2009 Envirothon Reptiles Carey Entz Watershed Specialist Lycoming County Conservation District

Reptiles  air-breathing, cold-blooded vertebrates that have skin covered in scales as opposed to hair or feathers. cold-bloodedvertebratesscalescold-bloodedvertebratesscales  They have descended from vertebrates with four limbs. Turtles Turtles Skinks Skinks Lizards Lizards Snakes Snakes

Turtles  most of whose body is shielded by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs. bonycartilaginousshellribsbonycartilaginousshellribs  The earliest known turtles date from 215 million years ago; making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards and snakes. millionlizardssnakes millionlizardssnakes

Bog Turtle Endangered  Among the smallest turtles in N. America  Adults are four to 4 1/2 inches long  Appears only in isolated populations.  Habitat: wetlands, bogs, and marshes  Habitat loss is the cause of the decline.  Hibernates in the deep mud, under water  In June: lay 6 eggs/yr.  Omnivore: snails, slugs, tadpoles, plants, berries

Snapping Turtle  The only turtle in PA with economic value!  12 in., Large head, long tail, plastron doesn’t cover the entire underside, strong jaws.  Habitat: anywhere there is water  Hibernates under water for the winter  eggs are laid in June in upland

Eastern Box Turtle  Terrestrial Turtle  4-6” long with a high dome shell  Has a movable plastron with a hinge to close the shell in to protect itself.  Males have red eyes.  Habitat: moist forests, meadows  May to June: 3-8 eggs laid In a deep cavity in a field. In a deep cavity in a field.  Omnivores: berries, carrion,inveterbrates

Map Turtle  Common in the lower Susquehanna and Delaware watersheds.  Aquatic turtle: 7-11” long, with irregular thin yellow pattern covering its body.  Habitat: slow moving rivers and larger lakes  Has 2 or more clutches a year of eggs  Omnivore: Prefers mollusks and crayfish Prefers mollusks and crayfish

Midland Painted Turtle  Most widespread turtle in North America.  4-6in., Carapace olive- black color, Oval shaped and smooth, plastron is yellow, Bright yellow dots on the side of the head.  Habitat: Found basking on a log at the side of the pond or slow moving stream  Breeding: May-June, 1-2 clutches 2-20 elliptically shaped eggs in flask shaped2-20 elliptically shaped eggs in flask shaped nests. Some may over winter in the nest. nests. Some may over winter in the nest.

Red-eared Slider  Introduced species from the Mississippi  10” long Aquatic turtle with a red patch above the eye.  The have gained a foothold in PA waters after people illegally released their pets into the wild.  Habitat: Slow moving water with soft muddy bottoms with soft muddy bottoms  Opportunistic: Mostly feeding on plants Mostly feeding on plants

Spotted Turtle  3-4 in., Black with yellow spots, females have yellow eyes while males have brown  Habitat: Spring feed wetlands, and bogs  Often found basking in clumps of grasses.  Breeding: May-March, digs a flask shaped nest and lays 3-5 eggs in June.  Eggs hatch in late September - August

Wood Turtle  Terrestrial Turtle  5-8in., Brown and keeled, pyramidal scales, plastron is yellow, legs are orange.  Habitat: hardwood forest to marshy meadows, Hibernates in water during the winter months Breeding: May- June, 4-12 eggs a yearBreeding: May- June, 4-12 eggs a year Young may still in the nest through the winterYoung may still in the nest through the winter

Lizards  Lizards are often four-legged, with scales. scales  Lizards possess external ears and most have movable eyelids.  Due to their smooth, shiny appearance, some lizards can appear slimy or slippery although their skin is actually very dry due to a lack of pores to excrete water and oils. pores

Northern Fence Lizard  Only lizard in pa.  In the spiny lizard family  Only 4-7” long, Gray-Brown  More commonly found in southern pa.  Territorial to grassy or open woodland.  June 2-4 clutches of 13 eggs  Beetles are the preferred food  They will eat other types of insects

Skinks  Skinks look roughly like true lizards, but most species have no pronounced neck and relatively small legs.  Several genera have no limbs at all, others have only reduced limbs.  Skinks usually have long, tapering tails that can be shed and regenerated. regenerated

Northern Coal Skink  5-7” brown with a pair of light stripes  Juveniles have a bluish colored tail  Found foraging during the daylight hours  Found in North central and N.west Pa  Habitat: damp, moist woods  June: 8-9 eggs  Female will guard the eggs  Insectivores

Snakes  Snake is an elongate reptile of the suborder Serpentes. Like all reptiles, snakes are ectothermic and covered in scales. reptileectothermic scalesreptileectothermic scales  All snakes are carnivorous and can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids, limbs, external ears, and vestiges of forelimbs. carnivorouslegless lizardscarnivorouslegless lizards

Black Rat Snake  Largest snake in pa ” long  Active during the day.  Plain shiny black with a whitish belly  Young are deeply patterned gray/brown  Habitat: Varity- farms, forests, hillsides  Jun- Aug:30 eggs laid In decayed logs or leaf pile In decayed logs or leaf pile  Eats tree frogs, mice and other small mammals. other small mammals.

Eastern Garter Snake  Most common snake in North America  18-26” long, dark green/ black with 3 stripes with spots between the stripes  Generally the last to hibernate in the fall.  Built in self defense: Musk glands  Habitat: wet meadows, marshes  Livebearer: 7-85 in August  Prefers earthworms Salamanders, frogs and toads. Salamanders, frogs and toads.

Eastern Hognose Snake  AKA Puff Adder, Hissing, Spreading Adder  18-45” upturned snot, square patches  If disturbed it flattens its head and hisses  It also may play dead… Its harmless!  Habitat: Dry terrain, open areas and rocky hillsides. and rocky hillsides.  June- July: 6-61 eggs in the sand  Prefers toads and frogs Salamanders and insects Salamanders and insects

Eastern Massasauga ENDANGERED  Rattlesnake, Venomous, Pit Viper  Vertical pupil similar to a cats eye.  Smallest of the 3 poisonous snake in pa.  Venom is not as toxic as the timber rattler.  Endangered due to loss of habitat  Habitat: Marshy, swamplands  Livebearer of 2-20 young in July  Prefers frogs, toads and salamanders salamanders

Eastern Milk Snake  Pa most beneficial and misidentified snake  Often killed by mistake for a copperhead.  Cream colored snake with red patches  Belly: black and white checkerboard Copperheads belly is unmarked Copperheads belly is unmarked  Found in all 67 counties in Pa  July:6-25 eggs laid in rotting log  Eats rodents, lizards, birds, snakes Including venomous snakes! Including venomous snakes!

Eastern Smooth Green Snake Eastern Smooth Green Snake  AKA Green Grass Snake  Most gentle of all North America snakes  14-20” long, bright green, plain white belly  Active during the day  Habitat: meadows, moist grassy fields.  Aug: 3-10 eggs laid under a stone  Females may nest together  Insectivorous

Northern Brown Snake  AKA Dekay’s Snake for the zoologist that named the snake, James Edward Dekay.  One of PA smallest snakes 9-13”  Brown with 2 parallel rows of darker spots  Habitat: Generally found around water, moist upland and marshes. moist upland and marshes.  Livebearer to 3-30 young in July-Sept  Prefers worms, slugs, and snails.

Northern Copperhead  Venomous, Pit Viper  Vertical pupil similar to a cats eye.  24-26” long, stout-bodied, copper-brown  Livebearer: 1-14 are born in August  Young are gray with a yellow tail They use the tail as a lure. They use the tail as a lure.  Habitat: upland, wooded hillsides  Eats insects at first then rodents Sometimes birds, cicadas, caterpillars Sometimes birds, cicadas, caterpillars

Northern Ringneck Snake Northern Ringneck Snake  Relatively small harmless snake  If threatened can emit a pungent musk  10-24” black snake with a yellow belly and matching yellow collar.  Found in all 67 counties in pa.  Habitat: Mostly forested rocky hillsides.  2-6 eggs are laid in June  Prefers salamanders Worms, slugs, lizards, insects Worms, slugs, lizards, insects

Northern Water Snake  Largest Pa water snake, Non poisonous  24-50” long, Array of colors red, brown, black. Light bands sometime hard to see.  Territorial, nasty disposition, inflicts a severe bite that may bleed profusely. Due to an anticoagulant in the saliva. Due to an anticoagulant in the saliva.  Habitat: found near water.  Livebearer to 25 young in October  Prefers frogs, salamanders, crayfish, slow moving fish crayfish, slow moving fish

Ribbon Snakes  A cousin to the Garter, but more aquatic  18-26” long, slender, agile, 3 bright yellow stripes.  Two species in pa: Eastern and Northern Eastern: black body and Northern: Reddish Eastern: black body and Northern: Reddish  Habitat: Wet meadows, bogs, marshes, shallow lakes and ponds, small streams  Livebearer: 3-25 in July  Prefers frogs, salamanders, small fish

PA Threatened and Endangered  Endangered: Bog Turtle Bog Turtle Eastern Massasauga Eastern Massasauga Kirtland's Snake Kirtland's Snake  Threatened: Red Bellied Turtle Red Bellied Turtle Rough Green Snake Rough Green Snake Timber Rattlesnake Timber Rattlesnake   Candidates: Brodhead Skink Blandlings Turtle

2009 Envirothon Aquatic Resources