Tiny Turtle

This morning very early there was a tiny Soft Shell Turtle laying on the road. This little turtle was very spunky.

It came from the pond!

This evening at a location I hold dear the little people discovered something moving about the murky waters of a small retention pond.

 

One little lady was not shy about moving in on the creature.

To the crowds delight it was discovered to be a Cane Toad (Bufo Marinus).

Cane toads are exude sticky white poison from pores all over their wrinkly skin that looks like elmer's glue.

  

I have always liked Cane Toads cause they are puffy and seem to have a sly grin on their little faces!

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This Night

Cuban tree frog


Chihuahua

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Little Green Frog

Animals are so great. They simply do what they were created to do. They serve their purpose undaunted. I thought about the little frogs I would see quite often last year. I had not seen any this year and decided to go out and look carefully. Within minutes there was a little green frog perched on a big leaf.
All of nature works without and in spite of human influence.

Creation continues because God preserves and perpetuates it. The planet is held in space by the power of God. Does all this stretch God to the limit of His power? It is mere child’s play to Him. He speaks things into existence and He breaths life yet he allows you and I to live our lives with the control to choose for or against Him.

We are not like the animals. We can be extremely wicked or supremely righteous. To have love we must have choice. We cannot live right without God and His Word.

Cuban Tree Frog

I was repairing some shutters today when this big fellow leaped out from behind one.

Little Jumper

Sure has been hard to post lately. Whether it has been lack of inspiration or motivation or both, I have not been emptying my head of thoughts into the blogmos.
I have been a little consumed with consuming. Diabolical how much time you can waste researching and debating with yourself about things you desire to purchase. It can really take over your mind.
I went on a little trip around town just recently using public transportation and it was so much fun. Maybe I will write post about it sometime soon.

It's Raining!

I adore the rain. The rain is an escape!

Night Watch

I decided to snoop around in the backyard last night. With flash light and camera in hand I moved from plant ot plant looking for cratures. This lizard was the first one I found. At night lizards seem to seek a high place to sleep and this little fellow was atop an orchid. Here is a previous post of a similar image.

To my suprise there were plenty of little creatures to capture. These guys were using the same leaf but for entirely different purposes. Mommy why are the grass hoppers stuck together?

I have mixed emotions about grass hoppers. They are colorful but kinda creepy and the chew the plants around here to death.

I do enjoy having Cuban Tree Frogs around. Their smiling little mugs hopping about the place makes the yard a friendly place.

Little Toad

little toad

Green & Moist

The comfort of small slimy creatures!

When I wander about the neighborhood and see the many small animals who thrive in the conditions brought on by the hurricane I am reminded that for everything there is a time and a purpose. This is a powerful comfort during challenging times.

Frog on Hose

When it rains it frogs.

Eye

Cuban Tree Frog eye Close-up!

Singing in the Rain

Success !!!

 

Cuban Tree Frog in the Lurch

 

Snapped this image just outside the front door one evening!

These little guys are typically easy to photograph because they tend to stay put until you poke at to much them.

 

 

Cuban Tree Frog

Osteopilus septentrionalis

 
Description:
The Cuban Tree Frog, like many other frogs in our country, was introduced to and is now well established in South Florida. It is the largest tree frog now existing in the North America. They are nocturnal. Males are 1-3.5 inches while females grow up to 5 inches. Males are not only smaller than the female, but they have darker throats and nuptial pads in times of breeding. Their skin is warty and color can be green, bronze, or grey marbled with darker brown and faint banding on their limbs. The skin on the top of their head is fused to the skull. A calling cuban tree frog's voice is described as "a variably pitched, slightly rasping or grating snore". Cubans have a wide head and large eyes. The sticky discs on their fingers and toes are pretty large.
 
Habitat:
Temperatures should remain in the upper 70s to low 80s in the daytime and at night remain in the 70s. They can be maintained much like White's Tree Frogs, and are pretty easy to keep. Cubans love to hide in moist, covered ares like trees or shrubs or around houses. Keeping this frog with other small frogs is strongly discouraged, but I have kept them with firebellied toads without any problem. Just be careful. It secretes toxins that are quite noxious, so do not rub your eyes after handling them. In captivity, it requires a large, tall aquarium. Because of its size, only robust plants and climbing branches should be provided.Feeding:
When mature, will consume the standard crickets as prey as well as larger prey such as baby mice.

Breeding:
Cuban Tree Frogs breed easily after a light winter chill sometime between May and October. During this time, the male develops a bronze shimmer and large green patches making him quite a handsome frog. Their egg masses contain up to 2,000 eggs and are often deposited in lakes, ponds, drainage ditches, swimming pools, and cisterns. The tadpoles hatch in 1-2 days and will eat tropical fish flakes. They will metamorphosize in 6-8 weeks and reach sexual maturity within one year. 
  

Ode to the Toad

Ah, the humble toad. Is it any wonder the prominent place this amphibian holds in the fairy tale realm.

Note the self satisfied posture, the disapproving glint in the wide set eyes, the slight downturn at the edge of the tightly pursed lips. I am better than you. I am superior in every way Homo Sapien Sapien, and if you dare to grab me up for your amusement I will urinate on you with every ounce of my deceptively small bladder.

I have always had an affinity for Toads. From my early years toddling about the back yard capturing them by the bucket full, to the present day they have always brought me delight!