Herpetology species 2

Plethodon mississippi - Mississippi slimy salamander

Habitat: wet areas, woodlands

Distinguishing features: black body & speckled white dots

Siren intermedia - Lesser siren

Habitat: aquatic

Distinguishing features: long, eel-like body, small eyes, has only front limbs, external gills

“Siren” = siren or mermaid; “intermedia” = in between

Anaxyrus fowleri - Fowler’s toad

Habitat: forests, prairies, urban/rural areas

Distinguishing features: cranial crests contact paratoid glands, highly variable

“Anaxyrus” = king of chief

Anaxyrus americanus - American toad

Habitat: forests, prairies

Distinguishing features: cranial crest connected to paratoid glands by spurs, spotting on venter, 1-2 warts in largest blotches, large warts on tibia

Terrapene carolina - Eastern box turtle

Habitat: woodlands, grasslands, savannas

Distinguishing features: 3 subspecies

1.Eastern subspecies —> dark colored carapace w/ large blotches

2.Gulf coast subspecies—> dark colroed carapace w/ small blotches

3.Three-toed subspecies—> light-colored carapace & brownish red skin

Apalone spinifera - Spiny softshell

Distinguishing features: flattened and skin-covered……..

Scincella lateralis - Ground skink

Habitat: woodlands, swamps, urban/rural areas

Distinguishing features: small size, long body, small limbs, lateral bar on body

“Scinc” = lizard; “ella” = little; “lateralis” = of the side

Plestiodon fasciatus - Common five-lined skink

Habitat: woodlands, swamps, urban & rural areas

Distinguishing features: 4 labial scales, 2 post-labial scales, wide center row of ventrocaudal scales

“Plestio” = most; “fasciatus” = bearing stripes

Pantherophis spiloides - Gray ratsnake

Habitat: woodlands, grasslands, U/R areas

Distinguishing features: long, gray-brown body, dorsal row of blotches, ventral checkered pattern

“Panther” = panther; “ophis” = snake; “spilo” = spot; “ides” = similar to

Diadophis punctatus - Ring-necked snake

Habitat: woodlands & grasslands

Distinguishing features: small size, grey body, *orange ring around neck, checkered belly