Reptiles and Amphibians - Extension Buffalo County · 2017-07-16 · Reptiles and amphibians,...
Transcript of Reptiles and Amphibians - Extension Buffalo County · 2017-07-16 · Reptiles and amphibians,...
Wildlife and Your Land 37
Reptiles and amphibians, collectively knownas “herptiles” or “herps” for short, are cold-blooded animals unlike the warm-bloodedmammals and birds. The reptiles includesnakes, lizards and turtles; amphibiansinclude frogs and salamanders. Most snakes,all lizards and some turtles prefer to live onland. Most turtles prefer a life in or nearwater. However, all amphibians must laytheir eggs in water or very damp habitats.Therefore, wetlands—from marshes, swampsand moist woodlands to lakes, streams,ponds and temporary pools—are essential tothe survival of amphibians. Many reptiles, onthe other hand, are not as dependent onwetlands as are the amphibians. Because thethick, hard scales which cover reptilianbodies provide protection from drying air andsun, most Wisconsin snakes and lizards livefar from water. Still, aquatic turtles andwater snakes are very dependent onwetlands.
Amphibians are also different from reptilesin that they go through a metamorphosis, orchange in body shape. Just think about frogsin their early tadpole stage. Lastly, allWisconsin herptiles are silent creaturesexcept for the unique vocalizations of thefrogs. Who has not appreciated hearing thejingling of spring peepers or the trilling oftoads on a warm spring night?
Herps are very beneficial to people. Severalkinds of snakes, for instance, consume largequantities of rodents each year. Only two,fairly rare kinds of snakes are poisonous: thetimber rattlesnake found in the rugged bluffcountry along the Mississippi and LowerWisconsin Rivers, and the Massasauga, ashy, retiring rattler of the swamps. Frogs andtoads also do their best to reduce the supplyof insects including mosquitoes, black flies,and other pesky flying insects. As with birdsand mammals, herps are important in theirown right. Both reptiles and amphibians
serve as food for other, larger animals, so allplay a critical role in the circle of life and thecycles of nature.
Landowners don’t often think of attractingreptiles or amphibians to their property.These cold-blooded, “slimy” or “scaly”creatures just don’t seem to have theaesthetic appeal that the “warm fuzzy” birdsand mammals have. Nevertheless, since thisgroup of animals plays an invaluable role inthe ecological scheme of things on theWisconsin landscape, you may want to plansome projects to encourage their presence.You could, for instance, restore a wetland onyour property where one once existed andmay have been filled in or plowed under. Or,consider improving your woodland by leavingdowned timber on the woodland floor,especially in moist lowland woods wheresalamanders and some frogs would benefit.Your property’s biodiversity and overallnatural health will be greatly increased.
Read more about reptiles and amphibians inNatural History of Amphibians and Reptilesin Wisconsin by Richard Carl Vogt, published1981 by the Milwaukee Public Museum andFriends of the Museum.
Green frog
Reptiles and Amphibians
38 Wildlife and Your Land
Mudpuppy
Spiny Softshells
Musk Turtle
Painted Turtle
Blandings Turtle
Ornate Box Turtle
Wood Turtle
Snapping Turtle
Map Turtle
TigerSalamander
Red-backedSalamander
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Blandings Turtle
Ornate Box Turtle
Map Turtles (3 kinds)
Musk Turtle
Painted Turtle (2 sub-species)
Snapping Turtle
Soft-shelled Turtles (2kinds, Spiny is mostcommon)
Wood Turtle
Mudpuppy
Red-backed Salamander
Tiger Salamander
Prefers crayfish, insects,earthworms, vegetation,berries
Insects, cactus andother succulent plants,berries
Fish, insects, snails
Insects, fish, carrion inwater
Aquatic vegetation,snails, crayfish, insects,fish, carrion, tadpoles
Insects, crayfish,mollusks, worms,leeches, fish, frogs,birds, aquatic plants
Fish, crayfish, aquaticinsect larvae
Insects, earthworms,berries, vegetation
Worms, and otheraquatic invertebrates,insects, small fish
Small insects and insectlarvae
Earthworms, cricketnymphs, grasshoppers,moths, flies, spiders,beetles, cicadas
Shallow, weedy bays ofrivers, lakes andmarshes
Dry, sandy floodplain,prairies adjacent to thelower Wisconsin River
Lakes, rivers with slowto moderate current
River backwaters andlakes
Ponds, shallow lakes,and slow moving rivers
Lakes, rivers, creeks,ponds and marshes
Primarily rivers, largelakes and reservoirs
On land or water nearfast moving streams inforested areas
Bottoms of rivers andlakes during every stageof life cycle
Damp litter and rottedlogs in woodlands,sphagnum bogs
Breeds in prairie ponds,marshes, kettlepotholes, lakes,woodland ponds, farmponds
Seeks shelter insideshell or on marshbottom or in submergedvegetation
Hibernates in self-excavated or mammalburrows; hides underbushes or in burrows
Hide in deep areasunder sunken logs,occasionally in aquaticvegetation; hibernatebehind logs and rockson riverbottom
Retreats to bottom orhides in densesubmerged vegetation
Burrows or lays onbottom during winter;hides in densesubmergent vegetation
Stays on muddybottoms of ponds indense aquaticvegetation
Hide in sandy or muddybottoms; nest nearwaters edge
Hibernates under cutbanks or in deeper poolswith at least moderatecurrent
Hides amongst rocks onbottom of rivers andlakes
Hides under logs andleaf litter, in sphagnummoss or under ground
Spends much of the yearunderground inwoodlands; migrates tobreed on first rainynights associated withfrost-out
Statewide except for sixnorth-central counties,THREATENED
Southwest and south-central, ENDANGERED
Mostly restricted tosouth-central,southwest and west
Southern one-fourthand along Mississippifrom La Crosse south
Statewide
Statewide
Primarily western two-thirds, abundant in theBlack, Chippewa,Mississippi, andWisconsin rivers
Primarily northern two-thirds, THREATENED
Statewide
Northern half
Central, southeasternand northwestern
Turtles Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
Salamanders Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
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Bullfrog
Western Chorus Frog
Blanchards Cricket Frog
Green Frog
Northern Leopard Frog
Mink Frog
Pickerel Frog
Spring Peeper
Eastern American Toad
Eastern TreefrogCopes Treefrog
Wood Frog
Insects, small fish, otherfrogs, small turtles
Mites, midges,caterpillars, spiders,beetles, ants, spiders
Small insects,invertebrates
Insects, invertebrates
Insects, invertebrates
Insects, invertebrates
Insects, invertebrates
Small insects
Earthworms,mealworms, gardeninsects
Small insects,invertebrates
Insects
Permanent bodies ofwater
Prairies, marshes,riverbottom forests,woodland pools nearshallow or temporarywater or semi-openareas
In or near permanentwater with submergedplants and low, gradientshorelines with low,sparce vegetation
All types of permanentwater; prefers tallshoreline vegetation,including brush
Breeding: lakes, streams,rivers, ponds; Foraging:fields and wet prairies
Lives at or near theedges of bogs associatedwith lakes and streams
Cool, clear waters ofspring-fed lakes andstreams
Wooded areas withtemporary or semi-permanent ponds,swamps and marshes
A variety of habitatswherever there areinsects, moisture andshallow waters forbreeding
Eastern: forest interiorand edges; Copes: oaksavannas, woodland orbrushy field edges
Lowland hardwoodforests and other largetracts of moist woods
Hides in shorelinevegetation or insubmerged vegetation
Hides under vegetation,climbs on shrubs andgrasses; hibernatesunder rocks, logs andground litter
Leaps in zigzag patternto escape predators;rapidly jumps intowater and then back toland; may hide undersubmerged vegetation
Near waters edgeriparian areas; hides inshoreline vegetation orin debris on lake bed
Often found far fromstanding water duringthe summer; hibernatesunder water
Hides under sphagnummats or in emergentvegetation; flees acrossthe water surface anddives
Takes shelter inshoreline vegetation andin the water; often hidesin water cress; breeds inwarmer adjacent pondsor backwaters
Hides under damp leaflitter, under logs andbark
Breeds in wateranywhere; burrowsunder leaf litter, underlogs or in loose soil
Eastern: hides in treesand under bark; Copes:hides on underside ofleaves in brush or inleaf litter; both breed intemporary andpermanent ponds
Hides among forest floorleaf litter
Statewide but patchy
Statewide
Extreme southwest,ENDANGERED
Statewide
Statewide
Northern thirdto half
Scattered statewideexcept extreme north-central counties
Statewide
Statewide
Statewide
Nearly statewide exceptfor extreme southcentral counties
Frogs Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
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Spring Peeper
Chorus Frog
Cricket Frog Eastern Tree Frog
Toad
Leopard Frog
Mink Frog
Wood Frog
Pickerel Frog
Green Frog
Bullfrog
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Blue Racer
Brown SnakeBullsnake
Garter Snake
Hog-nosed Snake
Massasauga
Milk Snake
Fox Snake
Ring-necked Snake
Smooth Green Snake
Timber Rattler
Northern Water Snake
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Blue Racer
Brown Snakes (2 kinds,Red-bellied andNorthern are bothcommon)
Bullsnake
Garter Snakes (5 kinds,Eastern is mostcommon)
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Massasauga Rattlesnake
Milk Snake
Fox Snake
Racerunners and otherlizards, snakes, frogs,insects, small birds,rodents
Earthworms, smallinsects, invertebrates
Mostly rodents,sometimes groundnesting birds and eggs
Frogs, insects,salamanders, earth-worms, small fish, smallmammals
Toads, frogs, largeinsects
Small rodents, smallbirds, frogs
Mostly rodents, oftenother snakes, includingrattlesnakes
Mostly small rodents,sometimes small birds
Open fields, open oakwoodlands, dry rockysouthwest facing slopes,dry prairies, oaksavannas
Dry to slightly moistareas such as surfaceleaves on open woodlandfloors, southern lowlandhardwood forest,marshes, old fields,under rubbish or vacantlots
Loose sandy soil in dryprairies, oak savannas,pine barrens, and oakopenings; south andwest slopes in bluffsalong Wisconsin andMississippi rivers
Lake, creek and rivermargins, grassy fields,sedge meadows, bogs,wet prairies andhillsides
Open fields, hillsides,especially open sandyareas, also southernlowland hardwood forestnear rivers duringsummer months
Marshy areas, bogs,lowland hardwoodforests and more openswamps with sunny, dryopen fields nearby
Moist forest edges nearopen woods andgrasslands; alsowoodlots and pasturesnear streams and rivers
Marshes, farmlands,open moist woodlands,southerly exposed slopesof bluffs
Seeks shelter under flatrocks or in limestonecrevasses, or inmammal burrows
Hibernate in desertedanthills, rock crevassesand buildingfoundations
Hibernates in deep rockfissures on SW exposedhills, burrows of pocketgophers or groundsquirrels; seeks summershelter in dense groundcover, flat rocks andmammal burrows
Hides underground,under logs, infoundations and under avariety of litter
Seeks shelter in its ownburrows which it makesin sand or else seeksshelter in abandonedrodent burrows
Hibernates in mammalburrows, especiallycrayfish burrows
Hibernates infoundations or otherburied rock structures;found under boards andlogs in summer
Found in trees and hidein the holes of oak andhickory; hibernatesunderground in naturalrock structures, rock-lined dug wells anddeep rock foundations;in summer, often hidesunder boards and piecesof metal
Southern half
Statewide
Southwest and West
Statewide for EasternGarter Snake only
Statewide except fornorthcentral counties
West and West-central,ENDANGERED
Southern two-thirds
Statewide
Snakes Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
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Northern Ring-neckedSnake
Prairie Ring-necked Snake
Smooth Green Snake
Timber Rattlesnake
Northern Water SnakeQueen Water Snake
Western Slender GlassLizard
Six-lined Racerunner
Five-lined SkinkNorthern Prairie Skink
Small salamanders,earthworms, smallsnakes, lizards
Insects, earthworms,small invertebrates
Primarily rodents andother small mammals
Frogs, salamanders,fish, crayfish, largerinvertebrates
Insects, small lizards,small snakes, bird eggs
Insects, smallinvertebrates
Insects, smallinvertebrates
Northern: Moistdeciduous forests;Prairie: Southwestfacing bluffsides alongWisconsin andMississippi rivers
Open grassy fields andgrassy woodlots
Rocky, open or woodedhillsides and nearbyfields and lowlands, oakwoodlands
Borders of creeks, riversand lakes
Open meadows, drymesic prairie, oaksavanna with sandysoils
Dry sandy areas in openfields and on rockyhillsides
Dry, sandy areas inopen fields and oak andpine barrens
Both: Hide under rocks,bark, fallen trees;Northern: hides in logsor leaf litter by day,forages at night;Prairie: by day, baskson dry prairie hillsides
Found under logs ormetal
Found along bluffsassociated with theMississippi andWisconsin rivers
Takes refuge in thewater
Hides in sedge clumpsand animal burrows
Hides in brush, grassclumps, and its ownburrows
Hides in stumps, rottinglogs, slab and sawdustpiles; may climb treesand low brush to forageand escape predator
Northern: northernthirdPrairie: southwest
Mostly statewide,except along extremewestern counties andsouthwest
West and southwest
Northern: statewideRESTRICTED
Queen: extremesoutheastENDANGERED
West and central,ENDANGERED
Southwest
Prairie: northwestFive-lined: central andnortheast
Lizards Food Habitat Shelter Distribution
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Glass Lizard
Six-lined Racerunner
Five-lined Skink
Prairie Skink
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Notes
Wildlife and Your Land 47
Notes
Wildlife and Your Land Staff: Mary K. Salwey, Project Director; JanetL. Hutchens, Project Assistant; Todd Peterson, Chief, Public Service andUser Program Section. Editorial assistance by Robert Hay, Cold-bloodedSpecies Manager; Sumner Matteson, Avian Ecologist; Scott Craven,UW-Extension; Adrian Wydeven, Mammalian Ecologist; and KeithWarnke, Upland Wildlife Ecologist. Graphics and layout by KandisElliot. Published by the Bureau of Wildlife Management, WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources, P. O. Box 7921, Madison, WI, 53707.
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