Reptiles and amphibians RNR lab

What is the family of the American Alligator

Alligatoridae

What is the genus of the American Alligator

Alligator

What is the species of the American Alligator

mississippiensis

Native southeastern U.S. alligator found in wetlands and smaller lentic habitats (nasal disc breathing)

American Alligator

5 toes in front, 4 back, dorsal scutes; dimorphic, ♂ larger, to 4.8 m, 450 kg, 50+ yrs

American Alligator

What has dorsal scutes

American Alligator

Generalist carnivore, crepuscular/nocturnal sit and wait predator at water's edge, engulfing or drowning/tearing

American Alligator

♂ bellowing, substantial courtship behavior, highly territorial; ♀ builds nest after mating, 35-90 eggs, covered with vegetation, 65-d

American Alligator

Temperature-dependent sex determination; >34 C ♂, <30 C ♀, ♀ larger at hatching, and grow faster early, fitness advantage

American Alligator

Tunneling, brumation (reptiles and amphibians) in winter

American Alligator

What is the family of the Alligator Snapping Turtle

Chelydridae

What is the genus of the Alligator Snapping turtle

Macrochelys

What is the species of the Alligator snapping turtle

temminckii

Large aquatic turtle with 3 dorsal ridges on the carapace, long neck, powerful jaws; to 1 m, 115 kg, 40+ yrs; ♂ larger

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Where is the Alligator Snapping Turtle 3 dorsal ridges located

carapace

Generalist scavenger/carnivore, turtles, fish, mammals, pink undulating tongue used to "fish"

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Maturity at 11-13 yrs, annual or bi-annual clutches, polygynandrous; ♀ builds nest 30-cm deep nest ~50 m from water 2 mo after spring mating, 8-50 eggs, 100 to 140-d incubation; no parental care

Alligator Snapping Turtle

T-dependent sex determination; <24 C and > 27 C ♀

Can stay submerged for 40-50 min, prefer areas with cover and overhead canopy

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Why is the Alligator Snapping Turtle listed as vulnerable

exploitation and habitat impacts

nesting success may be naturally low; restricted, protected, or of conservation concern throughout range

Alligator Snapping Turtle

What is the Family name of the Red eared Slider

Emydidae

What is the genus of the Red eared slider

Trachemys

What is the species of the red eared slider

scripta elegans

Lentic turtle with low dorsal keel

Red-eared Slider

♂ smaller with longer tail, characteristic red slash behind the eye; to 40 cm, 3 kg, 30 yrs

Red-eared Slider

Generalist herbivore (90%) as adult, afternoon feeding underwater, duckweed, water hyacinth, invertebrates

Red-eared Slider

Maturity at 2 (♂) and 5 (♀) yrs; ♂ swims in front of ♀ and vibrates claws on head and neck prior to mating

Red-eared Slider

Brumation when To < 10C, will emerge to bask during warm periods, active in March in the south

Red-eared Slider

Commonly domesticated species, salmonellosis a common problem with inadequate sanitation

Red-eared Slider

What is the problem with the Red-eared Slider

salmonellosis

Often released in novel habitats, listed among the world's top 100 invasive species

Red-eared Slider

What is the family of the Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

Trioncyhidae

What is the genus of the Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

Apalone

What is the species of the Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

spinifera spinifera

One of 6 subspecies of lotic/lentic turtles

Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

What compared to the Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle is also in LA

Pallid SST (A. s. pallida)

soft, ridged carapace without scutes; tubular snout; marginal spine locations, color patterns variable among subspecies; ♂ smaller (24 cm) than ♀ (53 cm) with longer tail; to 12 kg, 50 yrs

Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

Generalist predator, aquatic insects, crayfish, fish

Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

Maturity at 8-10 yrs; polygynandrous; 1+ clutches/year; spring mating, ♀ digs a 10-cm deep nest in sandy soil near water in June/July; 4-32 eggs, 60 to 90-d incubation; no parental care

Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

Brumation in deep water, cutaneous, pharyngeal respiration

Handle with care

Northern Spiny Softshell Turtle

What is the family of the Gopher Tortoise

Testudinidae

What is the genus of the Gopher Tortoise

Gopherus

What is the species of the Gopher Tortiose

polyphemus

Terrestrial burrowing tortoise native to longleaf pine and dry oak sandhills

Gopher Tortoise

broad head, domed carapace, unhinged plastron

Gopher Tortoise

What type of scutes do Gopher Tortoises have

gular scutes

scaled, broad front legs; ♂ smaller, to 39 cm, 6.8 kg, 60 yrs

Gopher Tortoise

Generalist herbivore/frugivore

Gopher Tortoise

Maturity at 10-20 yrs; 1 clutch/year; spring mating (♂ head bobbing), ♀ digs 15-cm deep nest in sandy soil (heat from sun important) from April to July; 5-9 eggs, 80 to 90-d incubation; high egg/juvenile mortality (90%)

Gopher Tortoise

Burrowing activity critical as a keystone (foundation) species, many burrows a year, up to 3 m deep and 12 m long, home to 360+ species of vertebrates and invertebrates

Gopher Tortoise

Significant threats from development/habitat loss

Gopher Tortoise

What is the family of the Louisiana Pine snake

Colubridae

What is the genus of the Louisiana Pinesnake

Pituophis

What is the species of the Louisiana Pinesnake

ruthveni

Nonvenemous habitat-specific constrictor

Louisiana Pinesnakea

What is the Louisiana Pinesnake closely related to

Bullsnake, P. catenifer

interocular (usually) and postocular (sometimes) band; < 42 dark blotches along the body (bull snake > 50), scale counts differ; to 1.8 m, 4.5 kg, 30+ yrs

Louisiana Pinesnake

Semi-specialist gopher predator; 60% of time spent underground in burrow systems

Louisiana Pinesnake

What is the name of the underground burrow systems of the Louisiana Pinesnake

Baird's Pocket Gopher Geomys breviceps

Maturity at 3 yrs; extremely low reproductive rate; oviparous, 3-5 eggs (5x12 cm), neonates 45-53 cm

Louisiana Pinesnake

IUCN endangered due to restricted distribution, declining abundance within fragmented populations

Louisiana Pinesnake

What is the family of the Water Moccasin

Viperidae

What is the genus of the Water Moccasin

Agkistrodon

What is the species of the water moccasin

p. piscivorus

Nominotypical subspecies (3 subspecies; size, post-ocular band) of venomous aquatic snake

Water Moccasin

triangular head with blunt snout distinct from neck, fangs small, scales keeled

Water Moccasin

loreal pit obvious; ♂ larger; to 1.7 m, 4.6 kg, 10+ yrs

Wate Moccasin

Generalist predator of terrestrial and aquatic prey

Water Moccasin

Maturity at 3 yrs; annually monogamous (?, male competition), 1 litter/year; April-May mating, placental gestation for 150 d, litter size ~8, up to 20; neonates stay with ♀ for a few days

Water Moccasin

juveniles highly colored (yellow tail used as lure)

Water Moccasin

Swimming with much of body above waterline

Water Moccasin