1. Reptiles of the Bruce Peninsula

2. What does it take to be a reptile? Four legged vertebrates Are amniotes; whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane Most are egg-laying Ectothermic (body heat regulated by external environment) Spend most of their time on land Breathe using lungs

3. Five-Lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus) Black body with five light coloured stripes extending the length of the body Juveniles have a bright blue tail Length: 15 – 20 cm Habitat: Woods, sandy areas and crevasses in bedrock Carnivorous animals that eats mostly insects, including crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. Of five lizards that inhabit Canada, the Five-Lined Skink is the only one in Ontario.

4. Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) Black with three yellow stripes, with red or orange bars between the back and lateral stripes Length: 48 – 70 cm Habitat: Found in marshes, along streams, fields, woodlands and urban parks and yards Commonly seen in gardens, giving rise to its "garden snake" nickname. They are harmless:do in fact produce a mild neurotoxic venom

5. Northern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) Black with three bright yellow stripes Whitish half moon shaped spot in front of each eye Length: 45 – 65 cm (smaller than the Red- sided Garter) Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, bogs, ponds, weedy shorelines and swamps Prey includes salamanders and frogs

6. Northern Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsi) Bluish-black a golden ring around the neck (yellow or orange). Yellow or orange underside Smooth scales (no keels) Length: 25 – 35 cm Habitat: Moist, rich forests and along edges of woodlands under rocks or logs Conservation Threats: Loss of habitat

7. Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) Can be brown, gray, reddish, brown or black. They have dark crossbands on their necks and dark patches on the rest of their bodies (usually reddish outlined in black). The older the snake, the darker it gets Length: 60 – 100 cm (can reach 4 feet) Active at day and night. Absent from highly urbanized and agricultural areas

8. Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) The main colour of the snake is tan with darker brown patches outlines in black. The tail has five to seven dark rings and is tipped by a grayish- yellow rattle. Length: 2 –3 feet Ontario's only venomous snake Conservation Status: Threatened Provincially and Nationally

9. Snakes of Ontario

10. Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) Carapace (upper shell) is dark brown to black, plastron (under shell) is yellow to tan. Tails include large row of scales Hooked jaw Largest turtle in Ontario Length: 20 – 40 cm Habitat: Lakes, ponds, steams with muddy bottoms

11. Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) The plastron has a design that looks like it is painted (yellow and orange) Head and limbs has yellow or red lines Skin is olive green to black Ontario's most common turtle species Survive without oxygen at 3° C five months (longer than any other known air-breathing vertebrate)

12. Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) Black carapace and bright yellow spots on head, neck, and legs Males have tan chin and brown eyes; females have yellow chin and orange eyes Length: 8 - 12 cm (one of Ontario's smallest turtles) Habitat: Shallow marshes, bogs, beaver ponds and wet woodlands SPECIAL CONCERN (COSEWIC)