Amphibians
Animals that live both in water and on land, like frogs and salamanders, starting their lives in water and growing up to breathe air.
Axolotl
Axolotl
Scientific Name
Ambystoma mexicanum
Weight LB
0.15–0.5 lbs
Average Life Span
10–15 years
Fact
Axolotls can regenerate almost any part of their body, including limbs, their tail, and even parts of their heart and brain, without any permanent scarring!
Weight KG
0.06–0.22 kg
Continent
North America
Region
North America
Blue Poison Dart Frog
Blue Poison Dart Frog
Scientific Name
Dendrobates tinctorius
Weight LB
0.007 lbs
Average Life Span
4–6 years (Wild) / Up to 10 years (Captivity)
Fact
These frogs are only poisonous in the wild; they lose their toxicity in captivity because they no longer eat the specific ants and mites that provide the chemicals for their poison!
Weight KG
0.003 kg (about 3 grams)
Continent
South America
Red-eyed Tree Frog
Red-eyed Tree Frog
Scientific Name
Agalychnis callidryas
Weight LB
0.03 lb
Average Life Span
5–10 years
Fact
A fun fact about the red-eyed tree frog is that its vibrant red eyes, blue sides, and orange feet are a defense mechanism called startle coloration: when sleeping, it hides these bright colors, but if threatened, it flashes them open to momentarily stun predators, giving it time to escape into the green canopy.
Weight KG
0.01–0.02 kg
Continent
North America
Habitat
Near ponds and streams, Tropical rainforests
Diet
Carnivore
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Region
North America
Spotted Salamander
Spotted Salamander
Scientific Name
Ambystoma maculatum
Weight LB
0.03–0.05 lbs
Average Life Span
Up to 20 years
Fact
They are the only vertebrates known to have a symbiotic relationship with algae; the algae live inside their eggs (and even their cells) to provide oxygen to the developing embryos!
Weight KG
14 to 28 grams
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Tiger Salamander
Tiger Salamander
Scientific Name
Ambystoma tigrinum
Weight LB
0.2–0.3 lbs
Average Life Span
12–15 years (Wild) / Up to 25 years (Captivity)
Fact
They are incredible diggers; they spend most of their lives living in underground burrows up to 2 feet deep to stay cool and moist!
Weight KG
0.09–0.14 kg
Country
United States
Continent
North America
Region
North America