Herpetofauna: Herpetofauna: Season by SeasonSeason by SeasonCompiled by the Davidson Compiled by the Davidson College Herpetology LaboratoryCollege Herpetology Laboratory
Eastern Hognose Snake Green Tree FrogPhotos by J.D. Willson, K Cecala, M.E. Dorcas, Pierson Hill, A. Heupel, Eric Stein, Wayne Van Devender, Tom Luhring, John White
What do amphibians and What do amphibians and reptiles do during the reptiles do during the winter?winter?
Some HibernateSome Hibernate Spend part of the cold season in an inactive stateSpend part of the cold season in an inactive state
Who Hibernates?Who Hibernates? SnakesSnakes TurtlesTurtles FrogsFrogs SalamandersSalamanders Common Garter Snake
Eastern Box Turtle
Why hibernate?Why hibernate?
Protection from coldProtection from cold Less food resourcesLess food resources Low energy requirementsLow energy requirements
Eastern Mud Turtle
Bullfrog
Worm Snake
Where do they Where do they hibernate?hibernate?
Frogs: Bottom of ponds, under Frogs: Bottom of ponds, under leaves, burrow under groundleaves, burrow under ground
Snakes: Alone or in groupsSnakes: Alone or in groups Use holes, burrows, termite Use holes, burrows, termite
mounds, cracks in rock walls, etc.mounds, cracks in rock walls, etc.
Turtles: Burrow into dirt or mudTurtles: Burrow into dirt or mud
Salamanders: Under logs, Salamanders: Under logs, leaves or in burrowsleaves or in burrows
Ringneck Snakes
Marbled Salamander
But some species are But some species are active in winteractive in winter
Frogs can be winter Frogs can be winter breedersbreeders Spring PeeperSpring Peeper
Call on warmer, wetter Call on warmer, wetter nights and during the day nights and during the day starting in Januarystarting in January
Stream Salamanders can Stream Salamanders can be activebe active Water temps can be Water temps can be
warmer than airwarmer than air Dusky SalamanderDusky Salamander
Very common and can be Very common and can be found year roundfound year round
Spring Peeper calling
Dusky Salamander
Spring means breeding Spring means breeding season!season!
Many Frogs breedMany Frogs breed Pickerel Frog, Southern Leopard Frog, Pickerel Frog, Southern Leopard Frog,
Green Tree Frog etc.Green Tree Frog etc.
Salamanders breedSalamanders breed Reptiles come out of hibernation and Reptiles come out of hibernation and
breedbreed
Southern Leopard Frog Egg Mass
Southern Leopard Frog Glossy Crayfish Snake
Bull FrogBull Frog
Common in ponds and lakesCommon in ponds and lakes Males call after heavy rainsMales call after heavy rains Largest frog in the NC Piedmont areaLargest frog in the NC Piedmont area What do they eat?What do they eat?
Life cycle of a frogLife cycle of a frog
Upland Chorus Frog Egg Mass
Cricket Frog calling
Cricket FrogRiver Frog Metamorph
Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole
Spotted SalamandersSpotted Salamanders
Wetland salamandersWetland salamanders Breed in temporary ponds and wetlandsBreed in temporary ponds and wetlands
Warm early spring rains bring many Warm early spring rains bring many salamanders to the pondssalamanders to the ponds
Lay 200 eggs!Lay 200 eggs!
Eastern Hognose SnakeEastern Hognose Snake
Mate in SpringMate in Spring Lays 5-500 eggs in June or JulyLays 5-500 eggs in June or July Eggs hatch in 2 months and look just like Eggs hatch in 2 months and look just like
smaller adultssmaller adults Hognose Snakes have the upturned nose Hognose Snakes have the upturned nose
to dig for their favorite food… toads!to dig for their favorite food… toads!
Many reptiles and Many reptiles and amphibians are active in the amphibians are active in the summer!summer!
Summer is the warmest Summer is the warmest seasonseason
Sun provides warmthSun provides warmth Other animals provide Other animals provide
foodfood Some frogs are still Some frogs are still
breeding breeding Bullfrogs, Spadefoot toads, Bullfrogs, Spadefoot toads,
Grey Tree FrogsGrey Tree Frogs Reptiles are most activeReptiles are most active
Eastern King Snake
Spadefoot Toads
Grey Tree Frog
Worm SnakeWorm Snake
Very common and abundantVery common and abundant Lays eggs in early summerLays eggs in early summer Hatch in late summerHatch in late summer Usually found when digging or under logs Usually found when digging or under logs
or mulchor mulch
Black Rat SnakeBlack Rat Snake
One of the BIGGEST snakes in the U.S.One of the BIGGEST snakes in the U.S. Largest are over 8 feetLargest are over 8 feet
Live near humansLive near humans Non-venomous and non-threateningNon-venomous and non-threatening
Active during the dayActive during the day Eat rats, birds, and squirrelsEat rats, birds, and squirrels How do they kill and eat their prey?How do they kill and eat their prey?
Squeeze prey to death by constricting it and then swallow it Squeeze prey to death by constricting it and then swallow it wholewhole
Box TurtleBox Turtle
Common residents of Common residents of the woods in the the woods in the Southeastern U.S.Southeastern U.S.
Males have red eyes, Males have red eyes, females have brown females have brown eyeseyes
Eat a variety of plants Eat a variety of plants and animalsand animals
Live for a very long time Live for a very long time – for 50 years or more!– for 50 years or more!
Box turtles
In fall some salamanders In fall some salamanders breedbreed
Marbled SalamandersMarbled Salamanders Females lay eggs in areas Females lay eggs in areas
that become puddles when it that become puddles when it rainsrains
Guard eggs until they get Guard eggs until they get covered by water and hatchcovered by water and hatch
Give juvenile salamanders a Give juvenile salamanders a head start on growing so they head start on growing so they can be bigger than other can be bigger than other salamanders in the spring!salamanders in the spring!
Marbled Salamanders
Snakes are most Snakes are most abundant in the fall!abundant in the fall!
Snakes are more common in the fall than in any other Snakes are more common in the fall than in any other seasonseason
Most snakes are born between July and SeptemberMost snakes are born between July and September Many baby snakes are around and going to find their Many baby snakes are around and going to find their
first mealsfirst meals Adults move around looking for good places to Adults move around looking for good places to
hibernatehibernate
Ringneck SnakeJuvenile Black Rat Snake
The year ends… and The year ends… and starts over againstarts over again
In the fall many amphibians and reptiles In the fall many amphibians and reptiles find their homes to hibernate for the find their homes to hibernate for the winter.winter.
And then the whole process starts over And then the whole process starts over again!again!
Smooth Earth Snake Fowler’s Toad Green Anole
Any Questions?Any Questions?
Spring Salamander
Top Related