Cypress
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Saltwater amphibians?
Any Nomads know of a saltwater amphibian?
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Mexitron
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From Wikipedia:
"For the purpose of reproduction most amphibians are bound to fresh water. A few tolerate brackish water, but there are no true seawater amphibians.
Several hundred frog species in adaptive radiations (e.g., Eleutherodactylus, the Pacific Platymantines, the Australo-Papuan microhylids, and many
other tropical frogs), however, do not need any water whatsoever. They reproduce via direct development, an ecological and evolutionary adaptation
that has allowed them to be completely independent from free-standing water. Almost all of these frogs live in wet tropical rainforests and their eggs
hatch directly into miniature versions of the adult, passing through the tadpole stage within the egg. Several species have also adapted to arid and
semi-arid environments, but most of them still need water to lay their eggs"
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Mexitron
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Hmm...so how did amphibians make the transition from the oceans to the land in the ancient epochs...is that where you're going with this?
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Cypress
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Mexitron! Yea!
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Wingnut
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Hmmm...wouldn't Scuba divers qualify????
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vgabndo
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Here's someting from the US Army Corps of Engineers
Amphibians
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Amphibians were the first vertebrates to leave the water to live on land. This occurred about 360 million years ago. Over the next 125 million years,
amphibians faced little competition from other vertebrates and evolved into as many as 15 major groups. With the coming of reptiles, and then birds
and mammals, the amphibian groups declined to the three of today - 1) frogs and toads, 2) salamanders, and 3) caecilians (a group of worm-like
creatures that live in the tropics).
Amphibians had to adapt to a life on land as compared to living in the water. Without the buoyancy of the water, their legs had to adapt to not just
move the body but also to support it. The gills used for breathing underwater were replaced by lungs and moist skin. The skin had to change to be able
to minimize the loss of water through evaporation. Their adaptations have not been entirely successful as most amphibians must return to water to
breed. Those that don't still need at least a moist environment in which to lay their eggs. As its name implies, an amphibian is amphibious living
both ("amphi") modes of life ("bios"), -- part of the time on land and part of the time in the water.
Since their mucous-covered skin still loses a lot of water, most amphibians must live in either a moist habitat (in a wetland or underground) or have
a nocturnal lifestyle. Amphibians are uncommon in deserts and in marine environments (due to the dessicating effects of the water's high salt
concentrations).
Amphibians are "cold-blooded" which means their body heat is obtained from their environment. This adaptation makes them not well-adapted for any
activity in cold environments such as the tundra, alpine areas, and even the winter months in temperate regions. In northern New England, most
amphibians are dormant during the winter. Basking in a warm spot can help amphibians to remain active even at quite low temperatures.
Many predatory fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and even some insects include amphibians in their diets. In general, amphibians are eaten in large
numbers even though some produce a skin toxin to discourage predators and others can move away from a predator quickly (frogs jumping). Amphibians are
also predators with a diet consisting of a wide array of invertebrates and even some small vertebrates. Algae and other plants are part of the diet of
some species of amphibians in their larval stage.
The large number of eggs produced by many species of amphibians is an adaptation to offset the numbers eaten by predators. The probability is high
that at least a few will survive to reach the adult stage and carry on the survival of the species.
The following species could possibly be found in this area:
Frogs and Toads
wood frog
northern leopard frog
pickerel frog
green frog
bullfrog
spring peeper
gray treefrog
American toad
Salamanders and Newts
northern redback salamander
four-toed salamander
spring salamander
northern two-lined salamander
northern dusky salamander
eastern newt (red eft or red-spotted newt)
spotted salamander
blue-spotted salamander
common mudpuppy
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Mexitron
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mexitron
Hmm...so how did amphibians make the transition from the oceans to the land in the ancient epochs...is that where you're going with this?
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Hum... were the oceans salty then? (Sorry, before I was born).
--Larry |
I'd be pretty sure that it was, even back then...
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Mexitron
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Sounds like the saltwater amphibians may have been wiped out in the Permian extinction 250 mil. yrs ago(when 90-95% of all marine species died off).
The oceans became quite warm back then, as I recall.
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Cypress
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Wonder why amphibians haven't adapted to salt water? Some of those desert toads
are tuff critters.  Anything that eats ants has got to be a real survivor.
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RonnieRockCod
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Saltwater amphibians
Yes, Cypress, go to Camp Pendleton there are thousands of them there. Semper Fi, RRC.
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Skipjack Joe
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Tortugas?
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Bob and Susan
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i thought of his first....
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Skipjack Joe
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Are they really? Shame on me.
One of the things I do remember from high school is that tortugas can 'breathe' through their cloaca. Apparently that's how they stay down there so
long. Try doing that some time.
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Skipjack Joe
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On second thought, Roger, I need to talk to your teacher.
Everyone knows that tortoises are reptiles, but turtles are amphibians.
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Bob and Susan
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from wikipedia...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle
Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins are reptiles of the order Testudines
(all living turtles belong to the crown group Chelonia),
most of whose body is shielded by a special bony or cartilagenous shell developed from their ribs.
the only amphibians would be the singing group from the sixtys
Happy Together
(G. Bonner - A. Gordon)
Imagine me and you, i do...
I think about you day and night, it's only right
To think about the girl you love ... and hold her tight
So happy together....
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Cypress
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Some freshwater bodies of water go dry on a seasonal basis. Amphibians have developed a survival tool? Just wondering.
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Mexitron
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cypress
Wonder why amphibians haven't adapted to salt water? Some of those desert toads
are tuff critters. Anything that eats ants has got to be a real survivor. |
Dunno....whales were once land related and they went back into the briny. Lots of things in evolution and nature that makes one think twice...but
that's allright, keeps us on our toes! Consider the Sago Palm--one of the Cycads that's remained essentially unchanged for at least 100 million
years...how is it that it hasn't mutated/evolved into something different? Meanwhile, in a much shorter period of time a mongoose of some type
evolved into the Feline order, and in an even shorter time period humans went from sitting around a fire holding a rock point to sitting around a BBQ
holding a beer...
[Edited on 6-2-2007 by Mexitron]
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Skipjack Joe
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I'm sure I would have liked Eddie Mauer a lot.
Speaking of flyfishing: Don't think your post about Lake Wollaston went unnoticed. I've already paid my due dilligence on that lake. God's country,
eh? Well, I like places like that even more than the fishing. I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to tow my boat 2,500 miles. I'm not to fond
of black flies either. As I recall, jacks (as you call them) and black flies seem to go together. When the fishing is good those damn things seem to
be on the warpath.
Seriously though, that does look like great country. Jack London country and his type of experience.
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Natalie Ann
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pompano
One of the interesting differences between frogs and toad is that frogs 'jump' and toads 'walk'.
[Edited on 6-2-2007 by Pompano] |
And also, Roger, toads give ya warts.
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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Skipjack Joe
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Just one last question on the subject. I don't want to hijack another thread. Can you fish for pike and walleyes from a float tube? I realize these
lakes are monstrously large but a float tube is so much easier to pack. I remember driving to the Chibougamou lakes in Quebec and these large bodies
of water were called ponds. I remember thinking if these are ponds then what do they call a lake. BTW, that was God's country also! There is very
little I don't like (except being inside).
[Edited on 6-2-2007 by Skipjack Joe]
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