Herpetology species quiz 3

Crotalus adamanteus - Eastern diamondback rattlesnake

Habitat: sandy pine forests and savannas

Distinguishing features: diamond-shaped pattern on the back, racoon-like bands on tail until rattle —> yellow coloration

Pantherophis guttatus - Red cornsnake

Distinguishing features: blotched patterns, largely red or orange; rust-colored body; long and slender; dark labial bars; “piano key” black ventral bars

Pseudacris crucifer - Spring peeper

Habitat: wet woodlands, various water bodies

Distinguishing features: prominent “X” on back; dark eye mask; visible toe pads

Plestiodon laticeps - Broad-headed skink

Habitat: woodlands, swamps, urban and rural areas, semi-arboreal

Features: large orange prominent in males, females more striped; 5 labial scales, enlarged mid-ventral scale row on tail

Ambystoma maculatum - Spotted salamander

Habitat: wet forests and swamps, ephemeral pools

Features: chunky body, black or grey coloration, yellow spots

Thamnophis sirtalis - Eastern gartersnake

Habitat: woodlands, grasslands, urban areas

Features: bolder labial bars, dark stripes more checkered pattern

“Thamno” = shrub; “sirtalis” = like a garter

Graptemys flavimaculata - Yellow-blotched map turtle

Habitat: aquatic, rivers, creeks, oxbows

Features: yellow blotches on the carapace, serrated vertebral scutes, small head, yellow stripes along head, neck, limbs, and tail

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis - Hellbender

Habitat: aquatic, cold, clear rocky flowing water bodies

Features: flat body; flat, wide head; small limbs; brownish color; multiple skin folds; paddle-shaped tail

Agkistrodon piscivorous - Northern cottonmouth

Habitat: wetlands, lowland water bodies, bottomland features

Features: darkly colored; broad bands; prominent white or light pink mouth; young have yellow tail

Dryophytes chrysoscelis - Cope’s gray treefrog

Habitat: semi-terrestrial, around water bodies, woodlands, human areas

Features: warty skin, orange to yellow inner thighs, mottled green or gray coloration, light spot under eye