Pennsylvania's Herpetofauna(Translation: Our state’s reptiles & amphibians)
• Frogs & Toads 16 species
• Salamanders 22 “
• Turtles 13 “
• Lizards 5 “
• Snakes 21 “
Salamander Life Cycle
Balancers on larval ambystomid
Salamandridae
Red-spotted NewtNotopthalmus viridescens
Red Eft
Adult Newt
AMBYSTOMATIDAE
Jefferson SalamanderAmbystoma jeffersonianum
Jefferson Salamander
AMBYSTOMATIDAE
Spotted SalamanderAmbystoma maculatum
Ambystomatidae
Marbled SalamanderAmbystoma opacum
Ambystomatidae
Eastern Tiger SalamanderAmbystoma tigrinum
Plethodontidae
Northern Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus fuscus
Plethodontidae
Mountain Dusky SalamanderDesmognathus ochrophaeus
Plethodontidae
Red-backed SalamanderPlethodon cinereus
Plethodontidae
Slimy SalamanderPlethodon glutinosus
Plethodontidae
Four-toed SalamanderHemidactylum scutatum
PLETHODONTIDAE
Two-lined SalamanderEurycea bislineata
Two-lined Salamander
Plethodontidae
Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Plethodontidae
Northern Red SalamanderPseudotriton ruber ruber
Pelobatidae: Spadefoots
Eastern Spadefoot ToadScaphiopus hobrooki
Bufonidae: Toads
Warts: one or two in each large spot.
Three+ in each large spot.
American ToadBufo americanus
Fowler’s ToadBufo foweleri
Hylidae: Tree Frogs
Gray & Cope’s Tree FrogHyla versicolor and Hyla chrysocelis
Spring PeeperPseudacris crucifer
Hear Me!
Ranidae: True Frogs
BullfrogRana catesbeiana
Green FrogRana clamitans
Pickerel FrogRana palustris
Leopard FrogRana pipiens
Wood FrogRana sylvatica
Anatomy: Anal Plate
Pennsylvania Snakes belong to two families:
• Colubridae
• Viperidae
Poisonous or Venomous?
Eastern CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorous
Not found in Pennsylvania
Northern Water SnakeNerodia sipedon
Queen SnakeRegina septemvittata
Turtles•All lay eggs on land
•No parental care
•In PA
•10 genera
•13 species & subspecies
carapace
plastron
Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina
Snapping TurtleChelydra serpentina
•long tail
•serrate carapace (may be worn)
•reduced, cross-shaped plastron
Stinkpot or Musk TurtleSternotherus oderatus
•domed carapace
•3-4 inches in length
•emit foul musk from upper shell border
•slow, shallow streams & rivers
E. Mud TurtleKinosternon subrubrum
Extirpated? Removed from PA Endangered list
Spotted TurtleClemmys guttata
•Yellow spots on dark carapace
•marshes, bogs, wooded swamps
Wood TurtleClemmys insculpta
•sculpted carapace
•terrestrial
•formerly a ‘meat turtle’
Bog TurtleClemmys muhlenbergi
E
Blanding’s TurtleEmydoidea blandingi
Candidate species
E. Box TurtleTerrapene carolina
Map TurtleGraptemys geographica
Painted TurtleChrysemys picta
Redbellied TurtlePseudemys rubriventris
TT
Spiny Softshell TurtleApalone spinifera
Smooth SoftshellApalone mutica
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That’s All Folks!