Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetofauna Edited for Virginia by Mike Clifford, Virginia Herpetological Society Snake: Hognose (photo by Pierson Hill) Frog: Green Treefrog (Photo by Aubrey Heupel) Hognose Snake Green Tree Frog

Painted Turtle hatchlings Herpetofauna Amphibians (51 salamander s & 27 frogs & toads in VA) Reptiles (30 snakes, 10 lizards, & 22 turtles in VA) Important to their environment Why? Ringneck Snake Green Salamander, Ringneck Snake (photos by J.D. Willson), Painted Turtle Hatchlings (Photo by Kristine Greyson), Creek – photo by K. Cecala Important to the environment because they eat a lot of things such as mice and insects, and are food for a lot of other animals. Highly abundant Predator: They eat lots of other things Prey: They are food for lots of things Painted Turtle hatchlings Green Salamander

Amphibians Skin Good sense of smell Food: Breathe through their skin Must stay moist Good sense of smell Food: Insects Anything that will fit into their mouths Bullfrog Spotted Salamander Photos by J.D. Willson Spotted Salamander : Bullfrog: Grey Tree Frog Must stay moist in order to breathe through skin and not dry out Grey Tree Frog

Amphibian Life Cycle Upland Chrous Frog Frog Eggs Spring Peeper Cricket Frog Spring Peeper Metamorph Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole Frog Eggs (J.D. Willson), Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole (J. D. Willson), Spring Peeper tadpole/metamorph (K Cecala), Cricket Frog (K. Cecala), Spring peeper(Aubrey Heupel), Upland Chorus Frog (J. D. Willson)

Frogs Good jumpers Tadpoles as babies Lose their tails as adults Spring Peeper Spring Peeper tadpole Southern Leopard Frog Spring peeper (photo by j. D. Willson), Spring Peeper Tadpole/metamorph (Photo by K. Cecala), Upland Chorus Frog, Southern Leopard Frog (both photos by J. D. Willson) Upland Chorus Frog

Toads Similar to frogs Warty skin Gland behind their eye secretes poison Fowler’s Toad, American Toad (L-R) Photos by J.D. Willson American Toad Fowler’s Toad

Salamanders Some have lungs Some don’t have lungs Dusky Salamander Some have lungs Some don’t have lungs Breathe entirely through their skin Lay eggs in a variety of habitats Land Stream Wetland Spotted Salamander Photos by J.D. Willson Dusky Salamander, Spotted Salamander, Red Salamander, Slimy Salamander (Top-Bottom) Red Salamander Slimy Salamander

Reptiles Alligator (not in VA) Turtles (22 VA species) Copperhead Alligator (not in VA) Turtles (22 VA species) Lizards (10 VA species) Snakes (30 VA species) Give birth to live young or lay terrestrial eggs with leathery shells Have scales or scutes River Cooters Copperhead, Green Anole (Photos by J.D. Willson0, Ringneck Snake, American Alligator (Photos by M.E. Dorcas), River Cooters (Photos by J.D. Willson) Ringneck Snake

Crocodilians American Alligator – not native to Virginia but is found just to the south in North Carolina Photo by J. D. Willson American Alligator American Alligators

Yellow-bellied Sliders Turtles Backbone attached to shell Omnivorous: Will eat plants or animals Particularly likes insects and worms Found in 3 habitats: freshwater, saltwater, on land Yellowbelly Sliders, Eastern Painted Turtle Photos by J.D. Willson Yellow-bellied Sliders Eastern Painted Turtle

What type of turtle would you find in the ocean? Sea Turtles All species are endangered. Crush from Finding Nemo Olive Ridley Sea Turtles Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (top and bottom photos – Michael Jenson, Middle – J.D. Willson)

Ponds and Rivers Snapping Turtle Eastern Painted Turtle Bog Turtle Eastern Mud Turtle Eastern Painted Turtle (Photo by J.D. Willson), Eastern Mud Turtle (Photo by J.D. Willson), Snapping Turtle (Photo by M.E. Dorcas, Common Musk Turtle (Photo by J.D. Willson), Bog Turtle (Photo by M.E. Dorcas) Common Musk Turtle

Your Backyard Box Turtle!

Lizards Many different species A lot of islands have species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth Five-Lined Skink Broadhead Skink, Ground Skink, Five-Lined Skink (All photos by J.D. Willson), Fence Lizard (Photo by K. Cecala) Broadhead Skink Fence Lizard Ground Skink

Snakes Snakes can be venomous and dangerous, but most are not going to hurt you. Snakes don’t have legs. Shed their skin. PHOTOS by J.D. Willson Black Racer, Scarlet Kingsnake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Ringneck Snake Scarlet Kingsnake Black Racer Ringneck Snake

Snake Feeding Eat only animals Swallow their food whole Can eat animals bigger than themselves 3 main methods Constriction Venom Swallow live prey Eastern Cottonmouth eating a mouse Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and Cottontail Rabbit (Photo by Drew Sanders); Scarlet Kingsnake and Green Anole (Photo by J.D. Willson) Northern Watersnake eating a fish

Conservation Problem: Fewer amphibians and reptiles exist today than did in the past More amphibians are endangered than any birds or mammals Bog Turtle Spring Salamander Spring Peeper Timber Rattlesnake Bog Turtle (photo by M.E. Dorcas), Spring Salamander (Photo by K. Cecala), Spring Peeper (Photo by A. Heupel), Timber Rattlesnake (Canebrake) (Photo by J.D. Willson)

What can you do to help? 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

Questions? Corn Snake Corn Snake