Herpetofauna: Herpetofauna: Season by SeasonSeason by Season

Compiled by the Davidson Compiled by the Davidson College Herpetology LaboratoryCollege Herpetology Laboratory

Eastern Hognose SnakeGreen Tree Frog

Photos by J.D. Willson, K Cecala, M.E. Dorcas, Pierson Hill, A. Heupel, Eric Stein, Wayne Van Devender, Tom Luhring

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