Onward & Upward

Forest Toadlet (Metacrinia nichollsi), family Myobatrachidae, SW Australia, Western Australia

Growing to only 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in length

Wiegmann’s Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus liocephalus), family Anguidae, Oaxaca, Mexico

This adorable bobtail squid is raising a family at –1.6 degrees Celsius

The Arctic Ocean is one of the most extreme environments on Earth, but that’s not stopping this cephalopod.

The Arctic Ocean is one of the most extreme environments on Earth, but that’s not stopping one cephalopod from making a home there. In a first, researchers observed an Arctic bobtail squid in the North Atlantic. The team captured video of a mature female squid tending her eggs. The video shows that this species can reproduce and raise its young in one of the coldest, least-studied oceans on Earth. The finding “highlights the resilience of marine life in one of Earth’s most extreme environments,” said Paige Maroni, a researcher at the University of Western Australia, in a statement. Maroni led the study, which was published in Polar Biology. The sighting occurred in Northeast Greenland National Park, the largest national park on Earth and also one of the least explored...

Read more: Rare footage reveals elusive Arctic bobtail squid mom with clutch of eggs | Scientific American

Wagler’s Temple Viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri), female, family Viperidae, Phuket, Thailand

Venomous.

(ofc fine if not I'm just having a bit of an anxious time and the critters you post always help)

Hmmm... Have you seen these very silly lizards???

Secret Toadhead Agama (Phrynocephalus mystaceus), defensive display, family Agamidae, found in found in Iran, North Afghanistan, Eastern Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

Narrowmouth Frogs (family Microhylidae)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING ME ABOUT MY FAVORITE FAMILY OF FROGS!!!

Most of the members of this family feed on termites and ants.

The typical body plan is round with a small (sometimes pointy) mouth/snout.

Found on every continent, except for Antarctica (which has no amphibians).

In the superfamily Ranoidea (with tree frogs, true frogs, rain frogs, and many others)

Live in a wide variety of places, burrowing, arboreal, surface dwelling.

Most species have aquatic eggs with a typical tadpole-froglet life cycle, but there are species that lay eggs underground or in moist environments and go through the tadpole stage in the egg (hatching out as fully formed froglets).

Most Microhylid tadpoles are different than other anuran (frogs and toads) tadpoles, in that they lack a horny beak or "teeth". They do not feed on algae and other aquatic vegetation like most other tadpoles, but instead feed on detritus and small aquatic invertebbrates.

AND NOW... SOME OF MY FAVORITE MICROHYLIDS!!!

Muller’s Termite Frog (Dermatonotus muelleri), family Microhylidae, found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay

Lives beneath the ground.

Feeds mainly on termites.

photograph by Dick Bartlett 

Burmese Squat Frog (Glyphoglossus guttulatus), family Microhylidae, Viet Nam

photographs by Diệp Tùng

Madagascar Tomato Frog (Dyscophus antongilii), family Microhylidae, Madagascar

photograph via: mongabay.com & boogerbear4g

Blunt-headed Burrowing Frog (Glyphoglossus molossus), family Microhylidae, Thailand

photograph by Rushen & Don Injabok

Dotted Humming Frog (Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata), family Microhylidae

- The 2 species occur together in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela.

This relationship is sometime framed as “Tarantula with a pet frog”

This is thought to be a symbiotic relationship, probably mutualistic.

The frog lives in the female tarantula’s burrow, feeding on prey leftovers and ants (which would harm the eggs or spiderlings).

This is very specific to these species, as this species of tarantula will attack and prey on similar species of frog.

photographs by Emanuele Biggi

Red Banded Rubber Frog (Phrynomantis bifasciatus), family Microhylidae, Simunye, Swatini, South Africa

photograph by Tyrone Ping

Red Rubber Frogs aka Accra Snake-necked Frogs (Phrynomantis microps), in amplexus (mating Embrace), family Microhylidae, Pendjari National Park, Benin

photograph by Mark Oliver Rodel

Western or Great Plains Narrowmouth Frog (Gastrophryne olivacea), female, family Microhylidae, West TX, USA

photograph by Roadtripmonster

Northern Sheep Frog (Hypopachus variolosus), family Microhylidae, Costa Rica

photograph by Diego Ugalde

Malagasay Rainbow Burrowing Frog (Scaphiophryne gottlebei), family Microhylidae, Isalo National Park, Madagascar

photograph by Bill Love cowyeow | Flickr

Peeping Whistling Frog aka Whistling Land Frog (Austrochaperina fryi), family Microhylidae, northern Australia

photograph by Jesse’s Wildlife

Indian Black Narrowmouth Frog aka “Space Frog” (Melanobatrachus indicus), family Microhylidae, Munnar, Kerala, India

Meet one of the ocean's biggest surprises. 🌊

Big red jellies can reach more than a meter (three feet) across. These jellies are covered in tiny, harpoon-like stinging cells that stun prey. Unlike most jellyfish, big red doesn't have long trailing tentacles. Instead, a cluster of finger-like oral arms beneath its bell helps it capture food.

Big red was first discovered off the central California coast in 1988, by MBARI staff. This jelly has been spotted across the Pacific Ocean, from Baja California to Hawaii to Japan.