Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Upper Elementary School
Document related concepts
Transcript
Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetofauna Compiled by the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory Eastern Hognose Snake Green Tree Frog Amphibians and Reptiles Regulate temperature from outside sources Ectothermic Yellowbelly Sliders Northern Watersnake Amphibians and Reptiles Secretive Can be very difficult to find Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Green Frog Amphibians and Reptiles Important to their ecosystem Food for many other animals such as raccoons, opossums, and birds Control abundance of mice, rats, and bugs Spotted Salamander Green Salamander Worm Snake Ringneck Snake Amphibians 88 species in North Carolina North Carolina has the highest diversity of salamanders in the world! Three-Lined Salamander Grey Tree Frog Spring Salamander Amphibian Characteristics Skin: Moist Breathe through their skin Good sense of smell Amphibians eat: Four Toed Salamander Insects Anything that will fit into their mouths: including other amphibians Southern Leopard Frog Green Tree Frog Frogs Tadpoles when they are born Lose their tails as adults Two main types: Spring Peeper Metamorph True Frogs Bronze Frog Upland Chrous Frog Pickerel Frog Tree Frogs Toe-pads Green Tree Frog Grey Tree Frog Toads Similar to frogs Tail-less as adults Warty skin Have large glands behind each eye that produce poison American Toad Fowler’s Toad Salamanders Plethodontids: Don’t have lungs and must breathe entirely through their skin Ambystomatids: Have lungs, but can also breathe through their skin Salamanders can lay eggs in: Streams Wetlands Soil Spring Salamander Marbled Salamander Two-lined Salamander Amphibian Life Cycle Upland Chrous Frog Frog Eggs Pine Woods Tree Frog Tadpole Spring Peeper Cricket Frog Spring Peeper Metamorph Amphibian Defense Methods Poison in skin Toads and Newts Producing large numbers of offspring Producing noisy squawks when attacked Red-Spotted Newt American Toad Green Frog Tadpole Reptiles 70 different species in North Carolina 4 Groups: Alligators, Turtles, Lizards, Snakes Antarctica only continent without reptiles First animal with a backbone to become independent of water for breeding Green Anole Bog Turtle Lays terrestrial eggs or gives birth to live young Copperhead American Alligator Crocodilians American Alligator the only species in North Carolina American Alligator Turtles Backbone incorporated into their shell Lack teeth Has a beak similar to a bird Omnivorous: Eats plants and animals Particularly enjoys insects and worms Eastern Painted Turtles What turtles are found in the ocean? Sea Turtles All are endangered Crush in Finding Nemo Olive Ridley Sea Turtles What turtles are found in ponds and rivers? Common Musk Turtle Eastern Painted Turtle Snapping Turtle Eastern Mud Turtle River Cooter What turtles can you find in your backyard? Box turtles! Photo by J.D. Willson Lizards Ears Variable and diverse Distinguishing characteristic from snakes Many islands have species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth. Slender Glass Lizard Fence Lizard One group has lost their legs Five-Lined Skink Called Glass Lizards Broadhead Skink Slender Glass Lizard Snakes 37 Species in North Carolina 6 Venomous species Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Coral Snake, Timber Rattlesnake, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, and Pigmy Rattlesnake Ringneck Snake Eastern Kingsnake Black Racer Timber Rattlesnake Most species are nonvenomous Redbelly Watersnake Scarlet Kingsnake Snakes All lack legs Lack ear openings Hear vibrations through the ground Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Shed their skin to grow Ringneck Snake Coachwhip Black Rat Snake Snake Feeding Entirely carnivorous Swallow prey whole 2 methods to capture prey for consumption Constriction Poison Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake swallowing a Cottontail Rabbit Scarlet Kingsnake swallowing a Green Anole Conservation Many species are in decline More amphibian species are endangered than birds or mammals Few species are becoming more abundant Spotted Salamander Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Can you think of any reasons? Eastern Spadefoot Toad Causes of Declines Habitat destruction Building houses, parking lots, shopping centers Cutting down trees Filling in wetlands and ponds Photo by Steve Price Pollution Trash and chemicals that are harmful to wild animals Photos by Steve Price What can you do? Watch, but don’t touch or keep any amphibians or reptiles you find. If you find an amphibian or reptile, let your parents know. Don’t kill snakes Don’t release any amphibian or reptile pet into the wild Photo by K. Cecala Photos by Lauren Harshaw Questions? Corn Snake
