Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetofauna Compiled by the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory Eastern Hognose SnakeGreen Tree Frog Edited for Virginia by Mike Clifford, Virginia Herpetological Society

Amphibians and Reptiles Ectothermic Ectothermic Regulate temperature from outside sources Regulate temperature from outside sources Water temperature Water temperature Basking Basking Yellow-bellied Slider Northern Watersnake

Amphibians and Reptiles Cryptic Cryptic Very abundant but their presence is largely unknown Very abundant but their presence is largely unknown Timber Rattlesnake Northern Copperhead

Amphibians and Reptiles Important to the ecosystem Important to the ecosystem An important prey item for: An important prey item for: Raccoons, opossums, birds Raccoons, opossums, birds An important predator of: An important predator of: Mice, rats, insects Mice, rats, insects Spring Peeper Spring Salamander Ringneck Snake Green Salamander

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

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

Frogs Tadpoles when they are born Tadpoles when they are born Lose their tails as adults Lose their tails as adults Two main types: Two main types: True Frogs True Frogs Tree Frogs Tree Frogs Toe-pads Toe-pads Bronze Frog Spring Peeper Metamorph Grey Tree Frog Green Tree Frog Upland Chrous FrogPickerel Frog

Toads Similar to frogs Similar to frogs Tail-less as adults Tail-less as adults Warty skin Warty skin Have large glands behind each eye that secretes toxin Have large glands behind each eye that secretes toxin Fowler’s Toad American Toad

Salamanders Plethodontids: Don’t have lungs and must breathe entirely through their skin Plethodontids: Don’t have lungs and must breathe entirely through their skin Ambystomatids: Have lungs, but can also breathe through their skin Ambystomatids: Have lungs, but can also breathe through their skin Salamanders can lay eggs in: Salamanders can lay eggs in: Streams Streams Wetlands Wetlands Soil Soil Marbled Salamander Two-lined SalamanderSpring Salamander

Caecilians Live in the tropics Live in the tropics Leg-less and blind Leg-less and blind Look very similar to a worm Look very similar to a worm Caecilian

Amphibian Life Cycle Upland Chrous FrogFrog Eggs Spring Peeper Cricket Frog Spring Peeper Metamorph Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole

Amphibian Defense Mechanisms Poison in skin Poison in skin Toads and Newts Toads and Newts Producing large numbers of offspring Producing large numbers of offspring Producing noisy squawks when attacked Producing noisy squawks when attacked Green Frog Tadpole American Toad Red-Spotted Newt

Reptiles Eastern Painted Turtle Copperhead Five-lined Skink 62 species in Virginia from 3 groups (30 snakes, 10 lizards including one introduced, 22 turtles) 62 species in Virginia from 3 groups (30 snakes, 10 lizards including one introduced, 22 turtles) Antarctica the only continent without reptiles Antarctica the only continent without reptiles Snakes have no legs, but still tetrapods Snakes have no legs, but still tetrapods Evolutionary loss of legs Evolutionary loss of legs Boas still maintain a pelvic girdle Boas still maintain a pelvic girdle

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

Crocodilians American Alligator – not native to Virginia but is found just to the south in North Carolina American Alligator – not native to Virginia but is found just to the south in North Carolina American Alligators

Turtles Vertebrae incorporated into shell Vertebrae incorporated into shell Have a beak instead of teeth Have a beak instead of teeth Omnivorous Omnivorous Temperature sex determination Temperature sex determination Found in a variety of habitats: Found in a variety of habitats: Marine Marine Freshwater Freshwater Terrestrial Terrestrial Box Turtle Eastern Painted Turtle Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Snapping Turtle

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

Snakes 30 species in Virginia 30 species in Virginia 3 venomous species 3 venomous species Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake. Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake. Most species are non- venomous Most species are non- venomous Black Rat Snake – non-venomous Scarlet Kingsnake – non-venomous Ringneck Snake – non-venomous Copperhead - venomous

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

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

Snake Defense Mechanisms Crypsis: Staying camouflaged Crypsis: Staying camouflaged When detected: When detected: Flee, musk, gape, rattle Flee, musk, gape, rattle When these do not work, snakes may strike When these do not work, snakes may strike This occurs only when a snake feels threatened and has no other option to protect itself This occurs only when a snake feels threatened and has no other option to protect itself Cottonmouth Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Eastern Hognose Snake Brown Watersnake

Conservation Many amphibians are in decline Many amphibians are in decline 32% of amphibians endangered versus 12% of birds or 23% of mammals 32% of amphibians endangered versus 12% of birds or 23% of mammals 43% of amphibian populations are declining 43% of amphibian populations are declining Few populations are known to be increasing Few populations are known to be increasing Eastern Kingsnake Red Salamander Grey Tree Frog

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

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

Questions? Corn Snake