1. Herpetofauna: Season by Season
Compiled by the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory
This lesson goes through what amphibians and reptiles are doing and which species can be found during each season.
Photos by Pierson Hill and Aubrey Heupel
Eastern Hognose Snake
Green Tree Frog
Photos by J.D. Willson, K Cecala, M.E. Dorcas, Pierson Hill, A. Heupel, Eric Stein, Wayne Van Devender, Tom Luhring, John White

2. What do amphibians and reptiles do during the winter?
Some Hibernate
Spend part of the cold season in an inactive state
Who Hibernates?
Snakes
Turtles
Frogs
Salamanders
Photos by J.D. Willson
Common Garter Snake
Eastern Box Turtle

3. Why hibernate? Protection from cold Less food resources
Low energy requirements
Bullfrog
They need protection from the cold since their body temp is determined by the surrounding air temp (they could freeze if they don’t hibernate)
Since other animals are hibernating and there are fewer plants during winter they have less food resources
They in general have relatively low energy requirement (compared to say mammals and birds) so they can go for a long time without a meal
Photos by J.D. Willson (2), and Erik Stein
Worm Snake
Eastern Mud Turtle

4. Where do they hibernate?
Frogs: Bottom of ponds, under leaves, burrow under ground
Snakes: Alone or in groups
Use holes, burrows, termite mounds, cracks in rock walls, etc.
Turtles: Burrow into dirt or mud
Salamanders: Under logs, leaves or in burrows
Photos by J. D. Willson, Wayne Van Devender, Kristen Cecala
Ringneck Snakes
Marbled Salamander

5. But some species are active in winter
Frogs can be winter breeders
Spring Peeper
Call on warmer, wetter nights and during the day starting in January
Stream Salamanders can be active
Water temps can be warmer than air
Dusky Salamander
Very common and can be found year round
Spring Peeper calling
Photos by Tom Luhring and J.D. Willson
Dusky Salamander

6. Spring means breeding season!
Southern Leopard Frog Egg Mass
Many Frogs breed
Pickerel Frog, Southern Leopard Frog, Green Tree Frog etc.
Salamanders breed
Reptiles come out of hibernation and breed
Southern Leopard frog (photo by Aubrey Heupel)
Glossy Crayfish Snake (Photo by J.D. Willson)
Southern Leopard Frog
Glossy Crayfish Snake

7. Bull Frog Common in ponds and lakes Males call after heavy rains
Largest frog in the NC Piedmont area
What do they eat?
One example of a spring breeding frog is the bull frog
They eat anything they can catch – insects, other frogs, small snakes, even records of them eating birds and baby alligators!!
Top and Bottom Left (Photos by J.D. Willson), Bottom Right (Photo by John White)

8. Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole
Life cycle of a frog
Upland Chorus Frog
Egg Mass
Frog Eggs (Photo by J.D. Willson), Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole (Photo by J.D. Willson), River Frog Metamorph (Photo by J.D. Willson), Cricket Frog (Photo by K. Cecala), Cricket Frog (Photo by Aubrey Heupel), Upland Chorus Frog (Photo by J.D. Willson)
Hatch, Tadpole, Metamorph, Juvenile, Adult calling, Amplexus and breeding, Egg Mass
Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole
Cricket Frog calling
Cricket Frog
River Frog Metamorph

9. Spotted Salamanders Wetland salamanders
Breed in temporary ponds and wetlands
Warm early spring rains bring many salamanders to the ponds
Lay 200 eggs!
An example of a species which breeds in the spring
Photos by J.D. Willson

10. Eastern Hognose Snake Mate in Spring Lays 5-500 eggs in June or July
Eggs hatch in 2 months and look just like smaller adults
Hognose Snakes have the upturned nose to dig for their favorite food… toads!
Can mate in spring or sometimes fall
Photos L-R: Wayne Van Devender, Pierson Hill, J.D. Willson

11. Many reptiles and amphibians are active in the summer!
Summer is the warmest season
Sun provides warmth
Other animals provide food
Some frogs are still breeding
Bullfrogs, Spadefoot toads, Grey Tree Frogs
Reptiles are most active
Spadefoot Toads
Spadefoot Toads (Photo by Aubrey Heupel)
Grey Tree Frog (Photo by K. Cecala)
Eastern King Snake (Photo by J.D. Willson)
Grey Tree Frog
Eastern King Snake

12. Worm Snake Very common and abundant Lays eggs in early summer
Hatch in late summer
Usually found when digging or under logs or mulch
Left – Photo by Wayne Van Devender, Right – Aubrey Heupel

13. Black Rat Snake One of the BIGGEST snakes in the U.S. Live near humans
Largest are over 8 feet
Live near humans
Non-venomous and non-threatening
Active during the day
Eat rats, birds, and squirrels
How do they kill and eat their prey?
Squeeze prey to death by constricting it and then swallow it whole
Photos by J.D. Willson

14. Box Turtle Common residents of the woods in the Southeastern U.S.
Males have red eyes, females have brown eyes
Eat a variety of plants and animals
Live for a very long time – for 50 years or more!
photos by J.D. Willson
Box turtles

15. In fall some salamanders breed
Marbled Salamanders
Females lay eggs in areas that become puddles when it rains
Guard eggs until they get covered by water and hatch
Give juvenile salamanders a head start on growing so they can be bigger than other salamanders in the spring!
Top 2 photos by K. Cecala, bottom photo by J.D. Willson
Marbled Salamanders

16. Snakes are most abundant in the fall!
Snakes are more common in the fall than in any other season
Most snakes are born between July and September
Many baby snakes are around and going to find their first meals
Adults move around looking for good places to hibernate
Ringneck (photo by Wayne Van Devender)
Black rat snake – photo by J.D. Willson
Juvenile Black Rat Snake
Ringneck Snake

17. The year ends… and starts over again
In the fall many amphibians and reptiles find their homes to hibernate for the winter.
And then the whole process starts over again!
All photos by J.D. Willson
Smooth Earth Snake
Fowler’s Toad
Green Anole

18. Any Questions?
Photo by J.D. Willson
Spring Salamander