Did You Know?

Hellbenders can grow up to 2 feet long, making them the largest North American amphibians.

When a Chiricahua leopard frog wants attention, it snores — at least, its distinctive call sounds like a snore.

Mark Twain's favorite amphibian, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” is none other than the California red-legged frog.

The giant garter snake is one of North America's largest native snakes, reaching up to 64 inches in length.

The leatherback sea turtle may be the closest thing to a dinosaur still living on Earth. It is the heaviest reptile on the planet — a champion swimmer whose diving capabilities are unmatched by other turtles. It has confounded scientists with its mammal-like ability to regulate its own body temperature.

Watch out for the Mojave fringe-toed lizard zooming past you! Their speeds have been clocked at 23 miles per hour, which is no small feat on loose, windblown sand dunes.

The Puerto Rico rock frog is nicknamed the “demon of Puerto Rico” because of its eerie call and ghostly appearance.

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake in the world and has amazing adaptations for capturing prey. But don't worry, they won't scare you if you don't scare them — more people are killed each year by bee stings and lightning strikes.

Loggerhead sea turtles are world travelers, making some of the longest known journeys of any sea turtle species. Each year they migrate more than 7,500 miles between nesting beaches in Japan and feeding grounds off the coast of Mexico.

 

 

Photo © Julie K. Miller