This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The eastern narrow-mouthed toad is not a true toad at all, but a species of microhylid frog. They’re called toads simply due to their terrestrial (spend most or all of their life on the ground) lifestyle. These amphibians face the threats of habitat loss and fragmentation at the hands of […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The mud salamander can be found, with a little luck, among seeps, streams, swamps, and underneath leaves, logs, & rocks in the eastern United States. These salamanders face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments, as well as from recreational activities. Roads […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The maned rat, aka African crested rat, is the world’s only known poisonous rodent. They are a long-haired, bushy-tailed east African rodent that kind of resembles a porcupine at first glance. These large critters face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of logging and infrastructure development. […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The pickerel frog is a curious looking frog with a pattern of seemingly “hand-drawn” squares on its back. These frogs can be found in southeastern Canada and throughout the eastern half of the United States. They face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The spotted salamander, aka yellow-spotted salamander, is a species of mole salamander that hails from eastern Canada and eastern United States. These salamanders face the threats of habitat loss and destruction at the hands of deforestation from the logging industry; roads and railroads that divide their territory and can result […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The long-toed salamander gets their name due to their long outer 4th toe on the hind limbs. These critters are found at up to 9,200 feet elevations. They face the threats of invasive species in the form of trout that consume the larval stage of these salamanders; and likely habitat […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The arroyo toad is a species of true toad in the family Bufonidae. They are endemic to California, and Baja California state, as well as Mexico. Sadly, these amphibians face many threats such as habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments, farming, ranching, dams, fires, […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The hooded pitohui was thought at 1 time to be a whistler species, but is now known to be a member of the Old World oriole family. They are a medium-sized songbird and among the very few known poisonous birds. They are found on New Guinea. With a stable population […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The bombardier beetle is a adephagan (ground) beetle with more than 500 species worldwide. They get their name from their famous defense mechanism. When threatened they can release a surprisingly effective counter attack. So be sure to take a second and be careful not to disturb them or you too […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Welcome the world’s smallest pufferfish, the pea pufferfish, aka Malabar pufferfish, pygmy pufferfish, dwarf pufferfish, or pea puffer. These freshwater puffers hail from the lakes, estuaries, and rivers of Kerala and southern Karnataka in the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. Unfortunately for these cute little critters they are subjected to […]

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