Portal:National Park Service

“ Prior to and during molting, crabs absorb water into their body tissues, which expands the body to a larger size causing the shell to split. The soft, newly­molted crab emerges from the old shell and seeks shelter while its new shell hardens. Complete hardening of the new shell takes about 6 weeks for adult crabs. It takes a little longer for the crab to fully replace the absorbed water with new body tissue, such as muscle.
Adult males and females in a population tend to molt at different times, so that the males will be hard-­shelled and able to mate when the females molt. ”

“ When in the process of metamorphosis, many tadpoles are often seen in aggregations at the edge of a pond. Large numbers of newly-­transformed toads are often seen hopping around the shores of breeding water. ”

“ Although they have some unique traits, kangaroo rats may not look like much at first glance. They resemble ordinary rats with their small bodies, large eyes, small, round ears, and soft light brown fur. But first impressions can be deceiving; get a little closer, and you may notice their large hind feet, much smaller front feet, and very long, tufted tails. Get too close and the kangaroo rat may bound away, hopping on its two back legs rather than running along on all fours. ”

“ Crabs can only grow by periodic shedding of their shell in a process called molting. The carapace does not grow in the continuous, gradual manner of animals with internal skeletons ­ such as fish and mammals. ”

“ While they are typically more active at night, armadillos are frequently seen during the day. Armadillos are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of invertebrates from insects to snails. They also eat eggs and small reptiles when they can get them! Armadillos do eat plant matter, but it is not as large a part of their diet as small animals are.
Armadillos' natural predators can include coyotes, bobcats, and alligators. However, the biggest threats to armadillos are vehicles. Armadillos' eyes don’t shine in the dark the way a deer’s eyes do and are frequently impossible to spot at night. ”

“ Amphibian decline is a significant concern for conservation biologists, who warn that the decline could indicate future and more widespread biodiversity loss. Since amphibians all over the world are facing similar problems, boreal toad research in RMNP helps contribute to a broader library of research and knowledge. ”

“ Photo by Naomi Blinick The green crab, Carcinus maenas, is native to Europe. It has become a prominent component of shallow marine and estuarine waters of the northwest Atlantic and many other locations around the world. Green crabs can reach >100 mm width (approximately 4 inches) and are notorious for their high shellfish consumption rates. Nevertheless, they have generalist, opportunistic diets that can affect the structure of the surrounding communities. ”

“ They even pack the entrances to their burrows closed with sand to keep the burrows cool and humid. At night, kangaroo rats emerge to forage for seeds, storing them in their cheek pockets until they return to their burrows. These seeds comprise most of the kangaroo rat’s diet, but they may eat insects or other vegetation if necessary. Because kangaroo rats typically build their burrows beneath shrubs, they don’t even have to go far to find seeds during these foraging expeditions. ”

“ A large female crab can carry 2.5 million eggs. Egg incubation tends to be much longer in Alaska than further south. The female crab stores the sperm until her eggs are fully developed. In Alaska, fertilization typically occurs in September.
Many female crabs do not reproduce annually in Alaska. Larger females (greater than 141 mm in carapace width) are probably the group of females that do not reproduce annually, possibly because they don't molt as often and rely on stored sperm to fertilize their eggs. ”

“ This lizard is most often heard before it is seen. They are excellent leaf litter "swimmers." In quiet moments, listen for feint rustling in the leaf litter (most commonly oak) . They will periodically peek their heads out for a look on the surface. ”

“ However, brown anoles tend to have more distinctive patterns on their skin, while green anoles have a more solid color pattern. Another hint is that brown anoles tend to stay close to the ground, while green anoles are comfortable higher up in trees. This isn’t foolproof, because female green anoles often move lower towards the ground when looking for food or laying eggs. Green anoles tend to have longer and more pointed snouts than brown anoles. ”

“ Western toads are a large and robust toad with dry, warty skin. Adults can vary in length from 2­5 inches (snout to vent) and vary in color from green, tan, reddish brown, dusky gray and yellow. Toads can be distinguished by a white stripe running down the middle of their back. Males generally have smoother skin than females. ”

“ Western toads are often found basking on rocks and logs at the edge of water in the spring and early summer, while at other times of the year they are found farther from the water spending much of their time in moist terrestrial habitats. ”

“ As it turns out, kangaroo rats are incredibly well adapted for desert life. To start, they’re nocturnal. During the day, they shelter in burrows below the soil, where temperatures remain cooler and more stable than on the surface. ”

“ That, plus whatever water is in the seeds themselves, is enough to sustain the kangaroo rat. The ability to live with very limited water and burrow in shifting sands, makes kangaroo rats very well adapted to life here at White Sands National Park. ”

“ Juveniles also prefer cooler waters than adults. Adult crabs prefer eelgrass beds and sandy or muddy substrate. Breeding occurs in nearshore areas and females usually move to deeper water to hatch eggs. ”

“ Eggs are laid in long strings with double rows, averaging 5,200 eggs in a clutch. Fresh eggs contain some of the toad's toxin to protect them from predation, but this poison decreases over time. Eggs usually hatch in 3 to 10 days. ”

“ They also have a defense mechanism of jumping up to three feet in the air when they feel threatened, which puts them directly in the way of most vehicles' bumpers. Despite this, armadillos are not threatened or endangered and continue to thrive throughout Texas and many other southern states. Armadillos are about the size of a large house cat and can live 7-10 years. ”

“ These groups seem to suggest a selfish herd or schooling phenomenon in which individuals gain protection in numbers through greater watchfulness and confusion of predators. Another explanation for these groups can be found in the fact that in 3 recently observed male aggregates, the distance from the nearest known female assembly averaged 200 meters, a lot closer than would be expected to occur randomly. Juveniles live in intertidal and shallow subtidal areas, hiding underneath or among plants, rocks, shell debris and eelgrass beds. ”

“ Though there are no significant conservation concerns for this species in California, they are listed as a park species of concern. Toads are slow­-moving and are frequently run over by traffic as they cross roads at night during their breeding migrations. ”

“ This helps them stay safe from predators, like coyotes, owls, kit foxes, and snakes. If a predator does approach, the kangaroo rat can use its back legs to kick sand into the eyes of its enemy, bound away, and return safely to its burrow. ”

“ When the female molts, she is ready to be mated with a male who protects her while mating. Mating occurs in the late spring or early summer. The eggs are not fertilized until the female extrudes them under her abdomen where they are carried for 3­5 months until hatching. ”

“ Megalopae are relatively strong swimmers, moving at speeds up to 22 centimeters per second, and are typically present in surface waters only at dawn, dusk and night. During the day, they usually move down in the water column to a depth of at least 20 meters. ”

“ Western toads eat a wide variety of invertebrates. Tadpoles consume algae and detritus, including the scavenged carrion of fish and other tadpoles.
Reproduction
In the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills, mating and egg­laying generally occur in the early spring after the winter rains. Adults migrate from their moist terrestrial habitats to wetland breeding areas using scent cues to find their way. Egg­laying takes place in still or barely moving waters of seasonal pools, ponds, streams, and sometimes in shallow puddles on the road. ”

“ Instead crabs must regularly shed their exoskeletons in order to increase in size. This process is known as molting, and individuals typically increase in size by about 15 to 25 per cent with each molt. ”