Spring 2004

Pennsylvania's Herpetofauna(Translation: Our state’s reptiles & amphibians)

• Frogs & Toads 16 species

• Salamanders 22 “

• Turtles 13 “

• Lizards 5 “

• Snakes 21 “

Salamanders

Salamander Life Cycle

Spermataphores

Salamander Eggs

Salamander Larvae

Balancers on larval ambystomid

Salamandridae

Red-spotted NewtNotopthalmus viridescens

Red Eft

Adult Newt

AMBYSTOMATIDAE

Jefferson SalamanderAmbystoma jeffersonianum

Jefferson Salamander

AMBYSTOMATIDAE

Spotted SalamanderAmbystoma maculatum

Ambystomatidae

Marbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum

Ambystomatidae

Eastern Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma tigrinum

Plethodontidae

Northern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus

Plethodontidae

Mountain Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus ochrophaeus

Plethodontidae

Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus

Plethodontidae

Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus

Plethodontidae

Four-toed SalamanderHemidactylum scutatum

PLETHODONTIDAE

Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata

Two-lined Salamander

Plethodontidae

Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus

Plethodontidae

Northern Red SalamanderPseudotriton ruber ruber

Frogs and Toads

Toad Topography

Frog Topography

Anatomy

Pelobatidae: Spadefoots

Eastern Spadefoot ToadScaphiopus hobrooki

Bufonidae: Toads

Warts: one or two in each large spot.

Three+ in each large spot.

American ToadBufo americanus

Fowler’s ToadBufo foweleri

Hylidae: Tree Frogs

Gray & Cope’s Tree FrogHyla versicolor and Hyla chrysocelis

Spring PeeperPseudacris crucifer

Hear Me!

Ranidae: True Frogs

BullfrogRana catesbeiana

Green FrogRana clamitans

Pickerel FrogRana palustris

Leopard FrogRana pipiens

Wood FrogRana sylvatica

Snakes

Scales

Anatomy: Anal Plate

Pennsylvania Snakes belong to two families:

• Colubridae

• Viperidae

Poisonous or Venomous?

Massasauga

Eastern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorous

Not found in Pennsylvania

Northern Water SnakeNerodia sipedon

Queen SnakeRegina septemvittata

Turtles

Turtles•All lay eggs on land

•No parental care

•In PA

•10 genera

•13 species & subspecies

carapace

plastron

Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina

•long tail

•serrate carapace (may be worn)

•reduced, cross-shaped plastron

Stinkpot or Musk TurtleSternotherus oderatus

•domed carapace

•3-4 inches in length

•emit foul musk from upper shell border

•slow, shallow streams & rivers

E. Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum

Extirpated? Removed from PA Endangered list

Spotted TurtleClemmys guttata

•Yellow spots on dark carapace

•marshes, bogs, wooded swamps

Wood TurtleClemmys insculpta

•sculpted carapace

•terrestrial

•formerly a ‘meat turtle’

Bog TurtleClemmys muhlenbergi

E

Blanding’s TurtleEmydoidea blandingi

Candidate species

E. Box TurtleTerrapene carolina

Map TurtleGraptemys geographica

Painted TurtleChrysemys picta

Redbellied TurtlePseudemys rubriventris

TT

Spiny Softshell TurtleApalone spinifera

Smooth SoftshellApalone mutica

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That’s All Folks!