About Moss & Scale
An independent site about reptiles and amphibians, built for people who like to learn by playing first.
Last updated: November 9, 2026
What this site is
Moss & Scale explains reptiles and amphibians one species at a time. Each article starts from a single animal and uses it to explain one big idea: how a gecko sticks to glass, why a frog can survive being frozen, how a sea turtle finds its way home. There are 45 species in five groups: lizards, snakes, turtles and crocodilians, frogs and toads, and salamanders, newts and caecilians.
Before you read, you can play. Species Match is a memory game where you pair an animal with the clue that describes it. Win a round and the species joins your Terrarium, and its full article stays open on that device.
Who it is for
Students, families, teachers and anyone curious about nature. We write in plain English and explain the hard words. We try to keep a sense of humor without losing accuracy.
Who writes it
Every article is published by the Moss & Scale Editorial Team. We do not use made-up author profiles, and we do not claim credentials we cannot show. Articles are researched from published sources, and those sources are listed at the bottom of each article. They are not peer reviewed. If you are a scientist and see something that needs fixing, please write to us.
What we will not do
- Invent experts, quotes, statistics or personal stories.
- Give advice on catching, keeping or handling wild animals.
- Reward clicks, shares or ad views. The only rewards in the game are medals, seals and the articles themselves.
- Hide the full text from anyone. The whole article is in the page for everybody; the game only decides how much is open on your screen.
How it is funded
There are no ads on the site right now. If that ever changes, we will say so on this page and on the privacy page before it happens.
Read more
Editorial policy Methodology and sources Corrections Contact