BIOL 477 Species Recognition Quiz 8

Regina rigada (Glossy Crayfish Snake)

35.6-77.5cm

Shiny dark brown or olive dorsum with faint darker stripes

Cream or orange lips

Ventral surface with two rows of black crescents

Keeled dorsal scales

Regina septemvittata (Queen Snake)

38.1-86.4cm

Slender with small head

Keeled scales

Dark brown dorsum sometimes with 3 vague black stripes

Yellow lips

Yellow stripe along the lower sides scale rows 1 and 2

Yellowish ventral surface with a dark stripe along each side

Tantilla coronata (Southeastern Crowned Snake)

20.3-30.5cm

Black or dark brown head and "collar" distinct from rest of dorsum

White or light-colored stripe between head and "collar"

Tan or reddish-brown dorsum

Ventral surface white or yellow

Nerodia erythrogaster (Red-Bellied Watersnake)

76-122cm

Varying shades of brown and gray

Bright red to yellow unpatterned ventral

Keeled scale

Cloacal plate divided

White patch on chin

Nerodia fasciata (Banded Watersnake)

56-107cm

Light brown to reddish to black coloration

Crossbands that are wide in the middle and narrow out towards the sides

Squarish spots on the side of the belly

Black line going from eye to angle of the jaw

Nerodia sipedon (Northern Watersnake)

61-106.7cm

Typically, darker in color with brown, tan, and gray variations

Square blotches on back and sides, side squares smaller

Divided cloacal plate

Belly markings usually include reddish half-moons

Nerodia taxispilota (Brown Watersnake)

76-152cm

Light to dark brown

Alternating rows of squarish blotches on dorsum and sides

Yellow venter, darkly mottled

Lampropeltis calligaster (Mole Kingsnake)

76.2-116.8cm

Small, dark blotches on a tan, or reddish dorsum

Yellow to white venter

Markings dull with age, absent in older males

Lampropeltis getula (Eastern Kingsnake)

90-122cm

Black with bright white or yellow chainlike markings

In outer banks areas, are brownish with conspicuous light stippling in the dark areas between the patterns

Lampropeltis triangulum (Milk Snake)

61-114.3cm

Large red, brown, or gray body blotches

Pale Y, U, or V shaped pale markings behind head, going into first blotch

Lampropeltis elapsoides (Scarlet Kingsnake)

36-51cm
Red snout and red and yellow (or white) bands separated by black bands (unlike Coral)
Bands extend to venter (unlike Scarlet)

Ophisaurus ventralis (Eastern Glass Lizard)

45-108cm

Dark green dorsal coloration with lateral black lines from head to tail

Yellow ventral coloration with white markings on their necks and dorsal sides

Tail length is often twice SVL

Lateral grooves on body that expand for breathing

Lacking middorsal dark stripe and longitudinal lines below lateral grooves and tail

Ophisaurus attenuatus (Slender Glass Lizard)

56-118.1cm

More slender body than glass lizard

Pronounced lateral grooves that span the length of their body

Narrow dark longitudinal lines below lateral grooves and tail

Dorsal scales present a dark crossbar pattern

Each crossbar consists of a small white band bordered by large black and brown bands

Large middorsal stripe that spans the length of the body

Ophisaurus mimicus (Mimic Glass Lizard)

38-66cm

Much smaller than both the Slender Glass Lizard and Eastern Glass Lizard

Usually light or tan brown and can be found with and without pale or dark speckling

Dark brown or black middorsal stripe present weakly anteriorly more distinct posteriorly

3-4 dark stripes or rows of spots above the lateral grooves that are separated by male stripes

Scincella lateralis (Ground Skink)

7.5-14.6cm

Bronze, brown, or reddish dorsum with lighter venter

Darker spotted pepper flaking on dorsum

Dark stripe running through the eye and body, starting at the edge of the snout to near the end of the tail

Plestiodon fasciatus (Five-Lined Skink)

12.5-21.5cm

Range from black with gold to bronze with red heads or uniform bronze

Five lines running down the body, stopping ~1/3rd of the way down the tail (faded to entirely absent in adult males)

Hatchlings, juveniles, and adult females have bright blue tails (may be faded in adults)

Enlarged subcaudal scales

Only 4 labial scales

Plestiodon laticeps (Broad-Headed Skink)

16.5-32.4cm

Range from black with gold to bronze with red heads or uniform bronze

Five lines running down the body, stopping ~1/3rd of the way down the tail (faded to entirely absent in adult males)

Hatchlings, juveniles, and adult females have bright blue tails (may be faded in adults)

Enlarged subcaudal scales

5 labial scales

Plestiodon inexpectatus (Southeastern Five-Lined skink)

14-21.6cm

Range from black with gold to bronze with red heads or uniform bronze

Five lines running down the body, stopping ~1/3rd of the way down the tail (faded to entirely absent in adult males)

Hatchlings, juveniles, and adult females have bright blue tails (may be faded in adults)

Tail scales are uniform in size

Plestiodon anthracinus (Coal Skink)

12.5-17.8cm

Bronze to brown with lighter lines (two on each side). Males may develop a reddish/orange head

Broad black stripe running laterally that is 2.5-4 scales in width

Only one postmental scale

Anolis carolinensis (Green Anole)

12.5-20.3cm

May appear completely green, green and brown, or completely brown

Males have a throat fan, could be bright pink

Green anoles occasionally have a ridge or short crest along their neck and back

Elongated head

Pointed snout

Lips and belly white

Sceloporus undulatus (Eastern Fence Lizard)

10-18.5cm

Most commonly grayish in color, but may range from nearly black to brown

Dark indistinct wave-like markings

Females with some blue, males have prominent blue patches on their chin and sides of belly

Aspidoscelis sexlineatus (Six-Lined Racerunner)

15-24cm

Brown, greenish brown, or blackish in color

Six light yellow or white stripes down its back

Males' bellies washed with blue

Tail is long and slim

Dorsal scales are tiny granules while belly scales are large, quadrangular, and in 8 regular rows

Very fast