amphibians · August 02, 2013

The Eastern Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) is a common newt of eastern North America. It is also known as a red eft, a red-spotted newt, or an eastern newt. Eastern red-spotted newts have a very interesting life cycle. They have three very different and distinct stages of life: The aquatic larva or tadpole The red eft or terrestrial juvenile stage (above) The aquatic adult (below) The larva possesses gills and are brownish-green in color. Born in the spring, they shed their gills...

amphibians · June 13, 2012

The Northern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) - formerly Hyla crucifer, commonly called a "Pinkletink" in Martha's Vineyard, is a small tree frog only about an inch (2.5 cm) long. The Peeper is distinguished by the dark cross forming an often incomplete X shaped mark on its back. This X is the origin of the species name crucifer, meaning “one who bears a cross” in Latin. Spring Peepers are rarely seen. But starting in mid to late March at Distant Hill Gardens, usually before the ice is...