Category: Amphibians
These frogs, sometimes called hippo frogs, are natives of Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Bolivia. Budgett’s frogs have a rounded, flattened body with eyes set high on their head. They are regarded as intelligent but aggressive creatures, and may vocalize and bite when cornered. Their smooth, olive-colored skin is effective camouflage – they look like a smooth river rock.
Learn more about Budgetts Frogs at Wikipedia and Reptiles Magazine.
Caecilians: The Limbless Enigma
Caecilians are amphibians with long, limbless bodies that resemble worms or snakes more than frogs or salamanders. Their name means “blind ones,” a reference to their tiny, skin-covered (or in some cases, non-existent) eyes - which probably don’t get much use, as they spend most their lives burrowing underground. Caecilians are unusual for amphibians in that 75% of them give birth to live young, oftentimes, fully formed. There are also a few species where the mother actually grows a layer of nutritious, fatty skin that is eaten off by her own young, which is analogous to breastfeeding in mammals.
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