IDENTIFICATION GUIDE Snakes & Turtles of Kemptville District1].… · Keeled Scales - Snakes’...
Transcript of IDENTIFICATION GUIDE Snakes & Turtles of Kemptville District1].… · Keeled Scales - Snakes’...
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Snakes & Turtles
of Kemptville District
IDENTIFICATION GUIDE
© Karma Williams
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Table of Contents
TURTLES
Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)………………..
Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus)…………..
Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata)...
Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)…………
Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)………….
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentinea)…………………
Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera)………………………..
Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)………………………….
SNAKES
DeKay’s Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)………………….
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)…..
Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)………….
Grey Rat Snake (Pantherophis spiloides)………………...
Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)……………………
Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)……..
Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)…………..
Rind-necked Snake (Diadophis punctuatus edwardsi)..
Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis)……………..
GLOSSARY
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Blanding’s Turtle
Emydoidea blandingii
OMNR Threatened
SARA Threatened
COSEWIC Threatened
© Zach Kilgore
Protruding
eyes
© Brian A. Day
Size: 12.5 - 18 cm
Habitat: Semi-aquatic;
hibernates under or
near water, in mud or
under vegetation or
debris
Threats: Habitat
fragmentation and
destruction; nest
predation
Note: Yellow chin and
throat fades post-mortem
High domed
carapace
Yellow
plastron with
dark blotches
Flexible
grooved
hinge to
protect head
and legs
Black to greyish-brown
carapace with
yellowish spots or streaks
Bright yellow
chin and
throat
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Eastern Musk Turtle
Sternotherus odoratus
OMNR Threatened
SARA Threatened
COSEWIC Threatened
© John White
© John White
Size: 5 - 11.5 cm
Habitat: Almost
entirely aquatic.
Majority of time spent
in shallow, heavily
vegetated waters of
slow moving creeks, or
in ponds
Threats: Pet trade;
habitat degradation
Small, yellow-
brown
plastron
Smooth, light
olive to black,
high domed
carapace
Hinged to
protect the
head
Two light
stripes on each
side of the head
Barbels (fleshy
projections)
on chin and
throat
Releases a
musky odour
when handled
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Midland Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta marginata
© Blake Matheson
OMNR -
SARA -
COSEWIC -
Size: 11.5 - 14 cm
Habitat: Favour quiet,
shallow waters that
contain lots of dense
vegetation.
Behaviour: Can often
be found basking in the
sun in groups.
Hibernates during winter
by burying itself in mud
in the bottom of a body
of water or shore bank.
Orange-red
margins on
carapace
Yellow plastron
with central
blotch or
shadow,
variable in
darkness
Smooth, olive
to brownish-
grey
carapace
Neck, legs and
tail striped
with red and
yellow
© Douglas Mills
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Northern Map Turtle
Graptemys geographica
© Michael
OMNR Special Concern
SARA Special Concern
COSEWIC Special Concern
© Vandermeulen
Male Size: 9 - 16 cm;
Female Size: 18-28 cm
Habitat: Lives in large
lakes and rivers; often
congregates to bask
and hibernate
Threats: Human
disturbance; habitat
destruction; decline in
preferred prey species
with incline of zebra
mussels
Rear margin of
carapace
serrated
Olive green to
brownish
carapace
Yellow
plastron
Numerous fine
yellow lines on
carapace,
resembling
contour lines
on a map
Slightly raised
keel down centre
of shell
Yellow spot
behind each
eye
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Red-eared Slider
Trachemys scripta elegans
OMNR -
SARA -
COSEWIC -
© Massimo Lazzari
© Michal Maňas
Size: 20 - 33 cm
Habitat: Semi-aquatic
Behaviour: Named so
due to their ability to
quickly slide off rocks
and logs into water
*** Non-native species
to Ontario. Often sold
in pet stores. Do NOT
release into wild.
Red spot
behind each
eye
Dark olive-green
carapace with light
variable markings
Green head,
limbs and tail
with yellow
lines
Plastron
yellow with
dark
irregular
spots on
most scutes
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentinea
Size: 20 - 36 cm
Habitat: Prefer
shallow, muddy waters;
nest in sand or gravel
Threats: Road
mortality; nest
predation; do not live
long enough to
reproduce (sexually
mature at 15 - 20
years)
OMNR Special Concern
SARA No Status
COSEWIC Special Concern
© Dave Govoni
Long tail
with
dinosaur-like
scales
Young turtles three
longitudinal keels;
old turtles almost
smooth
Brown head,
tail and
limbs
Carapace light
brown to black
Yellowish,
cross-shaped
plastron
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Spiny Softshell
Apalone spinifera
© LA Dawson
OMNR Threatened
SARA Threatened
COSEWIC Threatened
Male Size: 12.5 - 23.5
cm; Female Size: 18 -
43 cm
Habitat: Freshwater
turtle; often buries
itself in mud at the
bottom of a water body
Threats: Habitat
degradation due to land
development and
agriculture; nest
predation; pollution © Alan Wolf
Males and juveniles have
large yellow spots
outlined in black
Edge of
carapace is
yellow with a
black border
Carapace is flat
and olive -grey
to brown
Small spines on
edge of shell
behind neck
Long neck
and tubular
“pig-like”
snout
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Spotted Turtle
Clemmys guttata
OMNR Endangered
SARA Endangered
COSEWIC Endangered
Smooth black carapace with
bright yellow or orange
spots
© James Dowling-Healey
© Man of Mud
Size: 9 - 11.5 cm
Habitat: Prefers ponds,
bogs and marshes with
ample aquatic
vegetation; congregate
during mating season
Threats: Habitat
degradation; nest
predation; pollution;
pet trade
Males have brown
eyes and tan
chin; Females
have orange eyes
and yellow chin
Head, tail and
limbs are grey to
black with
yellow spots
Plastron
yellow-orange
with large
dark
irregular
blotch on
each scute
Inside of
limbs are
orange
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
DeKay’s Brown Snake
Storeria dekayi
© Patrick
OMNR -
SARA -
COSEWIC -
© Mike VanValen
Size: 22 - 33 cm
Habitat: Commonly
found in forested
regions but can be found
in diverse habitats. They
spend much of their time
under logs, rocks,
boards, leaves and
other cover.
Behaviour: Hibernate
underground or in
building foundations.
Dark bar
on side of
head
Two rows of
spots along
light coloured
stripe on
back
Light grey-brown
to red in colour
Juveniles have
three yellowish
spots on neck
Belly cream
or pinkish
Scales keeled;
anal scale
divided
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Eastern Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
© Carly Lesser & Art Drauglis
OMNR -
SARA -
COSEWIC -
© Mike VanValen
Size: 46 - 66 cm
Habitat: Found in a
wide range of habitats
such as marshes,
woodlands, and
meadows
Note: Often confused
with the Eastern
Ribbon Snake but can
distinguished by the lack
of white crescent mark in
front of the eye.
May have
dark scales or
spots between
rows giving it a
checked
appearance
Black, green or
brown with three
yellow stripes
Belly
yellowish
green
Black
stripes on
labial
scales
Scales keeled;
anal scale
single
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Eastern Ribbon Snake
Thamnophis sauritus
OMNR Special Concern
SARA Special Concern
COSEWIC Special Concern
Dark green to black
with three yellow
stripes
© Steve Collins
©JD Wilson
Size: 45.5 - 66 cm
Habitat: Prefers
wetlands; congregates
to hibernate in burrows
or rock crevices
Threats: Habitat
degradation; Ontario is
the northern limit for
this species and may
have trouble surviving
in the climate
Belly
yellowish
green
Pure white
labial scales
Distinct
white half-
moon spot in
front of each
eye
May have
brown
coloring on
sides of
belly
Scales
keeled; anal
scale single
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Gray Rat Snake
Pantherophis spiloides
OMNR Threatened
SARA Threatened
COSEWIC Threatened
© Susy Morris
Size: 106.5 - 183 cm
Habitat: Woodlands
and fields; able to climb
trees and bushes
Threats: Road
mortality; habitat
degradation and
fragmentation; nest and
juvenile predation
Also known as Eastern
Rat or Black Rat Snake
Black with
faintly blotched
pattern
© Patrick Coin
© Mike VanValen
Juvenile has dark
bar across
snout from eye
to jaw
Juvenile
light grey
with dark
grey-brown
blotches
Throat white and
belly grey-brown
Scales weakly
keeled; anal
scale divided
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum
© Mike VanValen
OMNR Special Concern
SARA Special Concern
COSEWIC Special Concern
© Michael
Size: 61 - 90 cm
Habitat: Fields and
barns where rodent
prey is common
Threats: Road
mortality; killed by
humans as they
inhabit barns and are
often mistaken for
Rattlesnakes as they
vibrate their tails in
defensive position
Cream, tan, or
light grey
Belly whitish
with black
checkerboard
pattern
Red or dark
brown blotches
bordered in
black
Light blotch on
neck V or Y
shaped
Scales
smooth; anal
scale single
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Northern Water Snake
Nerodia sipedon sipedon
OMNR -
SARA -
COSEWIC -
© Douglas Mills
Size: 61 - 106.5 cm
Habitat: Freshwater
species; lives near
ponds, rivers, lakes,
marshes or streams
Behaviour: Non-
venomous but will
strike and bite
repeatedly when
threatened
Reddish brown
squareish
blotches with
dark outline
Older
individuals,
pattern may
be less
pronounced
Scales keeled;
anal scale
divided
Belly cream
with irregular
rows of reddish
half moon
crescents
Gray-brown to
dark gray in
colour
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
© Jonathan Crowe
OMNR -
SARA -
COSEWIC -
© Clocker
Size: 20 - 25.5 cm
Habitat: Found in
moist flowerbeds,
gardens, and moist
woodlands
Behaviour: Hides
under logs, rocks and
rubbish during the
days and hunts during
the nights
Reddish brown
to grey-brown
in colour
Three light
brown or
yellow spots
on neck
which may
fuse as a
collar
Orange-red
belly
Scales keeled;
anal scale
divided
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus edwardsi
© Randomtruth
OMNR -
SARA -
COSEWIC -
© Randomtruth
Size: 25.5 - 38 cm
Habitat: Wide range of
habitats; prefer areas
with dense cover
Behaviour: May coil
tail (as seen in the
photos) and emit an
odour when it feels
threatened
Shiny steel
blue, slate or
brown in
colour
Neck ring and
belly orange-
yellow
Scales adjacent
to neck ring
darker
Belly may have
rows of small
black spots
Scales
smooth; anal
scale divided
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
Smooth Green Snake
Opheodrys vernalis
OMNR -
SARA -
COSEWIC -
© Shuishouyue
© Squamotologist
Size: 30.5 - 51 cm
Habitat: Found in
moist meadows,
prairies and clearings
in coniferous forest
Note: Dead Smooth
Green snakes may turn
blue due to loss of
pigmentation
Bright shiny
emerald green
in colour
Belly
white or
yellow
Scales
smooth;
anal scale
divided
Labial
scales are
same
colour as
the belly
Assistance for this project was provided
by the Government of Ontario
GLOSSARY
Anal Scale - Scale just in front of the cloacal opening of snakes
which can either be single or divided
Barbels - Fleshy projections of skin growing under the mouth of a
turtle
Carapace - The hard upper shell of a turtle
Cloacal Opening - The opening to the cloaca, which serves as the
collective opening for reproductive, intestinal and urinary tracts.
Keeled Scales - Snakes’ scales that have a ridge down the center,
making them rough to the touch
Labial Scales - Scales that border the mouth opening of snakes,
much like lips
Longitudinal Keel - A raised ride along the centre of a turtle’s
shell
Plastron - Protective covering on the underside (ventral side) of a
turtle, made up of plates called scutes
Plastron Hinge -A joint in the plastron of a turtle allowing it to
close or bend to protect legs or head
Scutes - Thickened, bony plates on a turtle’s shell