Reptiles & Amphibians of Northeastern Minnesota

1. The Reptiles and Amphibians of Northeastern Minnesota By: Christopher E. Smith Erica P. Hoaglund

2. northern leopard frog A-typical morph Photo by J. LeClere • Dorsal lateral ridges • “Leopard print” coloration

3. American toad Photo by J. LeClere Click to hear American toad call Feigning death

4. mink frog Click to hear a mink frog call • Lacking dorsal lateral ridges • Green upper lip • Hind foot webbing

5. green frog Male Click to hear green frog call • HAS dorsal lateral ridges • Green upper lip Female

6. wood frog Click to hear wood Frog chorus • White upper lip • Dark mask behind eyes Wood frogs in amplexus

7. blue-spotted salamander • Blue-spotted coloration • 10 to 15 cm • Forest dweller, near small ponds with moist soil

8. tiger salamander • Abundant cosmopolitan species, but very • secretive • Larva aquatic, thus require permanent • bodies of water in which to breed

9. eastern garter snake • 3 Yellow stripes • Harmless • Most common species of snake in Minnesota • Found in a variety of habitat types, often close to human activity

10. redbelly snake • Bright red underbelly scales • 10 to 25 cm long • Harmless • Ovoviviparous • Found throughout Minnesota

11. painted turtle • Abundant species in Minnesota • Often found in close proximity to human • activities • Often seen in the spring crossing roads

12. common snapping turtle • Largest species of turtle in Minnesota • Omnivorous • Capable of eating waterfowl, but • rarely eat game fish

13. More info- • For info on all of Minnesota’s herps visit- http://www.herpnet.net/Minnesota-Herpetology/ • For info on all of Iowa’s herps visit- http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/ Other useful links- The Minnesota Herpetological Society H.E.R.P. - Herpetological Education & Research Project Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles The Center For North American Herpetology