Herpetology Lab

What is this

Dryophytes versicolor

Gray tree frog

Not assessed

Family Hylidae

Tree Frog

For my reference: found on Manitoulin Island

Colour may vary depending on environment conditions but usually born, grey, and green

Toe pads are large

Dark strip runs from behind the eye to the front leg

Found in trees and shrubs

Inside legs are orange

What is this

Pseudacris crucifer

Spring peeper

Not assessed

Family Hylidae

Very small

Tree Frog

Loud call despite its size

X on back --> crucifer

What is this

One on right:

Pseudacris triseriata

Western chorus frog

Not at risk

Lines on back

Brown, gold, grey, orange, green

Upper lip has a white stripe

One on left:

Pseudacris maculata

Boreal Chorus frog

Not assessed

Tree Frog

Looks similar to Pseudacris crucifer but does not have X on back

Has spots

Boreal has fewer frogs in high latitude in the north

Hind limbs are short

brown or grey gold, orange, green with dark stripes or splots

There is a black line that goes around face through the eyes like a triangle.

What is this

Acris blanchardi

Blanchard's cricket frog

Extripated from Ontario

Family Hylidae

Tree Frog

Mostly aquatic

Spots on back

Has a green line splot on bWhat ack

Warty projections on back

Has a triangle blotch on head

Bellies are white

Found Pelee Island in Lake Erie

What is this

Lithobates sylvaticus

Wood frog

Not assessed

Family Ranidae

Has a dark mask on face

White line on upper lip

Found in grass and lawns

They do not freeze and tolerates the cold

Dorsolateral ridge present

Dark brown, light brown, and bronze and orange in colour

What is this

Lithobates pipiens

Northern leopard frog

Not at risk

Family Ranidae

Very common

Very green or brown

Dorsolateral folds on back

Spots

Random pattern

White belly and under legs

What is this

Lithobates palustris

Pickerel Frog

Not at risk

Family Ranidae

Spots are rectangular or square

2 distinct rows on back

Dorsolateral folds on back

Yellow under legs

What is this

Lithoabtes septentrionalis

Mink frog

Not at risk

Family Ranidae

White and yellow bellies

Green and brown colours

Dark blotches over rear legs

Dorsal ridges extends to over half the length of body

Have a musk odour when disturbed

What is this

Lithobates clamitans

Green frog

Not assessed

Family Ranidae

Tapanum is larger than eye

green, olive, brown colour

Dorsolateral ridge extends over half the length of the back

Upper lip is yellow to light green

Belly is white

Males have yellow throats

Top of thighs have crossbands

What is this

Lithobates catesbeianus

Bullfrog

Not assessed

Family Ranidae

Dorsolateral folds are around the tamanum instead of down the body

Summer breeding

Yellow throats

Biggest frog specimen in North America

Eats everything: frogs, snakes, birds, etc

Green, love, or yellow, brown

Belley may be pure white or mottles grey.

Crossbands but may be blotched on some individuals.

What is this

Anaxyrus americanus

American toad

Not assessed

Family Bofonidae

Warts are always in 1-2 within each black spot on back

Brown, beige, yellow, red, green with brown or black flecks and spots

Paratoid gland is present behind eye

What is this

Anaxyrus fowleri

Fowler's toad

Endagered

Family Bofonidae

Grey, tan, brown, grey colour

Brown or black flecks and spots

Within each large black spot on the back there are 3 warts present

Paratoid gland is present behind eye

Belly is white or cream with no or little grey marking

What is this

Ambystoma maculatum

Spotted salamander

Not assessed

Family Ambystomatidae

Short bodied

Dark grey, brown, or black colours

2 rows of bright yellow spots running down the back and tail

The belly and lower sides are grey

Young one doe not have large yellow spots yet.

What is this

Ambystoma texanum

Small-mouthed salamander

Endangered

Family Ambystomatidae

Sploty spots and blotchy

Small headed

Short snout

Grey, grey-blue or white flecking

Belly is dark grey with some blue motting

Asexually

Females have multiple sets of chromosomes

14-16 costal groovesAmbAmbystoma ystoma

What is this

Ambystoma laterale

Blue spotted salamander

Not assessed

Family Ambystomatidae

Large tale which is 40% of body length

Lots of blue spots

13-14 coastal grooves

They are subtarainial when they are not breeding

Dark grey to black colour

What is this

Ambystoma jeffersonianum

Jefferson's salamander

Endangered

Family Ambystomatidae

Less blue spots

Long snout and toes

12-14 costal grooves

Grey to brown in colour with blue spots on body

What is this

Ambystoma tigrinum

Eastern tiger salamander

Extripated

Family Ambystomatidae

Black with yellow to olive blotches spots and strips

Head is broad

Rounded snout and small eyes

Tail is laterally compressed

Some species in the US has external gills and lives aquatic lives

What is this

Plethodon cinerus

Eastern Red-backed Salamander

Not assessed

Family Plethodontidae

Red or black dorsal line

Belly is grey

7-9 costal grooves

Lay eggs on land until they hatch into mini adults

They are erythristic (black and sides bright red) colour variations are occasionally found

Body is slender with a long tail and small legs

Have 2 phases: redback and leadback

What is this

Hemidactylium scutamum

Four-toed salamander

Not at risk

Family Plethodontidae

4 toes on rear feet

White belly with black spots

Nose looks weird

They drop their tails when scared or feel threatened

Red-brown to gold colouring

Small black flecks across the back, tail, head and sides

What is this

Eurycea bislineata

Northern Two-lined salamander

Not assessed

Family Plethodontidae

15-16 costal grooves

Yellow, green, or tan strip running down the body

Strip may contain black flecks

Strip is outlined by a thin black line on each side

Belly is cream to yellow

Found by fast flowing streams where their body is adapted to the flowing stream

Slender body with short legs

What is this

Desmognathus ochrophaeus

Allegheny mountain dusky

Endagered

Family Plethodontidae

Back legs are bigger than the front legs

V-shape markings on back

Red, dark brown side body

Dark or light flecks may be on upper body

Head is broad

Belly is grey to brown with light and dark flecks

Tail is round

What is this

Desmognathus fuscus

Northern dusky

Endangered

Family Plethodontidae

Does not have V-shape on back

Tail is lateral compressed

Found in Niagra

Grey and brown colouring

Grey, yellow, brown, red, or green strip running down the length of body

Dark or light flecks are visible across body

White to grey belly with grey or white flecks on it

Older individuals may appear darker

Head is broad

Back legs are larger than front ones

What is this

Gyrinophilus porphyriticus

Northern Spring salamander

Data deficient

Family Plethodontidae

Yellow, brown, pink, red, orange colour with grey mottling

Snout its square

Laterally compressed tail with ridge

What is this

Notophthalmus viridescens

Eastern red-spotted newt

Not assessed

Family Salamandridae

Red spots with black boarder

Yellow and black spots on belly

Eggs will hatch into a juvenile phase or into a larva phase

Tail is laterally compressed

In breeding, the males back legs are enlarged

During the red eft stage individuals are bright red, orange, olive or brown

When they are older they are brown

NO COSTAL GROOVES

What is this

Necturus maculosus

Mudpuddy

Special concern

Family Proteidae

Large head and flat

External gills

Spotted

Found in rivers, lakes, and streams

Active in winter

Belly is grey, cream, or yellow with dark spots

Legs are small

Tail is laterally compressed

Fully aquatic

What is this

Storeria dekayi

DeKay's Brownsnake

Not assessed

Family Colubridae

Small

2 rows of black spots on body that is outlining/bordering a lighter beige dorsal stripe

Blue belly

They are hard to find

Body is grey-beige in colour

Dark bar begin either side of the head

Small dark blotch beneath the eye can be ssen

Found in urban environments beneath wood, rocks or leaves

if threatened they may flatten its body to appear larger and release an odorous fluid from its cloaca

Scales are keeled

What is this

Storeria occipitomaculata

Red-bellied snake

Not assessed

Family Colubridae

Small

Bright red bellies

Dorsal background can be grey, brown, or red

4 dark stripes are present dorsally and laterally

Small head

Under chin is white

If threatened may flatten its body to appear larger, expose its red belly or release an odours fluid from its cloaca

Found in forests, fields, rocky areas

Eats inverterates

Ontarios smallest snake

Scales are keeled

What is this

Diadophis punctatus

Northern Ring-necked snake

Not assessed

Family Colubridae

Bright yellow belly

White ring around head/under head

Lays eggs in the summer

Found in moist environments

Active at night

If threatened they may release an odorous flood from its cloaca and writhe if handled

Scales are smooth

What is this

Regina septemvittata

Queensnake

Endangered

Family Colubridae

Brown, olive, or grey colouring

Cream coloured lateral stripes that run the length of body

Belly is cream to yellow and cam become grey to tan with age

If threatened they may release a foul-smelling fluid from its cloaca and if captured it will keep withering

Feeds mainly on moulted crayfish

Snales are keeled

Big eye

What is this

Thamnophis sirtalis

Eastern gartersnake

Not assessed

Family Colubridae

Cream to yellow strip under belly

Mating call in the spring

3 light cream to yellow strips on body

Background of body is grey, olive, black or brown

Single strip is located mid-dorsally with a srtip on each side

Some may lack these strips and can have a checkerboard pattern

if threatened it may flatten its body to appear larger and release an odorous fluid from its cloaca

Scales are keeled

What is this

Thamnophis sauritus

Eastern Ribbonsnake

Special Concern

Family Colubridae

Small

Yellow with black strips down body

What is this

Thamnophis butleri

Butler's Gartersnake

Endagered

Family Colubridae

Feeds on earth worms

3 light cream to yellow strips on body

Background of the body is bloc or brown

Belly is tan to yellow often bordered with brown

Head is small and blunt

May have a light spot in front of the eye

When threatened it will flatten its body to appear larger and release an odorous fluid from its cloaca

Scales are keeled

What is this

Coluber contrictor foxii

Blue Racer Snake

Endangered

Family Colubridae

Blueish colour with grey or brown

Belly is cream, grey, or blue-grey

Racoon style eyes

They do not constrict their prey despite its name but it does swallow its prey whole

Found on Pelee Island

If threatened they will vibrate its tail, release a foul-smelling fluid from its cloaca, assume a defensive strike position and actively defend itself if grasped

Speed/Fast

Scales are smooth

What is this

Opheodrys vernalis

Smooth Green Snake

Not assessed

Family Colubridae

Smooth scales

They turn blue when the die

They retain their eggs for a long time so the babies grow bigger faster

Its green with green-yellow lips, throat, and chin

Belly is white to cream

When they die they turn blue

They are very passive species but if threatened they may release a foul-smelling fluid from its cloaca

Found basking on shrubs, grasses, and ferns

What is this

Nerodia spiedon spiedon

Northern Watersnake

Not at risk

Family Colubridae

Very keeled scales

Belly is cream to light orange with half-mooned shapes

Very aggressive

Gives birth to live children (viviparous)

Background colour is brown to grey with numerous brown, black, or rust-coloured blotches on body

The anterior of body is saddle-shape

Young are boldly patterned while old adults may appear mostly solid dark brown or black from a distance

Often mistaken for water moccasin

It is harmless to humans but will actively defend itself if handled or barrages, it will flatten its body to appear bigger and release an odours fluid from its cloaca

What is this

Nerodia spiedon insularum

Lake Erie Watersnake

Special concern

Family Colubridae

Found in Lake Erie

Background colour is grey, grey-brown or olive

Dark grey to light tan blotches may or may not be present on the length of body (this depends on individuals)

If there are blotches they are on the anterior portion of the body and is a saddle-shaped marking

Belly is cream to light yellow with varying amounts of flecking

if threatened they may flatten its body to appear larger, release an odorous fluid from its cloaca, and if handled it will actively defend itself

Feeds on round body in the great lakes

Scales are keeled

What is this

Lampropeltis traingulum

Eastern milksnake

Not at risk

Family Colubridae

Y-shape on head

grey to light brown background colour

Large, dark-bordered red or brown blotches along the back that alternating with smaller blotches along the sides

Spots may be saddle-shaped

White to cream belly has a black checkerboard pattern (juveniles may lack this)

Excellent climber

Found in basements of old homes to escape cold temperatures

They do not drink cow's milk as old folks tales suggest but is found around barns

if threatened this species will vibrate the tip of its tail, release a foul smelling liquid from its cloaca, assume a defensive strike position, and actively defend itself

Scales are smooth

What is this

Heterodon platirhinos

Eastern Hog-nosed Snake

Threatened

Family Colubridae

Colour and pattern are variable in this species

Large dark blotches along the back altering with smaller blotches along the sides

Background colour can be grey, green, yellow, orange, or black

Some adults have a solid dorsal colour of brown, olive, grey, or black

Belly can be cream or yellow with diffused with grey moltting

The snout is upright and looks like a triangle head

Heavy bodied snake with a short tail

Eats primarily toads

Master of fakery

If threatened will fire neck similar to of a cobra, vibrate its tip of its tail, release a foul-smelling liquid from its cloaca, assume a defensive strike position, gape its mouth, hiss loudly, strike with a closed mouth, and fake death in dramatic writhing form

Scales are weakly keeled

DIFFERENT HEAD

What is this

Pantherophis vulpinus

Eastern Fox Snake

Endangered/Threatened

Family Colubridae

Yellow to brown background colour

Large dark blotches along the back with smaller blotches on the side of body

Belly is cream to yellow with black checkerboard pattern

Head of an adult is copper brown

Young snakes have a grey to tan background colour with dark bordered, red-brown blotches.

Found in Great Lakes Basin

If threatened it will vibrate the tip of its tail, release a foul-smelling lipid from its cloaca, assume a defensive strike position and actively defend itself.

Kills prey by suffocation

Scales are weekly keeled

What is this

Pantherophis spiloides

Gray Ratsnake

Endangered/Threatened

Family Colubridae

Very long

Dorsal colour is glossy black

When it gets older remnants of lighter blotches of grey, white, or diffuse orange markings can be observed between scales

The throat, chin and lip scales are white

The belly is cream, white, yellow, or grey with a checkerboard pattern

Ontario's largest snake

If threatened it will vibrate its tail, release a foul-smelling fluid from its cloaca, and actively defend itself

It kills its prey by suffocating it

Scales are weakly keeled

What is this

Crotalus horridus

Timber Rattlesnake

Extripated

What is this

Sistrurus catenatus

Massasauge Rattlesnake

Endangered/Threatened

What is this

Plestiodon fasciatus

Five-lined skink

Blue tail

5 black lines down body

Yellow under lines

What is this

Chelydra serpentina

Snapping turtle

Special concern

Family Chelydridae

Broad and slightly domes carapace

Shell colour ranges from light brown to black with algae

The reduced plastron is cream to yellow in adults and black to cream in juveniles

Skin is grey, brown or black

Large head may be patterned with brown and black

Long tail with triangular dorsal projections

What is this

Sternotherus odoratus

Stinkpot/Eastern musk turtle

Special concern

Family Kinosternidae

Carapace is keeled and highly domed

Carapace is tan, cream, olive, or black with black flecks

Plastron is small, creamy to black in colour

Hinge present on plastron

Skin colour may be pink, grey, light brown or black with light striping and dark flecks

Under chin there are small fleshy projections (tubercles)

Their hatchlings are the smallest worlds species

They walk on the bottom of lakes and stuff

What is this

Apalone spineifera

Spiny softshell turtle

Endangered

Family Trionychidae

Flat shell

Shell is green with yellow border

Shell also has darker green spots with black outline

Plastron is white or cream with small blood vessels visable

On top, the legs and tails are green with yellow and black stripes, blotches and flecks

On bottom, legs are white or grey

They have long necks with dark border, yellow lines along each side of head

Snout is long and tubular

What is this

Glyptemys insculpta

Wood turtle

Endangered

Family Emydidae

Upper shell is keeled

On each Shute of shell the raised concentric growth rings are from age and time

The carapace colour is mustard yellow to cream with a black block on each shute

Legs and tails are grey to brown with large amount of orange on the forelegs and neck

Head is black and orange with gold flecking

What is this

Clemmys guattata

Spotted turtle

Endangered

Family Emididae

Straight line shell

Domed carapace

Carapace is black with small white, yellow, or orange spots

Plastron is orange to cream in colour with a black blotch on each scute

Legs and tail are grey to black with varying amounts o yellow, orange, and white spots

Males have a tan to black chin while females have a yellow to orange chin and eyes

What is this

Emydoidea blandingii

Blanding's turtle

Threatened

Family Emididae

Highly domes carapace

Carapace is brown to black with white to yellow spots line or flecks

The hinged plastron is cream to yellow with a black blotch on each scute

The skin of the legs and tail ranges from grey to black with large amounts of yellow on the forelegs

Yellow chin and neck

Skin has yellow dots on the black skin

Males have a concave plastron and a longer, more robust tail than the adult females

What is this

Graphemes geographica

Map turtle

Special concern

Family Emididae

Carapace is green to brown with yellow contoured line (like a map)

A keel is present on the midline of carapace

Plastron is a pink/cream to yellow colour

Skin is green with yellow lines

Beneath the eye there is a yellow spot

Adult females are much biggeEmydoidea blandinr than males

Females have a large, wide head

What is this

Chrysemys picta marginata

Midland painted turtle

Not at risk

Family Emididae

Smooth and oval carapace

Colour of carapace is love to brown with red barring and blotches on the margin and bridge of the shell

Plastron is cream to yellow with an elongated grey to black botch in the center

Skin is green with red and yellow stripes

Adult males have a less-domed carapace, longer tails and longer front claws

What is this

Chrysemys picta bellii

Western painted turtle

Not at risk

Family Emididae

Smooth oval carapace

Range of colour from olive to brown to varying amounts of red barring and blotches

Web-like pattern on each scute

Plasteron is generally cream, yellow, pink, or red with a large black/grey blotch in the centre

Skin is green and with yellow stripes on neck and head

Adult males have a less-domed carapace, longer tails, and longer fore claws

What is this

Terrepene carolina

Eastern box turtle

Extripated

Family Emididae

Carapace is highly domed and keeled but smooth with age

Pattern on shell is dark brown to black on the background, but the pattern varies of yellow and orange

Its plastron is hinged and is tan to black

Tail and legs are black to brown with yellow, red, or orange markings

On an adult the head is black to brown with patterns with yellow, orange or red spots

Males have a slight concavity on plastron and longer tails

What is the call group and description of Wood Frog calls

Croak

Croak in like beeps

Rhythmic

Choppy

Sounds like a duck quacking

What is the call group and description of Spring Pepper calls

Peep

High peeping

What is the call group and description of Chorus Frog calls

Trill

Finger on Comb

What is the call group and description of American Toad calls

Trill

Long Trip

Constant

What is the call group and description of Fowler’s Toad calls

Trill

Yelling at you

What is the call group and description of Leopard Frog calls

Croak

Long call

Multiple notes in call in form of croaking

Sounds like a woodpecker

What is the call group and description of Pickerel Frog calls

Croak

Burp

Creaking door

What is the call group and description of Gray Tree Frog calls

Trill

Angry red squirrel

Like a bird

What is the call group and description of Bullforg calls

Twang

Arirplane driving by

‘ja-ga-rum’

What is the call group and description of Mink Frog calls

Twang

Old car starting

What is the call group and description of Green Frog calls

Croak or Twang

Loose banjo strings

Stop and go croak

How do you observe Fundamental frequency (FF) (kHz)

It is the lowest frequency of the call

How do you observe the Dominant Frequency (DF) (kHz)

Where the majority of the sound is at

Like where it stays consistent

How do you observe Frequency Modulation (FM)

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How do you observe Harmonics (kHz)

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How do you observe Band Width (kHz)

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How do you observe Amplitude Modulating

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How do you observe Call Length (s)

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How do you observe Note Length (s)

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How do you observe Pulse Rate (pps)

PR = # pulses / # seconds = ? pulses / 1 second

How do you observe Rise time (s)

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How do you observe Decay time (s)

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