Short Articles on Reptiles and Amphibians:
Snake in the Garden? Don't panic! Wood Frogs in the Arctic Survey by eDNA Analysis Why are Frogs in Decline? Amphibians, an interesting locally based article from Kim Dawson. Click this link |
Super Video Clips on Amphibian and Reptile Behaviour
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Tiny Amphibians and Reptiles
Bigger is not always better. These animals have adapted to exploit a niche habitat by being smaller than usual. There is a limit to how tiny a species can become, before some vital function is compromised. Barbados threadsnakes, Leptotyphlops carlae, at just 10cms long is the smallest known snake. This is probably the limit for length in snakes as the threadsnake can only produce a single cylindrical egg, which only just fits inside the body cavity.
Found in leaf litter in Papua, New Guinea, this frog is just 7.7mm long. Small frogs like this may have evolved because of a source of abundant, small prey species such as mites. Often small species are the result of arrested growth of larger species. Miniature frogs may have a simplified skeleton where some adult features never form.
What limits miniaturisation of species? In mammals, heat loss due to large surface area to body mass is the limiting factor. The tiniest shrews need to eat almost constantly to maintain energy levels. Amphibians and reptiles being cold blooded, energy loss is not an issue. The main limiting factor is water loss from the relatively large exposed skin area.
What limits miniaturisation of species? In mammals, heat loss due to large surface area to body mass is the limiting factor. The tiniest shrews need to eat almost constantly to maintain energy levels. Amphibians and reptiles being cold blooded, energy loss is not an issue. The main limiting factor is water loss from the relatively large exposed skin area.