Herps of VT

Bufonidae, Anaxyrus americanus

American Toad

American Toad habitat

Overwinter underground, moist hiding places, breed in shallow water, widespread throughout VT (S5)

Bufonidae, Anaxyrus fowleri

Fowler’s Toad

Fowler’s Toad habitat

Overwinter underground, breed in shallow water, moist hiding places, rare in VT (S1)

Ranidae, Lithobates catesbeianus

American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog habitat

Large, permanent bodies of water, emergent vegetation, lowlands, relatively common in VT (S5)

Ranidae, Lithobates clamitans

Green Frog

Green Frog habitat

Permanent water, emergent vegetation, underwater brumation, widespread in VT (S5)

Ranidae, Lithobates septentrionalis

Mink Frog

Mink Frog habitat

Still, permanent, cold bodies of water, primarily aquatic, underwater brumation, found in Northeast Kingdom (S3)

Ranidae, Lithobates pipiens

Northern Leopard Frog

Northern Leopard Frog habitat

overwinter in permanent water, breed in floodplains and marshes, forage in wet meadows and fields, common in Champlain River Valley

Ranidae, Lithobates palustris

Pickerel Frog

Pickerel Frog habitat

upland areas with dense vegetation, cooler temporary or permanent water, overwinter in caves, found throughout VT (S5)

Ranidae, Lithobates sylvaticus

Wood Frog

Wood Frog habitat

Boreal and temperate forests and wetlands, breed in vernal pools, frogsicle brumation, found throughout VT (S5)

Hylidae, Hyla versicolor

Gray Treefrog

Gray Treefrog habitat

Moist deciduous woodlands, swamps, frogsicle brumation, breed in still water, found throughout VT (S5)

Hylidae, Pseudacris crucifer

Spring Peeper

Spring Peeper habitat

Moist wooded areas, grasslands near water, breed in vernal pools, freeze-tolerant brumation, found throughout VT (S5)

Hylidae, Pseudacris maculata

Boreal Chorus Frog

Boreal Chorus Frog habitat

Wet/grassy marshes, damp forests, breed in shallow still water, frogsicle brumation, only found in Northwest corner of VT (S1)

Chelydridae, Chelydra serpentina

Snapping turtle

Kinosternidae, Sternotherus odoratus

Eastern musk turtle

Emydidae, Graptemys geographica

Northern map turtle

Emydidae, Clemmys guttata

Spotted turtle

Emydidae, Glyptemys insculpta

Wood turtle

Emydidae, Chrysemys picta

Painted turtle

Emydidae, Trachemys scripta

Red-eared slider

Trionychidae, Apalone spinifera

Spiny softshell

Salamandridae, Notopthalmus viridescens

Eastern Newt

Eastern Newt life history

Red efts (juveniles) live on land for years, adults change color and return to water to breed, lay their eggs individually on underwater vegetation, aquatic or terrestrial brumation

Eastern Newt habitat

Hardwood forests near permanent water, breed in beaver ponds, marshes, lakes, etc., common throughout VT except NE Kingdom (S5)

Ambystomatidae, Ambystoma jeffersonianum

Jefferson Salamander

Jefferson Salamander life history

Spends most of its life underground, hybridizes with blue-spotted (the Jeff complex), lays loose masses of 10-40 eggs

Jefferson Salamander habitat

Summer and overwinter in upland forests, breed in vernal pools, sensitive to acidity in breeding pools (S2)

Ambystomidae, Ambystoma laterale

Blue-spotted Salamander

Blue-spotted salamander life history

Spends most of its life underground, lays single gelatinous eggs, hybridizes with Jefferson Salamanders (the Jeff complex)

Blue-spotted Salamander habitat

Lower elevation vernal pools, flood plains, marshes, and swamps, scattered populations throughout VT (S3)

Ambystomidae, Ambystoma maculatum

Spotted salamander

Spotted Salamander life history

Spends most of its life underground, lays egg masses of 20-250, can live for 20 years

Spotted Salamander habitat

Summer and overwinter in upland hardwood and mixed forests, breed in vernal pools (S5)

Plethodontidae, Plethodon cinereus

Eastern Redbacked Salamander

Eastern Redbacked Salamander life history

Entirely terrestrial, direct development, lays eggs under logs and guards nest

Eastern Redbacked Salamander habitat

Hardwood and mixed wood forests, deep leaf litter, not found in acidic soils (coniferous woods) (S5)

Plethodontidae, Hemidactylium scutatum

Four-toed Salamander

Four-toed Salamander life history

Lays 15-60 eggs in moss or debris near water, sometimes communal nests, rapid larval development, overwinters underground sometimes in mixed species groups

Four-toed Salamander habitat

Moist and dry woodlands, forests adjacent to swamps (S2)

Plethodontidae, Eurycea bislineata

Northern Two-lined Salamander

Northern Two-lined Salamander life history

Lays masses of 10s of eggs on underside of river rocks, communal nesting, long larval stage, overwinters in running water or in terrestrial habitat

Northern Two-lined Salamander habitat

Stream-associated, found in wet soil or under cover in and around strems (S5)

Plethodontidae, Desmognathus fuscus

Northern Dusky Salamander

Northern Dusky Salamander life history

Egg mass of 40 eggs is laid in moist mosses and is guarded by female, long larval period, overwinters in streams or deep soil

Northern Dusky Salamander habitat

Stream-associated, rocks, logs, and debris for shelter, may share habitat with Northern two-lined and spring salamanders (S5)

Plethodontidae, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus

Spring Salamander

Spring Salamander life history

One egg mass of up to 130 eggs is laid on the underside of rocks in streams, long larval period, overwinters in streams but may be active year-round

Spring Salamander habitat

Well-oxygenated, cold, clear mountain streams or springs, will feed on land near streams at night (S4)

Proteidae, Necturus maculosus

Mudpuppy

Mudpuppy life history

50-100 eggs laid under rocks, logs, etc. and guarded by female, larval characteristics persist for life, active year-round

Mudpuppy habitat

Spend most of their time at depths of up to 60 feet, may move upstream or to shorelines to lay their eggs (S2)

Snapping turtle life history

TSD, females lay 20-80 round eggs on land, very defensive when on land

Eastern musk turtle life history

TSD, 1-9 oval eggs laid close to water’s edge, almost entirely aquatic

Northern map turtle life history

TSD, 8-19 oval eggs laid on shoreline, bask in large groups but almost entirely aquatic

Spotted turtle life history

TSD, 3-7 eggs laid in open areas, prefers shallow marshes and wetlands

Wood turtle life history

GSD, 3-20 eggs laid in gravel bars near water or in grasslands or sandy shores, exhibit worm stomping behavior

Painted turtle life history

TSD, 3-14 eggs laid in nests near water, often found in ponds and slow-moving streams, loves to bask

Red-eared slider life history

TSD, 3-20 eggs laid in sandy or soft soil near water, commonly found in ponds, lakes, and rivers, known for their aquatic habits and basking behavior

Spiny softshell life history

GSD, 4-32 spherical eggs laid in full sun on shorelines, super speedy in water, buries in sand with tube nose sticking out for breathing

Snapping turtle habitat

Still, slow-moving bodies of water with soft bottoms, enjoys emergent vegetation (S5)

Eastern musk turtle habitat

Shallow, weedy, still water, limited to scattered locations in Champlain Basin (S2)

Northern map turtle habitat

Mostly found in Lake Champlain and major tributaries, VT is the only New England state to have them (S3)

Spotted turtle habitat

Enjoys shallow water, emergent vegetation, occupies many different wetland types — only documented in three VT counties (S1)

Wood turtle habitat

Inhabits streams and rivers, feeding on land and forest nearby, overwinter in water, widespread in VT but not common in any one place (S3)

Painted turtle habitat

Aquatic turtle, likes to bask on rocks and logs, found in soft-bottomed ponds and lakes with emergent vegetation (S5)

Red-eared slider habitat

Still, warm, shallow waters with soft bottom and emergent vegetation

Spiny softshell turtle habitat

Entirely aquatic, only found in the northeast corner of Lake Champlain (S1)

Scincidae, Plestiodon fasciatus

Common five-lined skink

Common five-lined skink habitat

Oviparous, nest in logs or abandoned burrows, females guard nest until hatching, only found in western Rutland county (S1)

Colubridae, Thamnophis sirtalis

Common gartersnake

Common gartersnake habitat

Viviparous, communal mating, often found in wetlands, grasslands, and forests — likes sun for basking (S5)

Colubridae, Thamnophis saurita

Eastern ribbonsnake

Eastern ribbonsnake habitat

Viviparous, found in pastures, open fields, open woods, always near water (semi-aquatic) (S2)

Colubridae, Diadophis punctatus

Ring-necked snake

Ring-necked snake habitat

Oviparous, possibly nocturnal/crepuscular, found in warm, exposed areas with lots of natural cover (S4)

Colubridae, Storeria dekayi

DeKay’s brownsnake

DeKay’s brownsnake habitat

Viviparous, possibly noctural/crepuscular, spend most of their time underground, found in overgrown, wet meadows and rocky woods (S4)

Colubridae, Storeria occipitomaculata

Red-bellied snake

Red-bellied snake habitat

Viviparous, possibly nocturnal/crepuscular, found in woodlands with sunny openings and abundant cover (S5)

Colubridae, Opheodrys vernalis

Smooth greensnake

Smooth greensnake habitat

Oviparous, TSD, found in beaver meadows, fields, and pastures (S3)

Colubridae, Lampropeltis triangulum

Eastern milksnake

Eastern milksnake habitat

Oviparous, communal brumation, found in old fields, stone walls, buildings, ledges, etc. (S5)

Colubridae, Nerodia sipedon

Common watersnake

Common watersnake habitat

Viviparous, excellent swimmers, found in lowland wetlands with vegetation and rocks (S3)

Colubridae, Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Eastern ratsnake

Eastern ratsnake habitat

Oviparous, communal brumation, avid climbers, found in and around old buildings, barns, and old fields, ideally near rocky areas and ledges (S2)

Colubridae, Coluber constrictor

North American racer

North American racer habitat

Oviparous, found in open pastures, power line trails, in meadows, and near rocky ridges (S1)

Viperidae, Crotalus horridus

Timber rattlesnake

Timber rattlesnake habitat

Viviparous, only breeds every 3-6 years, found in western Rutland county only (S1)