Southern Two-Lined Salamander (above) and a Red-Back Salamander. Noticeable differences include head shape, coloration, shape of tail, and length, specifically tail length. The tail of the Red-Back Salamander is at least as long, if not longer, than the rest of its body. Also, the tail of the Southern Two-Lined Salamander is paddle-like and flattened suggesting that it spends most of its life in water. The tail of the Red-Back Salamander is rounded rather than flattened, suggesting a more terrestrial lifestyle.

Southern Two-Lined Salamander I found in Ellicott City, Md

Eastern American Toad in Columbia, Md.

Photo By disposable city

Eastern American Toad and Fowler’s Toad. Can you spot the difference?

The main way to tell the difference between the two is to see how many warts are in each dark spot on the back. Eastern American Toads have only one or two warts in each spot, while Fowler’s Toads have three or more warts in each spot. The toad on the left is a Fowler’s Toad, but they do hybridize with Eastern American Toads making it very hard to differentiate.

Backyard Creature Of The Week:

Fowler’s toad (Bufo fowleri) is a species of toad in the Bufonidae family found in North America. Fowler’s toads are usually brown, gray, olive green and rust red in color and have black edged dark spots on its back, with a light middorsal stripe. In each of the dark spots there are found to be three or more “warts”. Potential predators of B. fowleri include snakes, birds, and smaller mammals. One defensive behavior it will use is its coloration to blend into its surroundings (camouflage). These toads are able to do this because they tend to have coloration that is more natural, or earth toned. Another defense includes a noxious secretion that comes from the large warts on their backs. If attacked, this secretion will irritate the predator’s mouth and, if ingested, can be poisonous to smaller mammals. If roughly handled, B. fowleri will also lie still on their backs and play dead. (Wiki.)

Red Back Salamander I found around my house in Cincinnati, Ohio

Backyard Creature Of The Week:

The red back (or redback or red-backed) salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is a small, hardy woodland salamander. It inhabits wooded slopes in Eastern North America. The red-backed salamander is found mostly in two color variations: the nominate red variety, ‘redback’, as well as a darker phase known as the ‘leadback’ which lacks most or all of the red pigmentation found in the red phase. Males and females typically establish separate feeding and/or mating territories underneath rocks and logs. However, some red back salamanders are thought to engage in social monogamy, and may maintain co-defended territories throughout their active period. Breeding occurs in June and July. Females produce from 4–17 eggs in a year. The eggs will hatch in 6–8 weeks. In some areas with good habitat, these salamanders are so numerous that their population densities may surpass 1,000 individuals per acre.(Wiki.)

Tree Frog by pbertner

Milky Tree Frog

New Amphibians Without Arms or Legs Discovered

rhamphotheca:

The worm salamander, Oedipina taylori, is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae (the lungless salamanders). It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montanes. It is threatened by habitat loss. (via: Wikipedia)

(photo: Vladlen Henríquez)

Red Eyed Tree Frog

Poison Dart Frogs

Mossy Frog

Young Milk Frog