Garter snakes are medium sized snakes found in North and Central America. Due to their wide distribution, these snakes are often near water bodies. Like all snakes, garter snakes can swim. They swim by wriggling their bodies from side to side, in a winding motion, while keeping their heads above the water. Many garter snake … Read more
Frogs are amphibians, which means they live part of their lives in water and part on land. But can all frogs swim? In general, the overwhelming majority of frog species can swim, they have webbed feet and powerful hind legs for propulsion. However, some frog species such as the rain frogs of Southern Africa are … Read more
Amphibians are a diverse group of species found in a wide variety of habitats, from rain forests to mountainous areas, to dry regions. But have you ever wondered if amphibians can be found in the ocean, or in other marine environments? The majority of amphibian species can not live in saltwater because salt tends to … Read more
Sea snakes are interesting creatures that live in marine environments for most of their lives. These snakes are excellent swimmers and often dive to the sea floor to hunt. But how long can sea snakes stay underwater? Most sea snakes spend an average of 15 to 30 minutes underwater before returning to the surface for … Read more
When most people see their first salamander, they call it a lizard. However, on closer examination, most notice that these creatures are nothing like Lizards. They have smooth, moist skin, much like frogs. This is because salamanders are amphibians closer to frogs than they are to lizards. Like most amphibians, salamanders produce poisonous secretions as … Read more
Salamanders are quiet, slow-moving amphibians that often hide near ponds, under logs, or in damp forests. If you’ve ever seen your dog sniff or nip at one, you might have wondered: could a salamander actually hurt or even kill your dog? No, salamanders won’t kill dogs under normal circumstances. Some species make toxins to protect … Read more
Frogs are amphibians that love wet moist environments. For this reason, they are often attracted to gardens. Even watering your lawn can attract any frogs that may be close by. But do you have to be worried about frogs that are attracted to your garden? In general, frogs are good to have in a garden. … Read more
There are many different species of snakes called ‘water snakes’, among them the common watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) native to North America, and the common grass snake (Natrix natrix) native to Europe and western Asia. Water snakes are characterized by their semi-aquatic lifestyle, and spend a significant time in or near freshwater bodies such as rivers, … Read more
Sea snakes are interesting creatures that live in marine environments for most of their lives. These snakes are excellent swimmers, and dive to hunt underwater – and can stay submerged for long periods. In general, sea snakes can not breathe underwater. However, they can hold their breath for long periods of time. Sea snakes can … Read more
Many people know that most frogs love to hang around in or near freshwater bodies, such as ponds, lakes, or streams. But have you ever wondered why frogs live near water? Frogs live near bodies of freshwater because they need to keep their skin moist. Frogs breathe through their skin, in addition to their lungs, … Read more