2. Frogs and Lizards

3. Amphibian Characteristics Permeable skin Permeable skin Permeable: Allows the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide to allow respiration Permeable: Allows the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide to allow respiration Can allow the uptake of chemicals in the environment Can allow the uptake of chemicals in the environment Good olfaction Good olfaction Olfaction: Sense of smell Olfaction: Sense of smell Prey upon: Prey upon: Insects, other amphibians, anything small enough to fit into their mouths, even mice Insects, other amphibians, anything small enough to fit into their mouths, even mice Green FrogSpring Salamander

4. Frogs Tadpoles lose tails and grow legs as they metamorphose Tadpoles lose tails and grow legs as they metamorphose True Frogs True Frogs Rana Rana Tree Frogs Tree Frogs Hyla Hyla Toe pads Toe pads Grey Tree Frog Spring Peeper Green Tree Frog Grey Tree Frog Bull Frog Southern Leopard Frog

5. Cope’s Gray Treefrog Hyla chrysoscelis Bright orange/yellow spots under legs Bright orange/yellow spots under legs Why? Why? Identical to Common Gray treefrog Identical to Common Gray treefrog Chromosomes/Call Chromosomes/Call Color changing capabilities Color changing capabilities

6. Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer Cross/”X” shaped blotch on back Cross/”X” shaped blotch on back Lays eggs singly at bottom of pond Lays eggs singly at bottom of pond Advantages/Disadvantages? Advantages/Disadvantages? Seen/heard during November-April Seen/heard during November-April Extremely impacted by human activities that alter habitat outside of wetlands Extremely impacted by human activities that alter habitat outside of wetlands

7. Green/Bronze Frog Rana clamitans Distinct ridge down side Distinct ridge down side Subspecies Subspecies Deposit eggs as a surface mass Deposit eggs as a surface mass Advantages/disadvantages? Advantages/disadvantages? Documented movement of about 3 miles between ponds has been documented Documented movement of about 3 miles between ponds has been documented

8. Bullfrog Rana Catesbeiana Largest of North American frogs Lack of ridges down its side Invasive species! Western North American and Europe Highly adaptable Opportunistic feeders 1-2 years for tadpoles to transform Used for food

9. Toads Similar to frogs Similar to frogs Tadpoles lose tail and grow legs as they metamorphose into adults Tadpoles lose tail and grow legs as they metamorphose into adults Less dependent upon water than frogs Less dependent upon water than frogs Have warty skin Have warty skin Paratoid Glands: Paratoid Glands: Glands behind the eye that secrete toxin Glands behind the eye that secrete toxin Fowler ’ s Toad American Toad Fowler’s Toad

10. Fowler’s Toad Bufo fowleri Most common toad in most of NC Most common toad in most of NC ID characteristics ID characteristics Primarily nocturnal but may be active during the day Primarily nocturnal but may be active during the day 3-8 weeks to transform 3-8 weeks to transform Skin secretions that are toxic/distasteful to predators Skin secretions that are toxic/distasteful to predators

11. Lizards Extremely variable and diverse Extremely variable and diverse Many endemic species Many endemic species Leg-less Lizards Leg-less Lizards Glass Lizards or Jointed Snakes Glass Lizards or Jointed Snakes Lizards have eyelids and ear holes that snakes do not Lizards have eyelids and ear holes that snakes do not Lose their tail when seized to distract predators Lose their tail when seized to distract predators Fence Lizard

12. Green Anole Anolis carolinensis Diurnal Diurnal Color changing Color changing Found in populated areas Found in populated areas Lay one egg at a time Lay one egg at a time Territorial Territorial Invasive species! (Guam) Invasive species! (Guam) Pet trade Pet trade

13. Eastern Fence Lizard Sceloporus undulatus Pale blue on belly/throat Pale blue on belly/throat Forest edges/rotting stumps Forest edges/rotting stumps Extremely quick Extremely quick

14. Ground Skink Scincella lateralis Transparent disc in eyelid that it can see through, even when eye is closed Transparent disc in eyelid that it can see through, even when eye is closed Leaf litter Leaf litter

15. Broadhead/5- lined/Southern 5-lined Skink Broadhead Broadhead Largest skinks in region Largest skinks in region Males have red heads, females striped Males have red heads, females striped 5 labial scales 5 labial scales 5-lined 5-lined Males uniformly brown except for mating season Males uniformly brown except for mating season Row of enlarged scales under tail Row of enlarged scales under tail 4 labial scales 4 labial scales Southern 5-lined Southern 5-lined Stay the same coloration Stay the same coloration Scales same size under tail Scales same size under tail