IIIIIIII Triturus cristatus
The great crested newt is the largest of the European newts,
a lizardlike relative of frogs and toads that has to return
to the water each year to breed.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Female up to 6
1
/2 in. (in-
cluding 3 in. tail). Male smaller.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3-4 years.
Mating: Normally mid-spring.
Eggs: 200-300 laid individually.
Larvae: Aquatic, legless, with gills
when they leave the egg. Even-
tually develop into miniature
newts, growing front legs first,
then hind legs.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Usually solitary, but
sometimes hibernates in groups.
Diet: Insects, worms, slugs, snails,
tadpoles, and spawn.
Lifespan: Average 10 years.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 8 species of newt in
Europe, including the common
newt and the palmate newt.
Range of the great crested newt.
DISTRIBUTION
Central and northern Europe in lowlands and hills up to
6,500 feet above sea level.
CONSERVATION
Pollution in waterways and loss of breeding sites have
caused the great crested newt to decline. In some areas it
is protected by law and its population may be increasing.
lIFECYCLE OF THE GREAT CRESTED NEWT
5 Male: Displays
bright colors and a
crest grown during
the breeding
season.
3 Tadpole: Legs start to grow
and the gills continue to shrink.
OMCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.s.A
1 Egg: 200 to
300 laid
Individually by
the female.
Nest: Female
wraps each
egg in a water
plant.
2 Tadpole: Has
no legs at this
stage. Large
external gills
shrink everyday.
0160200281 PACKET 28
The great crested newt belongs to the
primitive amphibian class. Descended from
some of the first creatures to appear on land,
it has to stay moist to survive and never strays
far from water. It gets its name from the
magnificent crest grown by the male
during the breeding season.
~ HABITS
The great crested newt is like
an elongated frog with a tail.
Like the frog, it is an amphib-
ian that lives both on land
and in the water. Its soft,
porous skin must stay moist,
so it cannot live in dry places
or bask in the sun like the
scaly lizard.
On land, it hides under
stones or logs by day and
Above: When oxygen levels in the
water are high, the newt can stay
submerged for a long time.
hunts in the damp grass or
leaf litter at night. In spring,
it breeds in water, remaining
there until midsummer.
The warm summer weather
keeps the newt's body tem-
perature warm so it is active.
When winter comes, the
newt's body processes slow
down to conserve energy
during hibernation.
Right: As the tadpole develops, its
bushy gills shrink until it can
absorb oxygen through its skin.
DID YOU KNOW?
If a newt loses or damages
a limb it grows a new one.
But older newts lose this
ability to regenerate.
A great crested newt
exudes a poisonous secre-
tion from several glands
along its back.
Crested newts shed their
~ HIBERNATION
Like all cold-blooded animals,
the newt absorbs its body
warmth from its surround-
ings, so it cannot function
during the cold winter. It hi-
bernates until spring.
Some great crested newts
hibernate underwater, but
most leave the breeding
pools by fall. Many hiber-
nate in damp crevices in the
ground or under stones.
Sometimes several newts en-
twine themselves in a ball in a
safe place to conserve mois-
ture and reduce energy loss.
Right: The adult newt regularly
sheds its skin and often eats the
nutritious remains.
skins periodically, some-
times leaving them hanging
intact on water plants.
Great crested newt tad-
poles that hatch late in the
breeding season often
spend the entire winter in
the breeding pool, emerg-
ing in spring.
~ FOOD & FEEDING
The slow-moving great
crested newt eats anything it
can catch. On land it feeds on
worms, insects, slugs, and
snails. In water it eats small
shellfish, frogs' eggs, and
tadpoles, including its own.
On land it watches for prey,
alert for any movement. When
searching for prey underwater,
~ BREEDING
Every spring the crested newt
returns to the same breeding
pool. The male develops a
long, serrated dorsal crest that
gives the species its name. He
begins a courtship ritual in
which he vibrates his tail and
nuzzles his mate to excite her.
Instead of passing sperm
directly into the female's
body, the male deposits it on
the pond bed sealed in a small
capsule called a spermato-
phore. The female picks up the
it uses its sense of smell and
the complex system of
pressure-sensitive cells on its
head and flanks to detect
vibrations in the water. Once
it is close enough, it flicks out
its tongue to snare prey.
Useless for chewing, its tiny
peglike teeth can only stop
prey from escaping.
capsule through a vent
in her belly, fertilizing the
eggs. She lays up to 300
eggs, wrapping each
one individually in the leaf
of a water plant.
Tadpoles hatch in three
weeks. They are semitrans-
parent with feathery gills to
absorb oxygen from the
water. They feed on tiny
aquatic animals and by the
end of summer they grow
legs and leave the water.
COMMON ADDER
,,'-------
.. ORDER
~ Squamata
.. FAMILY
~ Viperidae
GROUP 3: REPTILES &: AMPHIBIANS
.. GENUS &: SPECIES
~ Vipera berus
The common adder is a member of the viper family and is the most
familiar venomous snake in Europe. Fortunately, when approached
by humans, it will flee rather than bite.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Female, up to 30 in.
Male, up to 25 in. Young, 6 in. at
birth.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years.
Breeding season: April to May.
No. of young: 8-12.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Solitary except during
breeding and hibernating.
Diet: Small rodents, lizards, and
young birds.
RELATED SPECIES
There are 187 species of viper,
including 142 species of pit viper,
which are sometimes classed in a
separate family, Crotalidae.
Range of the common adder.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in Great Britain, except Ireland and the islands off
northern Scotland; throughout Europe to the Arctic Circle;
and in the Soviet Union.
CONSERVATION
The population is declining due to loss of habitat, but the adder
is not in danger of extinction. Natural enemies include the
hedgehog, which is immune to the adder's venom.
FEATURES OF THE COMMON ADDER
Eyes: Vertical
pupils allow
the adder to
see horizontal
movements
very well.
Female: Slightly larger than the
male. Colored reddish brown with
lighter markings.
Male: Vivid black diamond-shaped
markings on skin that varies from
yellowish to olive to gray.
Young: About 8 to 12 in a
brood. May be covered in a
thin membrane, from which
they Quickly emerge.
Ears: No external ears Of ear-
drums. Sound vibrations are felt
through the snake's lower jaw.
MCMXCI IMP BV/IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200351 PACKET 35
The common adder belongs to the viper family
and is found all over Europe. It can adapt easily
and makes its home in many different habitats,
from sand dunes to forests. Unlike most reptiles,
the common adder is capable of living
in cold climates and may be found
as far north as Finland.
~ HABITS
The adder's activities depend
on the time of the year. In
spring and fall it often sun-
bathes during the day, but in
summer it stays in the shade
until early evening.
In winter the adder hiber-
nates under a stone, in a
crevice, or in the burrow of
another animal. As the tem-
perature drops, it burrows
deeper to escape the cold.
The adder's winter den is
Right: The common adder has
the broad arrow-shaped head
typical of the viper family.
often shared by 30 or more
snakes, although groups of
300 to 400 have been re-
ported. Other reptiles may
occasionally join the group,
including some that would
normally fall prey to the ad-
der but are tolerated during
hibernation.
~ NATUREWATCH
The adder can be seen from
March to October. In spring
and fall it can be found sun-
bathing in open ground.
Many places post warn-
ings of t he adder's presence.
Never attempt to touch one.
Although bites are rarely fa-
~ FOOD & HUNTING
The adder knows its terrain
well and can easily locate its
prey. Its territory usually in-
cludes a body of water, where
it preys on frogs, lizards, and
water voles. It also eats mice
and other small rodents.
The adder detects its prey
by picking up vibrations from
the ground or by following its
scent. When the prey is with-
in range, the adder strikes
quickly, sinking its fangs into
the victim and injecting it
Left: An adder lines up its prey,
then coils before making its
deadly strike.
tal to humans, they cause
vomiting and diarrhea.
The adder usually avoids
humans and slides away as
soon as it detects them. It is
more common to find the
dead skin that the adder
sheds as it grows (right).
with venom. The victim may
run off, but the adder follows,
knowing that the venom will
take effect within minutes.
The adder devours its meal
by swallowing it whole, start-
~ BREEDING
During mating season males
compete for the females by
performing a dance. Two
males face each other with
the front of their bodies lifted
from the ground. Swaying
from side to side, they wrap
themselves around each other
until one forces the other to
the ground. The victor mates
with the waiting female.
The fertilized eggs are en-
cased in a membrane and are
Left: Newborn adders stay close
to their mothers even though they
can fend for themselves.
Above: After poisoning its prey,
the adder inches its victim, head
first, into its mouth.
ing with the head. After a
good meal it will not need
to eat for a week.
DID YOU KNOW?
The adder can flatten
its rib cage in order to
show more surface area
when basking in the sun.
The adder hibernates
in the same den every
year. The den is called a
hibernaculum and may lie
three feet underground.
incubated inside the female
for about three months. In
August or September the
young rupture the membrane
inside the mother's body and
emerge as replicas of their
parents. Some may emerge
still inside the membrane.
The young are independent
from birth but stay close to
the mother for a few months.
They catch worms and insects
to eat. In the colder ranges,
where summers are short, the
female adder gives birth every
two years.
AMERICAN BULLFROG
ORDER
Anura
FAMILY
Ranidae
GROUP 3: REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
~ GENUS & SPECIES
"1IIIIIIII Rona catesbeiana
The bullfrog gets its name from its powerful call, which sounds
more like the bellow of a bull than the croak of a frog. The bull-
frog's strong hind legs enable it to jump long distances.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: 6-6
1
/2 in.
Weight: 2 oz.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 2-4 years after
metamorphosis.
Mating: Spring to early summer.
No. of eggs: 10,000-20,000.
Hatching time: 4-20 days.
Metamorphosis: 1-3 years.
LIFESTYLE
Call: Loud bellow.
Habit: Solitary outside breeding
season.
Diet: Insects, snails, earthworms,
small mammals, young birds, small
fish and frogs.
Lifespan: Up to 15 years in the
wild; up to 8 years in captivity.
RELATED SPECIES
Closely related are the tiger frog,
Rona tigrina, the edible frog,
R. escu/enta, and the European
common frog, R. temporaria.
Range of the American bullfrog.
DISTRIBUTION
Originally from North America, it was first introduced to
some Caribbean islands and t hen to Europe, where it is most
common in northern Italy.
CONSERVATION
The bullfrog suffers from t he effects of habitat destruction,
acid rain, and pest ici des poll uting waterways.
FEATURES OF THE AMERI CAN BULLFROG
Skin: Like a
snake, a frog
sheds its skin
every few days.
It pulls the skin
away from its
body with its
mouth and then
swallows it.
THE BULLFROG'S JUMP
With its heavily webbed
feet and strong, muscular
hind legs, the bullfrog ~ i l J I I ~
jumps long distances.
MCMXCI IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Size: Unlike other
. frogs, the male
bullfrog is
larger than
the female.
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Eyes: The pupils are
horizontal and slit-shaped.
Special glands under the
moveable lids protect the
eyes from dust and grit.
0160200331 PACKET 33
Originally found only east of the
Rocky Mountains, this large frog has spread
west and is used in California to supply
the local demand for frog's legs. It has
also been introduced as a source of protein in
Jamaica and Cuba.
~ H A B I T S
The bullfrog often stays sub-
merged with just its nostrils
and bulging eyes showing.
This position allows the frog to
spot danger easily. Moveable
lids protect the eyes from dust
and grit, and a special gland
keeps them moist.
The bullfrog has a strong
sense of hearing. Its ears are
located under the skin but the
Right: The
bullfrog
inhales air to
swell its body.
This increased
size is used to
ward off
predators.
eardrums can be seen as
rings behind the eyes. A
male's rings are twice the
size of a female's.
The bullfrog has a blind
spot in front of its nostrils so
it must turn its head slightly
to one side to see prey.
With its green coloring, it
camouflages itself and can
"disappear" into its habitat.
~ BREEDING
During the spring breeding
season the male bellows
loudly at night to attract
females. During the day both
the males and females hide in
pondside vegetation, but at
night the male moves farther
out into the pond to establish
a territory from which to call
for females.
The male's call also serves to
mark his territory. He warns
Bullfrogs like to eat underwa-
ter. They often submerge
themselves in the water be-
fore eating prey caught on a
stream or pond bank.
The bullfrog's larger size
allows it to eat more types of
prey than most smaller frogs.
Left: The bullfrog IS strong back
legs enable it to leap great
distances to catch prey.
DID YOU KNOW?
American bullfrogs can
catch and eat bats. One
African bullfrog found in a
snake cage in the Pretoria
Zoo ate 16 young cobras.
Most frogs leave hatching
eggs and tadpoles to fend for
themselves, but the male
bullfrog may defend its tad-
intruding males with the call
and sometimes grapples with
them until they leave.
The female joins the male
when she is ready to spawn-
but not before. The male
mounts her and clasps her
behind her forearms, fertiliz-
ing the eggs as she produces
them. Rough pads on the
male's thumbs help him grip
the female securely.
Left: In colder
regions a
bullfrog
tadpole may
wait up to two
years before
transforming
into a young
frog.
It eats small fish, insects, and
even frogs of its own species.
It also preys on small mam-
mals such as mice, snakes,
and young alligators.
The tadpole uses the small,
hornlike appendages around
its mouth to gather algae and
bacteria from the water. It also
feeds on dead fish or animals
found in the water.
poles from predators .
Each frog species has a
distinct call that only the
female of the same species
responds to. If two species
live in the same area, the
calls become even more
distinct so that the frogs do
not become confused.
GREEN IGUANA
ORDER
Squamata
FAMILY
Iguanidae
GROUP 3: REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
GENUS & SPECIES
Iguana iguana
The green iguana is a lizard common to tropical forests in Central
and South America. Often it perches on a branch overhanging a
river, plunging into the water for safety if danger threatens.
KEY FACTS
SIZES
Length: Up to 6 ft.
Weight: Up to 9 lb.
BREEDING
Sexual maturity: 3 years.
Breeding season: Varies.
No. of eggs: 25-60.
Clutch: 1 per year.
Incubation: 90 days.
LIFESTYLE
Habit: Active by day, in groups.
Diet: Leaves, berries, fruits, and
other plant material. Juvenile also
feeds on invertebrates.
RELATED SPECIES
Iguana delicatissima, a rare iguana
restricted to certain Caribbean
islands, and a subspecies, Iguana
iguana rhinolopha, which has
hornlike scales on its snout.
Original range of the green iguana.
DISTRIBUTION
Widespread in the tropical Americas from southern Mexico
to Paraguay and southern Brazil. Also occurs on some
Caribbean islands.
CONSERVATION
The green iguana is not endangered as a species, but the
populations in many areas suffer from hunting and trapping
for food and for the exotic pet trade.
Adult female:
Adult male: Gray-green scales.
Well-developed throat flap and
long, curved dorsal spines.
MCMXCIIMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
Lighter build
than male, with
smaller throat
flap and dorsal
spines.
Claws: Long
and curved
for gripping
branches.
Also enable
female to
burrow.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200231 PACKET 23
The green iguana is one of the biggest and most
impressive of the lizards, with its long, whiplike
tail and large head. Its prominent throat flap
and the tall, comblike crest of spines that runs
along its neck and back give this tree dweller
a menacing appearance.
The green iguana is common
over many parts of its range.
It inhabits swamps, beaches,
and savannahs, but it lives
mainly in tropical forests.
Supremely able to climb
trees and leap between
branches, it forages from the
forest floor to the canopy, up
to 100 feet from the ground.
It is often seen near water,
and it regularly penetrates
deep into the forest, where it
basks in shafts of sunlight on
exposed branches.
Though heavy, it can bal-
ance easily on the slenderest
branch. If disturbed it drops
to the ground and darts for
cover. Water is the green
iguana's safest habitat, and it
will plunge from an over-
hanging branch and remain
submerged for several
minutes until danger has
passed. It is an excellent
swimmer-it propels itself
with its body and tail.
~ FOOD &: FEEDING
The green iguana's diet varies
with age. The adult is a plant
eater, but in some areas it
catches and eats small mam-
mals and nestling birds. It
feeds mainly on leaves, berries,
and fruit. It also scavenges,
but rarely on the ground. The
juvenile, however, often
scurries about the forest floor
searching for invertebrates,
including insects, grubs,
worms, and snails.
Left: A green
iguana tastes
the air for
scents.
Right: Like other
reptiles, the
green iguana
warms its co/d-
blooded body in
the sun.
Far right: Deep
in a burrow
a green iguana
emerges from
its egg.
DID YOU KNOW?
The tail of the green iguana
is up to three times its body
length.
A threatened iguana erects
the spines on its back to look
more fierce.
If cornered, a green iguana
strikes out with its saw-edged
teeth and sharp claws and
lashes out with its muscular,
whiplike tail.
The adult green iguana has
few natural enemies apart
The green iguana continues
to grow throughout its life-
time, but it may lose signifi-
cant weight during seasonal
food shortages. At such times
it survives by using up fat
reserves in its body. The fe-
male relies on the same store
of energy when she digs her
nesting tunnel. She does not
eat during this period and
becomes noticeably thinner
by the time she lays her eggs.
from large cats, crocodiles,
and boa constrictors. A small
juvenile may fall prey to a
hawk or even another lizard.
Over 200 female iguanas
live in a 500-square-foot
communal nesting ground
on an islet off Panama.
If a nesting female unearths
another iguana's buried eggs
while she is digging, she will
immediately kick them up to
the surface.
~ BREEDING
After mating, the female igua-
na lays her eggs in a tunnel,
usually about a foot deep in
soil or sand. This provides
protection for her eggs and a
stable temperature.
When making her hole the
female iguana uses her fore-
feet to scratch at the surface
and her hind feet to kick away
the debris. She hollows out a
chamber at the end of the
burrow where she lays be-
~ G R E E N IGUANA &:
MAN
The delicate white flesh of the
green iguana and its nourish-
ing eggs are important sources
of food for many people in
South America.
Green iguanas are also
trapped for the pet trade.
They are popular with reptile
collectors because of their
unusual appearance.
Right: The iguana is intricately
scaled and spined.
tween 25 and 60 eggs, the
number depending upon her
size. Then she refills the hole,
kicking and pushing soil in
with her feet and tamping
down the surface with her
snout. Before leaving she
carefully scratches the dirt over
the entrance to remove any
traces of her digging. The
bright green young hatch
about three months later.
In some favorable areas
green iguanas nest commu-
nally, each female migrating
there from the surrounding
forest to lay her eggs.