Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetofauna

1. Eastern Hognose Snake Green Tree Frog Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetofauna Compiled by the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory

2. Amphibians and Reptiles • Regulate temperature from outside sources • Ectothermic Yellowbelly Sliders Northern Watersnake

3. Green Frog Amphibians and Reptiles • Secretive • Can be very difficult to find Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

4. Ringneck Snake Amphibians and Reptiles • Important to their ecosystem • Food for many other animals such as raccoons, opossums, and birds • Control abundance of mice, rats, and bugs Spotted Salamander Green Salamander Worm Snake

5. Three-Lined Salamander Spring Salamander Amphibians • 88 species in North Carolina • North Carolina has the highest diversity of salamanders in the world! Grey Tree Frog

6. Four Toed Salamander Southern Leopard Frog Green Tree Frog Amphibian Characteristics • Skin: • Moist • Breathe through their skin • Good sense of smell • Amphibians eat: • Insects • Anything that will fit into their mouths: including other amphibians

7. Spring Peeper Metamorph Bronze Frog Green Tree Frog Grey Tree Frog Frogs • Tadpoles when they are born • Lose their tails as adults • Two main types: • True Frogs • Tree Frogs • Toe-pads Upland Chrous Frog Pickerel Frog

8. Toads • Similar to frogs • Tail-less as adults • Warty skin • Have large glands behind each eye that produce poison American Toad Fowler’s Toad

9. Spring Salamander Marbled Salamander Two-lined Salamander Salamanders • Plethodontids: Don’t have lungs and must breathe entirely through their skin • Ambystomatids: Have lungs, but can also breathe through their skin • Salamanders can lay eggs in: • Streams • Wetlands • Soil

10. Upland Chrous Frog Frog Eggs Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole Spring Peeper Cricket Frog Spring Peeper Metamorph Amphibian Life Cycle

11. Amphibian Defense Methods • Poison in skin • Toads and Newts • Producing large numbers of offspring • Producing noisy squawks when attacked Red-Spotted Newt American Toad Green Frog Tadpole

12. Green Anole Bog Turtle Copperhead American Alligator Reptiles • 70 different species in North Carolina • 4 Groups: Alligators, Turtles, Lizards, Snakes • Antarctica only continent without reptiles • First animal with a backbone to become independent of water for breeding • Lays terrestrial eggs or gives birth to live young

13. Crocodilians • American Alligator the only species in North Carolina American Alligator

14. Turtles • Backbone incorporated into their shell • Lack teeth • Has a beak similar to a bird • Omnivorous: Eats plants and animals • Particularly enjoys insects and worms Eastern Painted Turtles

15. What turtles are found in the ocean? • Sea Turtles • All are endangered • Crush in Finding Nemo Olive Ridley Sea Turtles

16. What turtles are found in ponds and rivers? Common Musk Turtle Eastern Painted Turtle Snapping Turtle Eastern Mud Turtle River Cooter

17. Photo by J.D. Willson What turtles can you find in your backyard? • Box turtles!

18. Lizards • Ears • Distinguishing characteristic from snakes • Variable and diverse • Many islands have species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth. • One group has lost their legs • Called Glass Lizards Slender Glass Lizard Fence Lizard Five-Lined Skink Broadhead Skink Slender Glass Lizard

19. Snakes • 37 Species in North Carolina • 6 Venomous species • Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Coral Snake, Timber Rattlesnake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, and Pigmy Rattlesnake • Most species are non-venomous Ringneck Snake Black Racer Eastern Kingsnake Timber Rattlesnake Redbelly Watersnake Scarlet Kingsnake

20. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Ringneck Snake Coachwhip Black Rat Snake Snakes • All lack legs • Lack ear openings • Hear vibrations through the ground • Shed their skin to grow

21. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake swallowing a Cottontail Rabbit Scarlet Kingsnake swallowing a Green Anole Snake Feeding • Entirely carnivorous • Swallow prey whole • 2 methods to capture prey for consumption • Constriction • Poison

22. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Spotted Salamander Eastern Spadefoot Toad Conservation • Many species are in decline • More amphibian species are endangered than birds or mammals • Few species are becoming more abundant • Can you think of any reasons?

23. Causes of Declines • Habitat destruction • Building houses, parking lots, shopping centers • Cutting down trees • Filling in wetlands and ponds • Pollution • Trash and chemicals that are harmful to wild animals Photo by Steve Price Photos by Steve Price

24. Photo by K. Cecala Photos by Lauren Harshaw What can you do? • Watch, but don’t touch or keep any amphibians or reptiles you find. • If you find an amphibian or reptile, let your parents know. • Don’t kill snakes • Don’t release any amphibian or reptile pet into the wild

25. Questions? Corn Snake