#conservationstatus-leastconcern

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The Yellow Anaconda (or Eunectes notaeus) is a constrictor snake species found primarily in the tributaries, swamps, and marshes of the Paraguay river basin, but they can also be found in Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil. They are one of the largest snake species in the world, only second to the Green Anaconda.

Anacondas grow in length throughout their entire lives, averaging between 3.3-4.4 meters, with an average weight between 25-35 kilos (the largest ever recorded was 4.6 meters and weighed 55 kilos, it is unknown whether this weighing was done before or after a large meal). They primarily feed on wading birds that they can ambush from underwater, and after a big meal they won't eat for several months.

Fun fact: Yellow Anacondas release a chemical that deters ticks from biting them.

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The Green Iguana, or Iguana iguana, lives throughout Central America, Northern South America, and the Caribbean. With their numerous population and the fact that they have barely any enemies (human or animal) they are classed as Least Concern.

They can grow up to 2 meters in length, with males averaging at 4 kilos and females half their weight. Their strong muscular legs and tail make them excellent climbers (they can climb trees and fall up to 18 meters without injuring themselves) and fast swimmers. They're known for having a flap of skin hanging from their chins (a dewlap). The movement of the dewlap is how they communicate with each other. And despite being called Green Iguanas, their colours range from green to blue, brown, and orange (usually their colour morphs depend on their location of origin).

Similar to birds, iguana hatchlings have a special tooth called a 'caruncle' used for breaking through their egg shells. It falls off shortly after hatching.

Fun fact: Green Iguanas have a rudimentary third eye on top of their heads known as a 'pineal eye', which is sensitive to changes in light levels and movement.

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The Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx), ranges throughout the temperate and boreal forests and mountains of Europe and Asia. In fact: not only are they the largest of the four lynx-species, they have one of the widest ranges of all wild cats. Due to their wide distribution there are even multiple described subspecies of Eurasian Lynx.

While their current population in the wild ranges between 70.000-80.000, the Eurasian Lynx populations have been threatened in the past due to overhunting for their fur. However, nowadays they're no longer endangered, instead classed as Least Concern, due to the fact that, in all countries except Russia, hunting the Eurasian Lynx is now illegal, and in the 1960s and 70s their populations have also recovered due to their reintroductions into areas of their historical range in Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland.

Fun fact: the Eurasian Lynx is Romania's National animal (similar to how Scotland's national animal is Unicorn and Wales' is a Dragon).

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The Eastern Brown Snake, or Pseudonaja textilis, lives in Australia and New Guinea. They are the second-most venomous snake species in the world, and are the most common cause of snake bite deaths in Australia. Their Latin name: 'Pseudonaja' translates to 'false cobra', due to their defensive displays with head-rearing similar to a cobra.

Due to unknown numbers in the wild, but plentiful sightings, they're classed as Least Concern.

Fun fact: Eastern Brown Snakes are no threat during winter since they hibernate in underground burrows during those months.

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The Common Death Adder (Acanthophis antarcticus) is a snake-species that lives in the grasslands, forests, and bushlands of Eastern and Southern Australia, their band-patterned skin providing the perfect disguise for hiding under leaf litter and other debris for long periods of time (twitching their grub-like tail to lure prey), striking when any unsuspecting animals come past.

The Australian snake has several records on its name: not only do they have the longest fangs of any Australian venomous snake, they also have the fastest strike. And although they are highly venomous, the common death adder is not aggressive and rarely a danger to humans.

And although they're not an endangered species (classed as Least Concern), the species is threatened by the presence of cane toads - an invasive species in Australia. The toads often eat young snakes, while the adult snakes who decide to snack on such a toad die as a result of the poisonous toxins in the toad's skin.

Fun fact: it is thought that the name 'death adder' was originally 'deaf adder' because Common Death Adders cannot hear sound, instead relying on vibrations felt on the ground through their bodies.

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The fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) lives in forests throughout mainland Europe. And while their larvae live in water, the adults can't swim and remain on solid ground for the rest of their lives. Compare so some other amphibian species, the fire salamander lives up to 19 years, spending their winter hibernation often in the same spot each year.

Fire Salamanders usually live alone, but social groups can range up to 6 individuals. In most of the sub species their offspring develops in eggs inside the females to be born as live aquatic larvae. However, the 'fastuosa' and 'bernardezi' varieties give birth to fully metamorphosed young (skipping the larvae stage entirely).

The patterning of fire salamanders comes in a wide range. The bright colouration, as usually is the case among reptile, insect, and amphibian species, indicates toxicity. Fire Salamanders secrete a neurotoxin called 'samandarin' through their skin. And while it can cause muscle convulsions, breathing difficulties, high blood pressure, and death, unless humans actually ingest it, the toxin is generally not dangerous to humans.

Fun fact: according to legend, fire salamanders were given the name because they were born in fires. What is more likely, however, is that salamanders often hide on wood that humans gather to build fires, and then try to escape the flames by crawling out of the embers.

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The American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) ranges in the North American region of Canada, Mexico, and the USA. While the actual population numbers in the wild are unknown, it is classed as Least Concern regarding their conservation status, instead, in South America, Western Europe, South East Asia, Japan, and China, it's classed as an invasive species. In those regions population control measures have been introduced to prevent the frogs causing any damage to native wildlife species due to their opportunistic feeding habits (bats, birds, and tarantulas).

With the females being bigger than the males they can range up to half a kilo in weight. During a single reproductive event a female lays around 20.000 eggs. While the frogs thrive in water temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius, tadpoles will start to develop with abnormalities as soon as the temperature hits 32 degrees and higher.

Fun fact: only in the Southern USA the frogs are hunted for their legs as a food-source.