Brochure and Hellbender Matching Quiz

Who We Are

• The back cover is a prime location for an "elevator pitch."
• Summarize your products or services quickly and attractively.
• Include a couple of key takeaways that grab attention.
• Keep the information brief, friendly, and reader-friendly.

Table of Contents

• Amphibians are vertebrate tetrapods including frogs, salamanders, and caecilians.
• The term "amphibian" loosely translates from Greek as "dual life."
• Many Amphibians undergo metamorphosis, having both aquatic and terrestrial phases.
• Amphibians required water for reproduction
• They evolved during the Devonian period as the earliest terrestrial tetrapods
• They signify an evolutionary transition from water to land, evident in both their life development and evolutionary history.
• Their morphology has changed little over the past 350 million years.

Taxonomic Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Amphibia
• Subclasses: Temnospondyli (extinct), Lepospondyli (extinct), Lissamphibia (modern amphibians)
• Orders: Anura (frogs, toads), Urodela or Caudata (salamanders), Gymnophiona (caecilians)

Representative Species: Hellbender

• The Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is a large aquatic salamander.
• Native to eastern North America
• Adults typically measure between 30 cm (12 inches) and 60 cm (24 inches) in length, though some individuals can grow up to 74 cm (29 inches).
• Its body is elongated and robust, with a broad head and a flattened, muscular tail that assist in swimming.
• Wrinkled skin increases surface area for gas exchange and moisture retention, while the skin's slime protects from pathogens.
• Coloration is typically brown or grayish with darker markings, helping camouflage against rocky streambeds.
• Primarily nocturnal and secretive; hides during the day under rocks or crevices.

Representative Species: Tree Frogs

• Tree frogs are typically small to medium-sized amphibians, ranging from 2 cm to 10 cm in length.
• They are commonly green or brown with various colors and patterns for camouflage in leafy environments.
• These frogs primarily inhabit wetlands like ponds, lakes, marshes, and swamps, typically near dense vegetation.
• The moist environments are essential for their survival because their skin is essential for respiration.
• They are insectivores, consuming insects and other small invertebrates, employing a "sit-and-wait" hunting strategy.
• They use long, sticky tongues to capture prey.
• They are primarily found in tropical and temperate regions

African Clawed Frog

• The African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) is an aquatic frog native to sub-Saharan Africa.
• They have a streamlined, robust body, typically measuring 6–12 cm (2.4–4.7 in).
• Smooth, grayish skin provides camouflage in muddy waters.
• They have claws on their hind legs, used for digging and foraging.
• An aquatic lifestyle with webbed feet makes them excellent swimmers.
• They are carnivorous, consuming smaller fish, invertebrates, and plants.
• They typically inhabit freshwater environments like ponds, lakes, swamps, and marshes.

Hymenochirus Boettgerii

• Hymenochirus boettgerii, also known as the dwarf clawed frog, is a small aquatic frog.
• Native to West and Central Africa, it dwells in slow-moving rivers, streams, and pools with soft, sandy, or muddy bottoms.
• It typically measures between 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in)
• Carnivorous, consuming small invertebrates such as brine shrimp, water fleas, worms and small insects,
• Active at night or in low-light conditions; relies on touch and smell to locate food.

Pipa Pipa

• The Surinam toad (Pipa pipa) is a unique amphibian found in tropical rainforests of South America.
• Known for its unusual appearance. it is typically found in stream environments
• Flattened, broad body that allows seamless blending with the riverbed substrate.
• Mostly brown or Gray.
• Its eyes are placed on top of the head, offering excellent visibility of surroundings
• Carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates including insects, worms, snails and crustaceans.
• Engages in aquatic reproduction, with eggs laid and fertilized in temporary or permanent bodies of water
• The eggs are secured to the female's back.

Amphiuma

• Amphiuma are aquatic salamanders inhabiting the southeastern United States.
• Their bodies are long, eel-like, and smooth; typically range from black to brownish hues.
• They have external gills, remaining throughout their adult lives.
• Inhabit swampy or otherwise slow-moving water environments.
• Carnivorous, with prey including worms, snails, crustaceans, and small fish.

Newts

• Newts belong to the family Salamandridae, found in the Northern Hemisphere.
• They are slender, elongated bodies, often possessing striking coloration.
• Moist skin allows for cutaneous respiration; some species also have lungs.
• Primarily terrestrial, but spending part of their lives in water for reproduction.
• Typically feed on small invertebrates, insects, worms, and snails (sit and wait predator)

Mudpuppies

• Mudpuppies (Necturus maculosus) are aquatic salamanders found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada.
• Large, robust bodies with smooth slimy skin.
• External gills are present throughout their whole life
• Inhabit slow-moving streams, rivers, lakes, and swamps, often near densely vegetated bottoms.
• Carnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, amphibian larvae, and small fish (sit-and-wait predator).

Giant Salamanders

• Giant salamanders are some of the largest amphibians, belonging to the family Cryptobranchidae.
• Impressive sizes, often exceeding 1.5 meters.
• Two main species (Chinese and Japanese) and one related North American species (hellbender).
• Notable for their neotenic characteristics (retaining juvenile traits like external gills) throughout their adult lives.
• Inhabit cold, clear, fast-flowing streams and rivers in mountainous regions; some inhabit lakes
• Carnivorous, consuming aquatic animals like fish, invertebrates, and smaller amphibians

Tiger Salamanders

• Tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) are large terrestrial salamanders in North America.
• Distinctive yellow or white markings on a dark body.
• They are primarily terrestrial, though they need water for reproduction.
• Consume a variety of prey, including insects, worms, snails, and small amphibians.

Sirens

• Sirens are aquatic salamanders (family Sirenidae), distinguished by eel-like bodies and long, slender appearance.
• Retain larval features and possess external gills throughout life.
• Prefer slow-moving, shallow, freshwater wetlands and swamps.
• Carnivorous, with a diet consisting primarily of small invertebrates like worms, insects, snails, and crustaceans, using a suction feeding technique.