1. Section 2: Amphibians & Reptiles
Class Amphibia
~4000 species
Tetrapods-Four footed
3 Orders: Caudata – Salamanders
Anura – Frogs & Toads
Gymnophiona – Caecilians
(naked snakes)

2. Order Caudata- (tail + to bear)
Salamanders
species
Habitat- Moist forest floor near aquatic
environments.
Aquatic Larvae

3. Order Gymnophiona (naked + like a snake)
Caecilians
~100 species
Tropical
Wormlike burrowers
Feed on soil-borne worms/inverts

4. Order Anura- (without + tail)
Frogs & Toads
~3500 species
Moist semi-aquatic habitats
Eggs & Larvae aquatic

5. Difference between Frog & Toad
Bulging eyes Short hind legs for walking
Webbed feet Lay eggs in chain
Lay eggs in cluster Lack any teeth
Feet slightly webbed if at all
Paratoid glands

6. Waters Advantage
-Water shows less fluctuation in temperature than land.
-Very stable environment.
-Buoyancy help support the body or aquatic organisms.
Lands Advantage
-Air on land holds 20% more oxygen than water.
-Land dwelling amphibians can be more active

7. Hibernation Video Respiration
Adult frogs can obtain oxygen from the air using lungs.
They also have a specialized skin that allows them to
absorb as much (if not more) oxygen through their skin.
Cutaneous Respiration
This is a key adaptation that allows them to survive
hibernation in the nearly frozen mud of a marsh or pond.
Hibernation Video

8. Anuran Vocalization Draws air into lungs
Pushes air across vocal cords and larynx
into vocal sac.
Vocal sac may resonate sound

9. Paleobatidae (Archaic Toads)
Plains Spadefoot Toad
Spea bombifrons
Loud and harsh
“Go-away go-away”

10. Bufonidae (True Toads)
American Toad
Bufo americanus
Long musical trill
15-30 seconds

11. Hylidae (Tree Frogs) Blanchards Cricket Frog Acris blanchardi
Two marbles being
tapped or rubbed
together

12. Gray Treefrog
Hyla chrysoscelis
Short high trill

13. Boreal Chorus Frog
Pseudacris maculata
Running finger across
Teeth of a comb

14. Ranidae (Aquatic Frogs)
Plains Leopard Frog
Rana blairi
Finger rubbing balloon

15. Bullfrog
Rana catesbiana
Drawing bow across
upright bass
Foghorn

16. Microhylidae (Microhylid Frogs)
Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad
Gastrophryne olivacea
Nasally Beeeeeeee

17. Tympanic Membrane- Membrane that vibrates with
sound waves to aid in hearing.

18. Frogs also sense vibrations through legs.
Large predators nearby will create seismic
vibrations in the ground.

19. Class Reptilia (to + creep)
Dry skin and scales.
Internal fertilization
Carnivorous (turtles omnivorous)
Cold blooded
First vertebrates with Amniotic Eggs
-Eggs with extra embryonic membrane
Protect embryo from dehydration
Cushions embryo
Promotes gas transfer
Stores waste
 All adaptations for life on land

20. Three types (subclasses) of reptiles based on skull type:
Anapsid- Turtles, likely the most distant divergence
from other reptiles. ~ 250mya
Diapsid- Snakes and lizards.
Dinosaurs  Crocodiles & Birds
Synapsid- All extinct, but gave rise to mammals.

23. Oviparous- Egg laying
Turtles, most snakes & lizards.
Ovoviviparous- Internal eggs
Some lizards
Viviparous- Live young
Some snakes

24. Order Chelonia Turtles ~225 species
Bony shell from modified vertebrae and ribs.
Shell covered in Keratin dermal layer.
Long life spans. Average 15 years,
up to 100 in some tortoises

25. Turtles lay eggs in nests and do not care for young.

28. COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE Chelydra serpentina
Prefers habitat with muddy bottoms.
Omniverous
Bottom dweller
Up to 20” length (12” common)
Up to 85 pounds
(15lbs common)
Mean age 28 years

29. ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE Macrochelys temminckii SINC
Largest freshwater turtles
lbs
3 large keels down center
of carapace
Eyes on side of head
Use pink “lure” in mouth to attract prey

30. NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE Chrysemys picta
Carapace mm
Colorful plastron & head
patterning used to ID
Diurnal
Bask during light hours
Omnivorous

31. COMMON MAP TURTLE Graptemys geographica Kansas State Threatened Species
Carapace up to
200mm
Isolated yellow
spot behind eye.

32. FALSE MAP TURTLE Graptemys pseudogeographica
Mostly found
in rivers and streams.
Carapace up to
200mm
Short yellow crescent
behind eye.
Male: long front claws.

33. EASTERN RIVER COOTER Pseudemys concinna
Smooth domed carapace.
Head and shell markings
used to ID
Light C-shape on 2nd
costal scute.
Plastron yellow with
dark patterns
Male: long front claws

34. EASTERN BOX TURTLE Terrapene carolina
Mostly terrestrial
Tall domed carapace.
Carapace up to 180mm
Keel on 2nd and 4th
vertebral scute
May live entire life in
3 toes on hind feet an area no larger than
a football field as range
Males: usually red eyes

35. ORNATE BOX TURTLE Terrapene ornata
Terrestrial
Carapace patterned
and up to 150mm
keel-less
Posterior plastron:
Male concave
Female flat or convex
Primarily carnivorous
Mean age 25 years

36. (Red eared) SLIDER Trachemys scripta
Carapace up to 250mm
Red/orange splotch
behind eye.

37. YELLOW MUD TURTLE Kinosternon flavescens
Carapace up to 15cm
Elevated 9th/10th
marginal scute
Male: rough scales
behind knee. Longer
tail tipped with claw.
Muddy bottom ponds
Omnivore
Strong musk smell as defense.

38. COMMON MUSK TURTLE(stinkpot) Sternotherus odoratus
Carapace up to 15 cm
Tall and smooth dome
Two yellow lines from
snout to neck
Male has larger head and stout spiked tail.
STRONG musk smell as defense.

39. SMOOTH SOFTSHELL Apalone mutica
Carapace up to 30cm
Small dark splotches
Black/white stripe from
eye to neck.
Male has thicker tail.
Mostly found in rivers/streams
Passive insectivores

40. SPINY SOFTSHELL Apalone spinifera
Spiny cone projections
on leading end of
carapace.
Rivers/streams
Up to 50years
Aggressive and can bite
Carnivore

41. Order Squamata (scale + to bear) Snakes & Lizards
Lizards (Suborder Sauria)
~3,300 species
Usually 2 pairs of walking legs
Visible Ear holes
Eye lids
Chromataphores

42. Snakes (Suborder serpentes) ~2,300 species
Elongated body lacking limbs
200+ vertebrae
Upper & lower jaw
movable and hinged.
Elongation of body
resulted in loss of
left lung and right
kidney.

43. Skin covered in Keratin scales.
Unlike amphibians, reptile skin does not
aid in respiration.
Nonkeeled scale
Non-venomous
snakes
Keeled scale
Venomous snakes

44. Ventral scales larger to facilitate movement.

45. Ecdysis (ek-dis-is): Periodic shedding of the skin.
Begins with head

46. Vipers (family Viperidae) possess hollow fangs to
inject venom

47. Pit Vipers have a Pit Organ on each side of the
face that is heat-sensitive.
Usually nocturnal so this aids their hunting.

50. Ectotherms: Rely on external heating source
to warm their body. (Cold-Blooded)
To stay active reptiles must maintain a
temperature between degrees Celsius.
May form Hibernacula (large groups of reptiles
in a group) in the winter to stay warm.

51. EASTERN RACER Coluber constrictor

52. SPECKLED KINGSNAKE Lampropeltis holbrooki

53. MILK SNAKE Lampropeltis triangulum

54. RINGNECK SNAKE Diadophis punctatus

55. COMMON GARTER SNAKE Thamnophis sirtalis
WESTERN RIBBON SNAKE Thamnophis proximus

56. MASSASAUGA Sistrurus catenatus
COPPERHEAD Agkistrodon contortrix
TIMBER RATTLESNAKE Crotalus horridus
MASSASAUGA Sistrurus catenatus

57. Great Plains Rat Snake
Pantherophis emoryi