Collecting Taxonomy...
💡 Tip: Contribute to species pages to earn XP!
The Living Encyclopedia
Explore our comprehensive database of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. Discover detailed care guides, morph varieties, and community setups.
amphibian
Hellbender
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
The hellbender, also known as the hellbender salamander, is a species of aquatic giant salamander endemic to the eastern and central United States. It is the largest salamander in North America. A member of the family Cryptobranchidae, the hellbender is the only extant member of the genus Cryptobranchus. Other closely related salamanders in the same family are in the genus Andrias, which contains the Japanese and Chinese giant salamanders. The hellbender is much larger than any other salamander in its geographic range, and employs an unusual adaption for respiration through cutaneous gas exchange via capillaries found in its lateral skin folds. It fills a particular niche—both as a predator and prey—in its ecosystem, which either it or its ancestors have occupied for around 65 million years. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to the impacts of disease and widespread habitat loss and degradation throughout much of its range. Eastern hellbender populations are dropping quickly across most of their range, nearly 80% are declining or disappearing altogether. A reason for this is the loss of forest along streams, which they rely on to keep their habitats stable and clean. In many places, the populations are mostly older individuals, with few young hellbenders showing up to replace them.
View Profile →
C
amphibian
Chinese Giant Salamander
Andrias davidianus
Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus)
View Profile →
J
amphibian
Japanese Giant Salamander
Andrias japonicus
Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus)
View Profile →
amphibian
Mudpuppy
Necturus maculosus
Necturus is a genus of aquatic salamanders in the family Proteidae. Species of the genus are native to the eastern United States and Canada. They are commonly known as waterdogs and mudpuppies. The common mudpuppy (N. maculosus) is probably the best-known species – as an amphibian with gill slits, it is often dissected in comparative anatomy classes. The common mudpuppy has the largest distribution of any fully aquatic salamander in North America.
View Profile →
O
amphibian
Olm
Proteus anguinus
Olm (Proteus anguinus)
View Profile →
G
amphibian
Greater Siren
Siren lacertina
Greater Siren (Siren lacertina)
View Profile →
A
amphibian
Amphiuma
Amphiuma tridactylum
Amphiuma (Amphiuma tridactylum)
View Profile →
E
amphibian
Ensatina
Ensatina eschscholtzii
Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii)
View Profile →
S
amphibian
Surinam Toad
Pipa pipa
Surinam Toad (Pipa pipa)
View Profile →
G
amphibian
Glass Frog
Centrolenella prosoblepon
Glass Frog (Centrolenella prosoblepon)
View Profile →
P
amphibian
Poison Arrow Frog
Dendrobates auratus
Poison Arrow Frog (Dendrobates auratus)
View Profile →
amphibian
Strawberry Poison Frog
Oophaga pumilio
The strawberry poison frog, strawberry poison dart frog or blue jeans poison frog is a species of small poison dart frog found in Central America. It is common throughout its range, which extends from eastern central Nicaragua through Costa Rica and northwestern Panama. The species is often found in humid lowlands and premontane forest, but large populations are also found in disturbed areas such as plantations. The strawberry poison frog is perhaps most famous for its widespread variation in coloration, comprising approximately 15–30 color morphs, most of which are presumed to be true-breeding. O. pumilio, while not the most poisonous of the dendrobatids, is the most toxic member of its genus.
View Profile →
G
amphibian
Golden Poison Frog
Phyllobates terribilis
Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
View Profile →
B
amphibian
Blue Poison Dart Frog
Dendrobates tinctorius azureus
Blue Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius azureus)
View Profile →
M
amphibian
Mantella Frog
Mantella aurantiaca
Mantella Frog (Mantella aurantiaca)
View Profile →
bird
Shoebill
Balaeniceps rex
The shoebill, also known as the whale-headed stork, whalebill, and shoe-billed stork, is a large long-legged wading bird. It is named for its enormous, shoe-shaped bill. It has a somewhat stork-like overall form and was previously classified as a stork in the order Ciconiiformes, but genetic evidence has now placed it along with pelicans, herons, and its closest relative, the hamerkop, all in the order Pelecaniformes. Adults are mainly grey, while juveniles are browner. It lives in tropical East Africa in large swamps from South Sudan down to Zambia.
View Profile →
H
bird
Hoatzin
Opisthocomus hoazin
Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
View Profile →
P
bird
Potoo
Nyctibius griseus
Potoo (Nyctibius griseus)
View Profile →
O
bird
Oilbird
Steatornis caripensis
Oilbird (Steatornis caripensis)
View Profile →
F
bird
Frogmouth
Podargus strigoides
Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)
View Profile →