Ask a Naturalist.com

Who laid these eggs?

Tom — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:19:53 +0000

The Question: I came upon these while at a waterfall in Tennessee. Any help finding out what they are would be appreciated. Submitted by: Starlon, Tennessee, USA The Short Answer: These are the eggs of a toad in the genus Anaxyrus. According to amphibian egg expert Ronald Altig, who studies the development of amphibians at [...]

What is this mud creature?

Tom — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:54:38 +0000

The Question: I found these creatures in mud. They were approximately 30 cm (1 ft). The head is 4-5 mm (0.25 inch) in diameter. They don’t look like worms. I wonder if they might be snakes. What are they and what do they eat? Submitted by: Madhumita, Chhattisgarh, India The Short Answer: This is definitely [...]

Is this spider venomous?

Tom — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:32:51 +0000

The Question: This spider crawled out of a vent at my daughter’s home and moved quickly towards the door where she opened it and watched it go outside. My daughter is terrified and wonders if she needs an exterminator? Is this spider venomous? She’s scared to have her baby on the floor. Please help identify [...]

What are these yellow flowers?

Tom — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:52:49 +0000

The Question: I saw these wildflowers in the central California Valley near Aptos. They are about the size of a quarter. What are they? Submitted by: Alan, California, USA The Short Answer: Your flowers are definitely one of several species of poppies in the genus Eschscholzia found in California. Most probably they are Eschscholzia lobbii, [...]

Are There Ducks in Antarctica?

Tom — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:55:35 +0000

The Question: I have searched for the one species of duck that is said to be able to live in Antarctica, but I have yet to find anything more about it. My guess is that if such a duck exists it would possibly survive on one of the subantarctic islands, or on Ross Island which, [...]