Herpetology

1. Herpetology What is it?

2. Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians

3. Why study herpetology? Important implications for conservation, research and education Amphibians are excellent bio-indicators for environmental quality and change. Snake venom is proving to be very useful to the medical field (dissolving blood clots in heart attack and stroke victims).

4. Types of Amphibians Frogs Toads Salamanders Caecilians

5. Amphibians as Bio-indicators Because amphibians absorb water through their skin, they are often the first to suffer the effects of water or environmental pollution. Nearly 1/3 (32%) of amphibians worldwide are threatened Nearly 168 species are believed to have gone extinct 43% of species are in decline

6. Major reasons for decline: Habitat destruction Chytridiomycosis (a fungal disease) Other factors: Introduction of non-native species Over-exploitation (pet trade) Climate change; amphibians are very sensitive to small temperature changes, which can affect their breeding habits, reproduction and immune response UV-B radiation (due to decreases in stratospheric ozone layer) Chemical contaminants (pesticides, heavy metals, acidification and nitrogen based fertilizers)

7. Amphibians: Means “double life” Have gills and lungs Are cold-blooded Most lay soft, gel-covered eggs (exceptions include the Fire Salamander, some African Toads and most species of Caecilians) Are vertebrates Many have toxic secretions as defense

8. Common Salamanders of Shenandoah River State Park

9. Spotted Salamander

10. Jefferson Salamander

11. Dusky Salamander

12. Red-backed Salamander

13. Marbled Salamander

14. Valley and Ridge Salamander

15. Slimy Salamander

16. Four-toed Salamander

17. Newts: All newts are salamanders, but not all salamanders are newts. Newts have three distinct life stages Aquatic larvae (tadpole) Terrestrial adult (eft): 1 to 3 years Aquatic adult (newt)

18. Red-spotted Newt (adult)

19. Eft (juvenile Red-Spotted Newt)

20. Salamander Life Cycle Egg Larvae Juvenile Adult

21. Salamander Biodiversity: Salamanders can be aquatic, terrestrial, or a mixture of both. Living in diverse habitats cause different species to use different types of respiration. Types of Respiration: External gills Lungs Skin/cutaneous respiration (all salamanders can do this)

22. Aquatic Habitat: Larvae are born in water using external gills Juveniles and adults breathe through external gills if retained, skin if not Breathing through skin requires constant moisture, easy if aquatic (example: Mudpuppy)

23. Terrestrial Habitat: Most terrestrial salamanders lay eggs in the water that hatch into aquatic larvae that later crawl out on land. A few species lay eggs on land that hatch into juveniles. Juveniles and Adults breathe through skin and lungs if present If lungs are lacking the salamander must live in a moist area to breathe through its skin (ex.: Spotted Salamander)

24. Semi-Aquatic: Larvae are born in water and breath through external gills Juveniles crawl out on land and breathe using lungs. Adults return to the water using skin to breathe, and occasionally venture on land using lungs. (example: Eastern Red Spotted Newt)

25. What they Eat: Mostly insects, however, any animal they can fit in their mouth is fair game (including smaller salamanders!) Aquatic salamanders use chemical signals to track prey Terrestrial salamanders use vision to detect movement What Eats Them: Birds and snakes on land Fish and turtles in the water

26. Salamander eggs have a firm, outer jelly coating that encases the eggs. These are Spotted salamander eggs.

27. Common Frogs and Toads of Shenandoah River State Park

28. American Bullfrog

29. Green Frog

30. How to tell the difference…

31. Pickerel Frog

32. Southern Leopard Frog

33. Differences between the two Pickerels have a double row of spots on their backs Southern Leopards have irregular spots and a white spot on the eardrum

34. American Toad

35. Fowler’s Toad

36. Easy way to tell the difference…

37. Wood Frog

38. Spring Peeper

39. Northern Cricket Frog

40. Gray Treefrog

41. Upland Chorus Frog

42. Life cycle of Frogs and Toads

43. On frog eggs, you can easily see the contour of each individual egg on the outside of the mass. This is a Pickerel Frog egg mass.

44. Toad eggs

45. Reptiles

46. Reptiles are vertebrates. Reptiles are covered in scales or have scutes. Reptiles breathe with lungs. Most reptiles lay hard-shelled eggs. Some reptiles, like pit vipers, give birth to live young. Almost all reptiles are cold-blooded. ( One exception is the leatherback sea turtle, which can regulate its body temperature to some degree.)

47. Snake Characteristics Snakes have clear scales over their eyes so they do not have eyelids for blinking or closing their eyes. Snakes do not have ears so they do not hear as we do. They feel vibrations. Snakes use their tongues for smelling using the Jacobson’s organ The pits on venomous snakes detect thermal infrared radiation. The pits respond to subtle thermal fluctuations in the environment and allows for an accurate measurement of the distance of a heat source. Non-venomous snakes do not have fangs, but have rows of pointed backward-curved teeth A snake’s jaws can come apart so that they can eat large prey. Snakes will shed their skin several times a year as they grow.

48. Venomous Snakes in Virginia

49. Northern Copperhead

50. Timber Rattlesnake

51. Water Snakes Northern Water Snake Queen Snake

52. Black Racer Eastern Ratsnake

53. Eastern Hognose Snake

54. Northern Ring-necked Snake

55. Rough Green Snake

56. Eastern Worm Snake

57. Milk Snake

58. Eastern Garter Snake

59. Common Ribbon Snake

60. Northern Red-bellied Snake

61. Eastern Smooth Earth Snake

62. Northern Brown Snake

63. Red Corn Snake

64. Turtle Characteristics Do not have teeth Usually omnivores Lay eggs and leave them. Many eggs are eaten by predators, such as raccoons, skunks, coyotes, dogs, crows and snakes. Box turtle populations are in decline due to habitat loss, road mortality and collection by humans.

65. Aquatic Turtles Eastern Snapping Turtle

66. Eastern Painted Turtle

67. Eastern Musk Turtle

68. Wood Turtle (endangered)

69. Red-bellied Cooter

70. Spotted Turtle (High conservation need)

71. Box Turtle (terrestrial)

72. Lizards of the Park Common Five-lined Skink

73. Broad-headed Skink Skinks differ from other lizards in that they have shorter limbs and do not have a defined neck.

74. Eastern Fence Lizard