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

Amphibians and Reptiles Ectothermic Regulate temperature from outside sources Water temperature Basking Photos by J.D. Willson Northern Watersnake, Yellowbelly Slider Yellow-bellied Slider Northern Watersnake

Amphibians and Reptiles Cryptic Very abundant but their presence is largely unknown Timber Rattlesnake Timber Rattlesnake Timber Rattlesnake (Canebrake) (Photo by J.D. Willson), Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Photo by M.E. Dorcas), Timber Rattlesnake (Canebrake) (Photo by Wayne VanDevender) Northern Copperhead

Amphibians and Reptiles Green Salamander Important to the ecosystem An important prey item for: Raccoons, opossums, birds An important predator of: Mice, rats, insects Spring Peeper Spring Peeper(photo by J.D. Willson), Spring Salamander (Photo by K. Cecala), Ringneck Snake (Photo by J.D. Willson), Green Salamander (Photo by J.D. Willson), Stream photo by Kristen Cecala Spring Salamander Ringneck Snake

Amphibians 78 Species in Virginia (51 salamanders & 27 frogs & toads) SE U.S. - greatest salamander diversity in the world! Huge Biomass Biomass: Total weight of all amphibians in an area One isolated wetland produced 3 tons of amphibians Spotted Salamander Photos by J.D. Willson Spotted Salamander, Three-Lined Salamander, Southern Leopard Frog Three-lined Salamander Southern Leopard Frog

Amphibian Characteristics Permeable skin Permeable: allows the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide to allow respiration Can allow the uptake of chemicals in the environment Good olfaction Olfaction: Sense of smell Prey upon: Insects, other amphibians, anything small enough to fit into their mouths, even mice Green Frog Spring Salamander Green Frog (Photo by J.D. Willson), Spring Salamander (Photo by K. Cecala)

Spring Peeper Metamorph Frogs Spring Peeper Metamorph Tadpoles when they are born Lose their tails as adults Two main types: True Frogs Tree Frogs Toe-pads Bronze Frog Green Tree Frog Upland chorus Frog, Pickerel Frog, Bronze Frog (Photos by J.D. Willson), Spring Peeper metamorph (Photo by K. Cecala), Green Tree Frog (Photo by J.D. Willson), Grey Treefrog (Photo by Aubrey heupel) Grey Tree Frog Upland Chrous Frog Pickerel Frog

Toads Similar to frogs Tail-less as adults Warty skin Have large glands behind each eye that secretes toxin American Toad American Toad, Fowler’s Toad Photos by J.D. Willson Fowler’s Toad

Salamanders Spring Salamander 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 Marbled Salamander Spring Salamander (Photo by Pierson Hill), Marbled Salamander (Photo by K. Cecala), Two-Lined Salamander (Photo by Pierson Hill) Two-lined Salamander

Caecilians Live in the tropics Leg-less and blind Look very similar to a worm Caecilian Caecilian Photos by Shannon Pittman, and J.D. Willson Caecilian

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)

Amphibian Defense Mechanisms Green Frog Tadpole American Toad Poison in skin Toads and Newts Producing large numbers of offspring Producing noisy squawks when attacked Red-Spotted Newt Photos by J. D. Willson American Toad, Red-Spotted newt, Green Frog Tadpole

Reptiles Copperhead Eastern Painted Turtle 62 species in Virginia from 3 groups (30 snakes, 10 lizards including one introduced, 22 turtles) Antarctica the only continent without reptiles Snakes have no legs, but still tetrapods Evolutionary loss of legs Boas still maintain a pelvic girdle Copperhead, Eastern Painted Turtle, Five-Lined Skink (Photos by J. D. Willson), American Alligator (Photo by M.E. Dorcas) Five-lined Skink

Reptile Characteristics Ectothermic behavior Maintain a narrow temperature range Maintained through behavioral activities such as basking or burrowing Brummation Hibernation in ectotherms Fence Lizard, River Cooters River Cooters Fence Lizard

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

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Turtles Snapping Turtle Box Turtle Vertebrae incorporated into shell Have a beak instead of teeth Omnivorous Temperature sex determination Found in a variety of habitats: Marine Freshwater Terrestrial Eastern Painted Turtle Snapping Turtle (M.E. Dorcas), Box Turtle (J.D. Willson), Eastern Painted Turtle (J. D. Willson), Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Michael Jenson) Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

Lizards Extremely diverse and variable Do they all have legs? Broadhead Skink Extremely diverse and variable Many islands have endemic species Endemic: Species found in one location but no where else Do they all have legs? Glass Lizards/Leg-less lizards/Jointed Snakes How do you tell Glass Lizards from Snakes? Ear openings, eyelids, tail length Fence Lizard Slender Glass Lizard Green Anole, Broadhead Skink (J. D. Willson), Fence Lizard (K. Cecala), Slender Glass Lizard, Slender Glass Lizard (J.D. Willson) Slender Glass Lizard

Snakes 30 species in Virginia 3 venomous species Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake. Most species are non-venomous Scarlet Kingsnake – non-venomous Photos by J.D. Willson: Scarlet Kingsnake, Ringneck Snake, Black Rat Snake. Copperhead photo by Mike Clifford. Ringneck Snake – non-venomous Copperhead - venomous Black Rat Snake – non-venomous

Snakes All lack legs Lack ear openings Shed their skin to grow Hear vibrations through the ground Shed their skin to grow Eastern Hognose Snake Ringneck Snake Eastern Hognose Snake, Ringneck snake, Coachwhip, Redbelly Watersnake, Black Racer Timber Rattlesnake Black Racer Redbelly Watersnake

Snake Feeding Entirely carnivorous Swallow prey whole Can eat prey much larger than themselves Some use venom to immobilize prey Some constrict their prey Some actively forage for prey Some sit and wait for prey to approach them Eastern Cottonmouth eating a mouse Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake eating a Cottontail Rabbit, Scarlet Kingsnake eating a Green Anole Northern Watersnake eating a fish

Snake Defense Mechanisms Cottonmouth Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Eastern Hognose Snake Crypsis: Staying camouflaged When detected: Flee, musk, gape, rattle When these do not work, snakes may strike This occurs only when a snake feels threatened and has no other option to protect itself Cottonmouth (J.D. Willson), Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Eric Stine), Eastern Hognose Snake (Pierson Hill), Brown Watersnake (K.Cecala) Brown Watersnake

Conservation Many amphibians are in decline Grey Tree Frog Many amphibians are in decline 32% of amphibians endangered versus 12% of birds or 23% of mammals 43% of amphibian populations are declining Few populations are known to be increasing Red Salamander Grey Tree Frog, Red Salamander (K Cecala), Eastern Kingsnake (J.D. Willson) Eastern Kingsnake

Causes of Decline Habitat destruction Disease Pollution Over-exploitation Climate change Invasive species How many are human caused? Photos by Steve Price

What can you do? Enjoy finding and observing amphibians and reptiles Don’t keep wild amphibians and reptiles as pets Don’t kill snakes Make sure you know a venomous species looks like before handling snakes, and NEVER touch or threaten a venomous snake Don’t release any amphibian or reptile pet into the wild

Questions? Corn Snake Corn Snake