Amphibian Oddities

This split reel shows some rare scenes of curious creatures who live with equal facility above and below water. The scenes were prepared by Curator Raymond L. Ditmars of the New York Zoological Gardens. Scene 1 shows the hideous amphibious creature known as the hell-bender of the Greek Lakes, a creature which looks as much like an old shoe as anything else and carries its lungs outside. The movement of the lungs is very susceptible, particularly when changes occur in the temperature of the water. Cold causes the filaments of the lungs to contract and heat makes them expand. This movement aerates the blood. The next animal shown is the salamander, which inhabits underground rivers, caverns and subterranean chambers. Its eyes are represented by mere dents in its skull, and it depends almost entirely upon its sense of touch. Like most subterranean creatures, it is colorless. In shape and structure it is much like an eel, though it has undeveloped limbs which are very weak. Closely allied to these two forms of amphibian life are the tree toads so abundant in the south. These usually have acquired the color of the trees in which they live, many of them changing color with the seasons and the change of foliage. The tree toad has suckers on its fingers and toes and these perform various functions necessary to its health, happiness and the pursuit of liberty. It is a rarity to see a tree toad sing but that is made possible by this film, and the amount of chest expansion which this little animal has would be the envy of a Caruso.