Appalachian Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles

Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)

Dave — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:27:49 +0000

Photo © by Dave Huth, some rights reserved. Click image for licensing information.

The Blue-spotted Salamander attains a length as an adult between 4 and 5.5 inches. It is found in moist wooded areas under debris such as rotting logs, vegetation and loose soil. The spotting is generally light blue or white on a dark blue to black background, and the belly is also dark.

The Jefferson Salamander is the only salamander that could be confused with the Blue-spotted by virtue of it also having blue spots, but the Jefferson Salamander’s spots are generally small flecks. The Jefferson Salamander also has a paler background color and light colored belly versus the dark blue/black background color of the Blue-spotted.

These two species hybridize in the parts of their ranges that overlap making identification in these areas difficult. Hybrids tend to reach larger sizes than the Blue-spotted Salamander and have a paler background closer to the Jefferson Salamander. Within hydrid zones check the vent – this is surrounded by black in the Blue-spotted and gray in the Jefferson.

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from the U.S. Geological Survey

Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans)

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 02:09:18 +0000

Northern cricket frog (Maple Flat Ponds, Virginia)
Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Text from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Distribution Map

Characteristics

A northern and upland frog. Dark stripe on thigh often not clean- cut, and it may have ragged edges. Hind leg is short when it is extended. Only the first toe is completely webbed and only 1 1/2 to 2 joints of the 4th longest toe are free. It has a call of gick, gick, gick like two pebbles being clicked together slowly at first then picking up speed.

Distribution

This frog is a piedmont species. It is usually not found in coastal areas except along river valleys and in the sandhills, and it is very local in major valleys in the mountains. It does not occur east of the Suffolk escarpment. This frog prefers open grassy margins of ponds, ditches, and marshy areas.

Foods

Most of the cricket frogs are insectivores.

More Information

For more information, please visit the Virginia Fish & Wildlife Information Service (direct link to species booklet).

Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens)

Dave — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:02:52 +0000

Photo © by Dave Huth, some rights reserved. Click image for licensing information.

Northern leopard frog at Tomahawk Pond, Virginia
Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Photo © by Dave Huth, some rights reserved. Click image for licensing information.

Brief Summary

Slim green or brownish, with well-defined, pale-bordered, oval or round dark spots on back, white to cream below. White stripe on upper jaw. Well-defined, pale dorsolateral folds that are continuous and not angled inward. Voice is a low ‘motorboat’ or snore-like sound interspersed with grunting and chuckling, lasting about 1-5 seconds. Choruses are a medley of moaning, grunting, and chuckling that suggests the sounds made by rubbing a well-inflated rubber balloon. Paired vocal sacs expand over the forelimbs” (Stebbins 1985). There is usually one spot on the head anterior to the eyes. Few or no tubercules on the dorsal and lateral body surface. Mean SVL in males is 68.3 mm (2.7 in) and in females 74.2 mm (2.92 in). The eardrum is without a light center. During breeding season the males have a swollen, darkened thumb base and loose skin between the jaw and the shoulder. Males are usually smaller in size. The tadpole has coarse indistinct mottling on the tail. The distal half of the tail tends to darken approaching metamorphosis.

Color variations include the Burnsi variant, which may be found in either brown or green and does not have any dorsal spots. It has spots or bars on the limbs and may have black stippling on the back and sides. The second variant Kandiyohi, is brown with dashes of white and brown or black. The spots on the back and legs are still discernable, as well as the dorsolateral fold (LeClere).

Found in a variety of habitats, most cold-adapted of all leopard frogs. May forage far from water, when frightened seeks water in a zigzag pattern of jumps. Like most frogs, leopard frogs are sluggish animals, often staying immobile for long periods of time. Sometimes the males call while underwater. They produce a low-pitched snore often followed by a chuckling noise, or a deep urr, urr, urr. They have internal vocal sacs, so their throats do not appear to move when they call. When they move far from a body of water they may absorb dew to keep moist. Hibernates in deep water. Juvenile leopard frogs often cluster together.

Consumes small invertebrates; rarely eats small vertebrates. Larvae eat algae, plant tissue, organic debris, and probably small invertebrates (TNC 1988).

Arizona Game and Fish Department. 2002. Lithobates pipiens. Unpublished abstract compiled and edited by the Heritage Data Management System, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ

[Public Domain] Supplier: Bob Corrigan via eol.org

Jefferson salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum)

Dave — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:28:52 +0000

Photo © by Dave Huth, some rights reserved. Click image for licensing information.

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Photo © by Dave Huth, some rights reserved. Click image for licensing information.

Text from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Characteristics
This is a fairly nondescript salamander with a slender build, a long snout, and long toes. It measures 4 to 7 inches in length. Above, they are dark brown to almost black, with pale blue flecks on the lower sides and limbs. Older adults sometimes lack the blue spots. The belly is much paler than the sides and back. Courtship behavior has shown that this species departs radically from the typical Ambystomid pattern, engaging in a type of amplexus. They naturally breed in vernal or transient pools and mating and egg-laying may be completed in a few nights to a week. The onset of breeding activity is assumed to be triggered by the first early warm spring rains or other conditions of high humidity and temperatures above freezing.

Distribution
This species is found through many areas of Northeastern North America (see map below). It inhabits mixed and deciduous woods with swamps, pools, and slow streams. This species may be abundant on river flats, where it hides by day beneath old logs, bark, or other surface cover. With first warm rains of spring it migrates to woodland ponds to court and spawn.

Foods
It eats small invertebrates.

Description from the U. S. Geological Survey
Extremely long toes and a relatively pointed snout are what set the Jefferson Salamander apart from other salamanders. Their general coloration is a shade of dark gray or brown to black on their dorsal surface. The belly is clearly lighter than the sides. Small bluish spots may be seen, but many individuals are usually devoid of any spots.

The Jefferson Salamander is known to hybridize with the Blue-Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma laterale in the parts of their ranges that overlap making identification in these areas difficult (compare distribution maps). Within hydrid zones check the vent – this is surrounded by black in the Blue-spotted and gray in the Jefferson.

Painted Turtle (Chrysema picta picta)

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:03:18 +0000

Photographed at Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, Maine

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
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Juvenile painted turtle photographed at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, New Hampshire

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Juvenile painted turtle photographed at Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, New Hampshire

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Photographed at Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Text from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Characteristics

The painted turtle is the most common basking turtle observed in Virginia. This is a moderate-sized freshwater turtle that grows to a maximum carapace length of 7.2 inches. It has red markings on the marginal scutes and a notched upper jaw. The carapace is smooth, oval, and flattened, with the highest and widest points at the center. The back edge of the shell is not serrated. The carapace is olive to black with yellow or red borders along the seams and red bars or crescents on the marginals. Juveniles are patterned and colored as adults. The carapace is usually round for the first two years of life and elongation occurs thereafter. This species may be confused with other basking turtles when viewed from a distance. Pseudemys rubriventris and P. concinna lack the two yellow spots on the head, and are usually much larger, and have highly-domed shells compared to painted turtles. T. scripta scripta has distinct indentations along the posterior margin of the carapace and an elongated yellow bar on the side of the head. The introduced red-eared slider (T. s. elegans) has an elongated, reddish patch behind the eye. The painted turtle is most active between March and October, but it may be seen basking on warm winter days. It hibernates under logs or stumps underwater, or in muskrat or beaver lodges. Females nest on land, usually around April, and the eggs incubate for about 75 days.

Distribution

The painted turtle occurs in a variety of aquatic habitats that have permanent, slow-moving water. It inhabits ponds, lakes, ditches, swamps, rivers, creeks and marshes. Preferred habitat has aquatic vegetation, soft substrate, and basking sites.

Foods

This turtle is omnivorous. It has been known to eat beetles, algae, fish, and invertebrates.

More Information

For more information, please visit the Virginia Fish & Wildlife Information Service (direct link to species booklet).

Yellow-bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta)

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:44:47 +0000

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Yellow-bellied slider (right) pictured with Red-eared slider (left)
Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Text from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Characteristics

This is a large freshwater turtle reaching a maximum carapace length of 11.4 inches in the U.S. The carapace (upper shell) is oval, weakly keeled, and olive to brown with yellow markings. Old individuals may be completely black. The rear margin of the carapace is serrated. The plastron (lower shell) is yellow with black markings; usually there are two solid black spots on the rear plastron. There is a vertical yellow line behind the eye and stripes on the neck, arms, and legs. Eggs and nesting females have been found from May through July. There are usually from 10 to 12 eggs, although larger females may lay more. The newly-hatched young remain in the nest until heavy rains loosen the encrusted soil. Mating occurs in spring, fall, and winter months. The activity period is April through October. This turtle is frequently observed basking on banks or logs. These turtles overwinter in water in soft organic substrate, in muskrat burrows, and by simply sitting on the bottom.

Distribution

Trachemys scripta scripta is found in southeastern Virginia in the lower York County-James City County peninsula and south of the James River from the Atlantic Coast westward into Lunenburg and Mecklenburg counties. It inhabits a wide variety of freshwater habitats in southeastern Virginia, from lakes and ponds, to rivers, ditches, marshes, bays, and swamps, and will sometimes enter brackish or salt water. It prefers sites that have an organic substrate, aquatic vegetation, and basking sites.

Foods

This species is omnivorous as an adult and mostly carnivorous as a juvenile. They eat algae, seeds, plants, insects, spiders, crustaceans, tadpoles, fish, and carrion.

More Information

For more information, please visit the Virginia Fish & Wildlife Information Service (direct link to species booklet).

Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:33:00 +0000

Photographed on the Shenandoah, North Fork in Cootes Store, Virginia (click on image to see map)

Photograph © Steven David Johnson (All Rights Reserved)
Contact Steven David Johnson for image licensing

Text from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus)

Characteristics

This species is a small, freshwater aquatic turtle with an oval, high-domed carapace and a large head that usually has two yellowish stripes on each side. The plastron (lower shell) is relatively small and has a single inconspicuous and poorly-developed hinge situated between the second and third pairs of scutes (scales). There are barbels on both the chin and throat and the carapace (upper shell) length is 3-5.5 inches. The carapace is smooth, varying in color from olive-brown to almost black, and is sometimes streaked or spotted with dark markings. Old individuals have head stripes that are less apparent and a carapace that is more elongate. The young are black with light markings on the marginal scutes, and a plastron marbled with black and gray or cream. The eggs are white, elliptical, and vary in size and shape, averaging 3/4 inch by 1 inch, with a thick, brittle shell resistant to desiccation. The breeding season occurs in late May. This species is a weak swimmer that is often seen crawling on mud in quiet water. It seldom leaves the water except to lay eggs. It will hiss, open the mouth threateningly, and often bite when captured.

Distribution

This turtle is believed to occur statewide, with the exception of the Eastern Shore below the upper third of Accomack County. This species is rarely found far from water. It inhabits ponds, lakes, swamps, ditches, streams, and rivers. It is not found in brackish water because it cannot tolerate salt water. This species also prefers waterbodies that have organic substrates and vegetation.

Foods

The stinkpot is omnivorous. It probes the bottom of a stream or pond for food. Food items found in collected specimens include: seed pods, seeds, beetles, moths, dragonflies, crayfish, and freshwater snails and mollusks. It also eats algae, leeches, tadpoles, and fish.

More Information

For more information, please visit the Virginia Fish & Wildlife Information Service (direct link to species booklet).

Allegheny Mountain dusky salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)

Dave — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 06:01:45 +0000

Photo © by Dave Huth, some rights reserved. Click image for licensing information.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davemedia/6243815201

Text from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Characteristics

This species is a member of a complex of five species that are identified primarily by their geographic range. D. ochrophaeus is distinguished from other species in the complex by its somewhat straight stripes along the upper sides and a straight-edged, reddish or light brown stripe down the middle of the back. Spawning occurs mostly in July and August. The nest site is a mud depression or crevice beneath a log or stump, near a seepage or in a muddy streambed. The average clutch is 12 with a range of 3-27 eggs, and hatching occurs in October. Adults are nocturnal, remaining under cover or in recesses by day. They are aggressive, defending their space against other salamanders.

Distribution

This salamander is restricted to forested habitats in southwestern Virginia. Larvae inhabit seeps or slow-moving areas of streams. It generally uses seeps for nesting and hibernation sites, but otherwise is terrestrial. They appear under rocks, leaves, and logs in woodlands

Foods

Larvae feed on small invertebrates. Adults eat a variety of prety items, including adult and immature terrestrial insects, terrestrial worms, other terrestrial invertebrates, aquatic insects, and aquatic snails.

More Information

For more information, please visit the Virginia Fish & Wildlife Information Service (direct link to species booklet).

Northern two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata)

Dave — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:38:52 +0000

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davemedia/6237480764

Description

Adult males are about 67-92 mm in length; females are 61-97 mm. Small, slender body with broad, greenish yellow or orangish dorsum bordered on either side with a dark brown or black stripe, which starts at the snout, widening at the back of the eyes and extends onto the laterally compressed tail. Sides mottled from darkest to lightest when moving towards the yellow venter. Dorsum also has many scattered black spots or blotches. There are about 13-16 costal grooves (Bishop 1943; Petranka 1998).

The sides of the female head are almost parallel back of the eyes, converging to a bluntly rounded snout. The male head widens back of the eyes with a snout somewhat swollen in the area of the nasolabial grooves and sometimes small blunt cirri below the nostrils. The long diameter of the eyes is about equal to the length of the snout. Small, oval tongue with a central pedicel. Irregular line of vomerine teeth and parasphenoid teeth in elongate separate patches (Bishop 1943; Petranka 1998).

Breeding males have unicuspid and elongated teeth relative to bicuspid teeth of females. Male has premaxillary teeth that often pierces male’s lip. Unicuspid teeth replaced with typical bicuspid teeth when breeding season ends (Petranka 1998).

Hatchlings and older larvae are dusky colored with six to nine pairs of light dorsolateral spots on body. Streamlined body with tail fin stopping near insertion of rear limbs. Usually light-colored venter with many iridophores. Large larvae from extreme northern parts of the range sometimes have dark colored throats and bellies (Petranka 1998).

Distribution and Habitat

Southeastern Canada to Gulf Coast and west to Louisiana, Arkansas, and Illinois; elevations from sea level to 2000 m. Found beneath rocks and logs by small, rocky streams or seeps and in forest floor far from running water. During breeding season, can be found beneath submerged rocks and debris in streams (Petranka 1998).

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

Courtship: Male noses other animals nearby until he encounters a female, which may then be stimulated to follow him and pick up spermatophores, a gelatinous base capped with an elongate head (Bishop 1943). Aggressive courting males will attempt to drive off intruding rival males (Petranka 1998).

Eggs: Females lay unpigmented or white to pale yellow eggs with a diameter of 2.5-3 mm. Clutch size positively correlates with size of female. Two envelopes surround the eggs; the outer one is drawn out to form an attachment disk (Bishop 1943). Sometimes in the same place as others, a female attaches eggs singly to lower surface of a support in running, but rarely stagnant water. Ovipositional sites usually attended by at least one adult through hatching. Incubation period is about 4-10 weeks, depending on temperature of water (Petranka 1998).

Larvae: In an aquatic environment, hatch with yolk reserves and most likely do not start feeding until yolk is mostly resorbed. Often live in the slow moving pools of streams; rarely in fast currents unless drifting. Mostly benthic feeders, hunting stream bottoms or over rocks for prey such as isopods, amphipods, chironomid larvae, and zooplankton. Larval period length is about 2-3 years; tends to be longer in northern than southern populations (Petranka 1998).
In a terrestrial environment, live along stream margins and surrounding forests, making seasonal migrations to and from breeding streams. Juveniles and adults both feed on prey such as wood roaches, spiders, ticks, earthworms, isopods, millipedes, beetles, snails, and flies (Petranka 1998).

Defense: Adults will actively defend home shelters by aggressive posturing or biting. Predators include owls, snakes, and fish. Most E. bislineata become immobile when contacted by snakes but will engage in protean flipping and flight when contacted by the snake’s tongue. The decision to stay or flee depends on the individual’s physical abilities. Can also autotomize the tail when attacked by snakes (Petranka 1998).

Relatively common species and requires minimal protection. Like other species of salamanders, sensitive to intensive timbering, land clearing, stream pollution, and stream siltation. Avoids urban areas or highly disturbed land and soils with low pH (Petranka 1998).

Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:17:31 +0000

Text from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Characteristics

This is a freshwater turtle ranging between 5-8 inches (record=11-3/8 in). The most distinguishing characteristic for this species is an elongated, broad red stripe behind the eyes. This is fainter in females and may be completely obscured in hatchlings. The carapace (upper shell) is a yellowish-green with yellow stripes running vertically down the pleural scutes. They also have black blotches on the plastron (lower shell) and horizontal yellow stripes on the rear of the thighs. The males of this species are subject to melanism which turns the entire turtle black as it ages. Mating will occur in any season but summer. Nesting probably occurs April-July. Sliders in general are frequent baskers who pile on top of each other if “hauling out” sites are few. They are very wary and will slide into the water at the slightest provacation.

Distribution

Established populations of T.s. elegans are known in several areas of Virginia, especially near the larger urban areas of Fairfax and Richmond. No natural populations have been found north of the York-James peninsula.

Foods

This species is omnivorous as adults and mostly carnivorous as juveniles. They have been known to eat the following: tulip tree seeds, nuscadine grapes, freshwater mollusks, and beetles. Other items include algae, insects, crayfish, tadpoles, fish, and carrion.

More Information

For more information, please visit the Virginia Fish & Wildlife Information Service (direct link to species booklet).