You will find many reptiles like snakes and lizards in the plains. Reptiles are cold blooded (don't produce their own body heat). For much of the year, the plains are hot enough for them to warm up and stay active. They can hide easily in the grass and underground burrows and have plenty of insects, birds'; eggs, other reptiles and amphibians, and small rodents to eat. In winter, they find a place to hide underground and go into a cold sleep like trance waiting for spring.
Amphibians like the plains spadefoot toad perform an amazing task to stay alive on the dry plains. The toads hide underground most of the year in an underground burrow in a trance like state. When they sense the large summer thunderstorm';s rain, they wake up, climb up, quickly mate, lay eggs in the newly formed pools of water, and eat the abundant insects. The eggs change quickly to tadpoles and then toads before the pools of water disappear. Just a few weeks after they come up, they dig themselves back into the ground waiting for the next big summer thunderstorm (possibly a year or two later).
You may find other toads, frogs, and turtles by the riparian life zones in the plains. Click on the Riparian Life Zones link to find out more about them.
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