Longtail Salamander

Earlier today, our herp class went on a trip to the Quarry at Hueston Woods, which is about ten minutes outside Oxford, OH. What started out as a cold rainy day eventually warmed up, which led us to find a bunch of different species around a river. While searching among the stones and logs off the shore of the river I uncovered this longtail salamander (Eurycea longicauda). When I first lifted the rock he was resting under, I thought it was a southern two lined salamander, since they are about as common as mud around here. However, when I picked him up, I noticed the characteristic spotting pattern and realized it was the longtail. He was about 4 1/2 inches long with a brown/orange base color and black spotting pattern.
The longtail salamander is typically found along streams, where they tend to hide among rocks and logs. They are identified by their long tails and characteristic spotting pattern. They lay their eggs amongst rocks and around caves, and the larvae usually take about 1 year to fully metamorphose.

(Matt O'Toole, Miami University)

Queen Snake at Miami University

Just an hour ago, we were searching for herps at a Quarry in Hueston Woods which is about 10 minutes from Miami University. It turned out to be a good hunt as we found 9 different species of herps. About halfway into the trip and a few hundred yards of searching down a stream, a queen snake, Regina Septemvittata, was uncovered. It was hiding in its typical hiding space of bedrock. They are brown aquatic snakes with stripes along lower sides of their body and can be often confused with Garter snakes. They have keeled scales and a divided anal plate which can be used to distinguish them from Garter snakes. They hide at river's edge to catch their prey -crayfish. They preferably feed on crayfish which recently shed as their shells will be softer.

-Alex Hamad

Plethodon dorsalis

on April 18th I traveled to Mammoth caves national parks as a residence hall event for the violet city cave tour but we got there a little early, so a group of us decided to follow some trails near the visitor center. After a couple of us curious students turned over some logs near the trail and came across these Plethodon dorsalis or the northern zigzag salamander. These guys are usually about 35 mm long once they are mature. The northern zigzag reproduces terrestrially and females can be observed staying with the eggs through the summer season. This species reaches reproductive maturity after about three years of age.Overall it was exciting to find a species that can not be found in Oxford Ohio.

(by Justin Taylor Miami University Oxford,Ohio)

Green Frog Tadpoles

Last Thursday, April 23, our herp class made a brief stop to Miami University's formal gardens to check our turtle traps.  Although the traps proved unsuccessful, we were still able to catch a number of green frog (Rana clamitans) tadpoles such as this one.  The weather was fairly warm, about 70 degrees, and slightly breezy.  The tadpoles were hidden among the leaf litter in one of the small ponds, and were fairly easy to catch.  This was not very surprising since green frogs tend to hang around shores of ponds, and since they breed in April, there were plenty of these tadpoles in a fairly small area.  As tadpoles, they tend to feed on a variety of organic debris, including algae, and this particular pond was abundant in leaves/decaying organic matter.  The tadpoles can take a fairly long time to mature, and some even overwinter and metamorphose the following year.  Once they become mature their diet drastically changes and they primarily become carnivores, consuming almost anything they can fit into their mouth.  

These particular tadpoles were surprisingly large.  From tip to tail they were about 4 inches long and had a very plump body.  While many were blended in well with the surrounding leaf litter, they were still very vulnerable, as we were able to grab them barehanded out of the water.  The fact that breeding probably occurred  just a few weeks ago might explain why they were still so abundant. 

(Matt OToole, Miami University)

Out of all the herps that I found this semester I have to say this was my favorite. This is a Southern Leapard Frog and is also known as Lithobates Sphenocephalus. My little brother and I found this guy on our pool cover in our back yard. It was dark time. I would say about 8:00 pm and the weather was still cool. I first recognized the call and then found some eggs of this species. Not too long after, I found this guy trying to camouflage himself in the leaves. This species prefers shallow, freshwater habitats and are mostly nocturnal. They are also mostly carnivorous consuming almost any kind of insect. I like the way this frog looks due to I am only use to seeing Bufonids around my house.

Lauren Trouy (Memphis, TN)

This was a lucky find!! This is an American Toad also known as Anaxyrus americanus. My little brother found this guy outside our back porch while he was feeding the dogs. My little brother knows that I have been looking for frogs lately so it took him no time to open the back door and yell my name. This picture is a little faded but the paratoid glands are not in contact with the cranial crests and the dark spots on the back of the toad contain 1-3 warts. These are distinct characteristics of the American Toad. American toads have a broad habitat and is the most common around our house. This was a great find! Go little brothers!

Lauren Trouy (Memphis, TN)

Fowler's Toad

Found Friday 4/24 night. The temperature was in the 70's and fairly humid with no precipitation.
-Robert Lofton, Memphis, TN

Common Snapping Turtle

On April 23, out class went to Bachelor Pond to check out our turtle traps. The weather was gorgeous. It was about 65-75 degrees F and there were lots of painted turtles basking on the various logs out in the middle of the pond. The pond was covered with a lot of algae and pretty muddy. In the first trap we found a Common Snapping Turtle(Chelydra serpentina). It was small one in comparison to how large they get. They are the largests freshwater turtle in the US and they can reach up to 70lbs. They have very powerful jaws with a strong hook like beak on the top part of their mouths. They are known for striking like snakes when in danger and don't usually hide inside their shell like other turtles.There skin is usually grey in color and they have a very distinct reduced plastron and the carpace is darker than the rest of the the turtle. The carpace is also keeled and rough but the keels go away as they mature. The tails of snapping turtles also have rough edges resembling saw tooths. Females can lay up two dozen eggs some distance from the water in sandy areas. They mate from April to November. Females are capable of storing sperm for many different breeding seasons and use it as necessary.

Miami University
Ryan De Leon

Bufo fowleri

I found this guy in my garage a few days ago. He or she is a Fowler's Toad, which is very similar to the American Toad. The American Toad only has 1-2 warts per dark spot where the Fowler's Toad has 3-4 warts per spot. Fowler's Toads also have paratoid glands that touch their cranial crests while the American Toad's cranial crests are separated from their paratoid gland. After taking a quick picture I took this guy back to the pond so he could be with his friends and away from my cat.
Haley Brown
Memphis, TN

Chrysemys picta

On a field trip to Bachelor Pond, a few miles outside of Oxford, OH, we not only enjoyed the beautiful weather, but we found this beautiful turtle. A midland painted turtle (Chrysemys picta). We could see a number of these turtles basking on a log that was floating in the pond, however it took a little effort to catch one to observe up close - it was worth it though, the pictures just don't do this animal justice. These turtles are easily recognized by their unkeeled, smooth shells with red, yellow, and black markings and grow between 4 and 6 inches. They typically live where water is shallow and the bottom is soft and muddy (which really was the case, our waders were sinking!). Females are typically larger than their mates. Midland painted turtles range from S. Quebec and S. Ontario to Louisiana and Arkansas. The main difference between midland painted turtles and eastern painted turtles is that the large scutes on their shell are alternating instead of continuous. (Ashley Smith, Miami University)

Rana catesbeiana

One night during the early spring I heard some frogs around my pond, when I went to try and find them I was too slow and most quickly jumped in the water. Luckily, I found this one trying to hide behind a branch. It is an American Bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. It is distinguished from the Green Frog by it's larger size and lack of dorsolateral folds, it also has barring across it's back legs, but can range greatly in color.

Haley Brown

Memphis, TN

Eastern Racer

On a recent trip to the Meeman Biological Station, this Easter Racer (Coluber constrictor) was found entwined inside of an overturned metal boat, much to the excitement of the fellas who do a lot of research out there. (Apparantly the boat had been overturned many a time before, fruitlessly.) Although they are pretty common, I had never seen one of these before. He was simple yet very elegant. His tongue seemed to slither from his mouth in slow, decided motion. These snakes are known to be very fast and very active. Adults typically feed on frogs, rodents, and lizards. Unfortunately, one student was "musked" while handling this fella (or she-lla?) They have been known to bite, however, they are not poisenous. (Stacey McNiell, TN)

Likes long walks on the beach

Undaunted by my presence, This staunch Anaxyrus woodhousii, or Woodhouse's toad, had his priorities straight. I was lured from my house by his love song. This toad was perched on a romantic cinder block bordering the man made pond in my front yard. He agreed to pose for a few pictures, before wandering off, in search of ladies. (Apparantly, I was not the female he was looking for.) This guy likes to burrow and hide when he is not active. Hopefully his night went well, and I will be able to watch tadpoles grow in my pond!
Stacey McNiell (Memphis, TN)

The Red-eyed Tree Frog

Being allowed on species outside Oxford, OH I chose the red-eyed tree frog (Agalychnis callidryas).  During a study abroad trip to Belize (directly south of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico) a night hike revealed a very well known anuran.  A member of the Hylidae family, this tree frog attaches it's eggs to the undersides of trees above bodies of water.  This gives the eggs protection until the tadpoles burst out and drop down to the water below.  This gives the little anurans a better chance at life since the water below houses a multitude of predators waiting for the tadpoles.  Unfortunately they've lost a great deal of habitat from deforestation creating their largest threat.  (Cody Rabert, Oxford, OH)

Love is in the air!

Our class recently took a field trip out to the Meeman Biological station, and had a neat detour to a watery lake off to the side of the road. Spadefoot toads were everywhere! We actually had to be careful not to step on them. I don't think I could have pried these Scaphiophus holbrookii apart with a crowbar. I witnessed a couple of amplexing pairs accidently dropped by students, and the males didn't even think of letting go. What a grip! This frog often burrows underground in the day time to prevent water loss. But, apparantly, exceptions can be made.
Stacey McNiell (Memphis, TN)

This little guy, a Virginia valeriae, or a smooth earth snake, was found in my back yard under a rock happily entwined with a Dekay's brown snake. This small Colubrid is very shy, wanting nothing more than to bury himself amongst the leaf litter. Although common, they can be hard to come across simply because they tend to remain hidden. He is not a very intimidating fellow, however, you might want to check your pocket for wet wipes or the like if you're not near some soap, because he has no qualms with defacating all over you, and it is rather stinky... Maybe he's banking on his good looks to make up for his stench...
Stacey McNiell (Memphis, TN)

Bufo americanus

While at a friends house one night, I couldn't help but here an ever so pleasant sound of spring time.  I  walked over to the ditch on the side of the road and found a couple american toads in chorus.  I reached my hand down and one of the excited toads began amplexus with my thumb.  Since this happened so quick I wanted to take him inside and get to know him better before I made that kind of commitment.  I could identify the american toad, Bufo americanus, by his single wart per spot.  His parotid glands did not touch the cranial crest either.  Afterwards, I told him I just wasn't ready for a relationship and he hopped back into the ditch side.  I later found out that the water the american toads were calling in was the result of a leaky fire hydrant.  However, as the city fixed the leak there was no worry of endangered eggs.  Seems that the guys had a rather unsuccessful night.  Save one. . . (Cody Rabert, Oxford, OH).

Yard dweller

This lovely lady was found curled up under a rock in my back yard. She was identified as Storeria dekayi, or Dekay's Brown snake, and I was informed that she was pretty big for her species. I live in a pretty busy residential neighborhood, so I was surprised to find her, considering all the fruitless years I spent as a kid hunting for frogs and snakes in Memphis city. My next door neighbors have a rather neglected above ground pool in their back yard, which may be serving as a breeding ground for herps.
This snake seriously does not enjoy being handled, leaving me covered in noxious stink juice every time I pick her up, but it was a cool surprise to find her in my own back yard. This common Tennessee snake is currently residing in a terrarium over my (retired) fireplace, and enjoys eating worms, but doesn't seem to care for slugs so much. Her name is Beaker.
Stacey McNiell (Memphis, TN)

This is a Green Frog also known as Lithobates clamitans. The frog was found about ten minutes after finding a Fowler's toad. My best friend has a small pond behind his house and we heard some frog calls. I made him run inside and get a flashlight. We quickly ran down to the pond and found this guy. I picked him up and identified him first. Then we set him near the edge of the pond and we snapped this picture right before he jumped in the water. Lithobates clamitans are usually found in permanent bodies of water such as the pond this guy was found in. They are medium size frogs and their voice calls sound like a banjo string being plucked.

Lauren Trouy (Memphis, TN)

This is the Fowler's toad. My best friend and I found this fat guy sitting right outside his barn. We had just finished celebrating my best friends 22 birthday when I thought it would be fun to go look for some herps. Within two minutes we spotted this guy! The Anaxyrus fowleri has very distinct parotid glands similar to the Anaxyrus americanus but instead the fowleri's parotid glands come in contact with the cranial crest. The fowleri also has 3 or more warts inside dark spots on back. The habitat for these guys is very broad. We found this one right outside my friends barn.

Lauren Trouy (Memphis, TN)

Fowler's Toad

This little guy was in my backyard. This is anaxyrus fowleri. It took me a little while to id him with the help of my professor and TA. These guys hardly like to show themselves to us, especially during the day. I believe why they were out was because we were sucking the water off of the pool cover to get ready to take it off, so the toads were out trying to get some easy pickings. It was a nice sunny day with few clouds. The wind was a gently northerly wind so it was not too hot for this toad to be out. There was another one around but I couldn't find it. I tried picking this toad up and he puffed up. I thought that was so neat when he did that and I got more pics of him like that. He was a little camera shy but I got some good pics.

Rebecca Thorne (TN)

Black Racer

On a recent trip to the Meeman Biological Station on some routine field work we were setting up some pools for future experiments. When i went to flip one of the pools I found this guy staring at me about two feet away. It was a Black Racer ( Coluber constrictor). Upon seeing this guy we decided to get him up and take a few pics with this beauty. It was a great find and this specimen truly was a sight to see.

(Josh Douglas TN)

Spadefoot mating

On a recent trip into the field at our local Meeman Biological Station we came across a large group of Spadefoots in the act of mating. The Spadefoot toads aka Scaphiophus holbrookii were found in a shallow water area that flooded following the spring rains. The area was full of Spadefoot toads everywhere you looked throughout the flooded area. We got some great pictures and it was a wonderful experience to see this rare sight in person. ( Josh Douglas TN)

Destin

On a recent trip to Destin Florida I was out one morning and caught a glimpse of a small green fellow and decided to catch it. The creature ended up being the Carolina anole aka Anolis carolinensis. It was found under a pile of childrens toys that are used to make sand castles. This relative of the iguana was a gorgeous find.

Eggs!

On April 2nd, 2009, our herpetology class drove to Indian Creek Park in Reily, Ohio. It was around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with a few clouds and a nice breeze. These eggs were found in a small stream off of the main creek (that wound its way into the woods) and contained a few inches of water, and lots of leaf litter. This small offshoot contained many limestones of various sizes, many of which had salamander eggs attached to the underside.

We concluded that these eggs belonged to the streamside salamander, Ambystoma barbouri. The first reason was that we found an adult underneath of a medium sized limestone just a few feet away from where this picture was taken (see a previous post). The second reason was based on how this species lays its eggs-- individually attached to the underside of rocks (which are usually limestone).

Courtship and mating both occur underwater underneath limestone rocks during the early spring and late winter. A gravid femal can lay upwards of 260 eggs. Eggs are laid individually, and are attached beneath the rocks in the water for two to three weeks, until they hatch. The larvae will then spend anywhere from six to ten weeks there before they metamorphose. The terrestrial individuals migrate away from the breeding site and into nearby forests.

It would be interesting to go back to that site now-- there are probably many tiny streamside salamanders with external gills!

Catherine Ade
Miami University

Sceloporus undulatus

I was at a family gathering on Easter Sunday when I found this guy hanging out on the ground. I must have frightened him because he then dashed for a nearby tree. He then sat there motionless and I noticed his blue sides and neck. I knew immediately that he was a Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus). Fence lizards range from 4-7 inches and have "spiny" scales. Females are patterned on top with gray coloring while males are brown on top and patterned on bottom. Males usually show more blue coloring than females. The field guide also talks about when they are on the ground and are startled, they dash for a tree and remain motionless until the coast is clear (which is what happened when I first saw this little guy.) This was the first fence lizard that I have seen and the blue coloring on his sides were beautiful!!

Kristie Burr (SC)

Awww SNAP!

On Thursday, April 16, our class took a trip to T. O. Fuller State Park. There were only a few of us that showed up, so we slapped on our waders and made the best of it. The previous day a couple of traps had been set. Everyone was disappointed when the first trap was empty, but when we checked the second trap, we hit the jackpot! There were a couple of small mud turtles (not too terribly exciting) and a pretty good sized alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys temminckii. He (or she?) had a huge tail and neck and really long claws. Alligator snapping turtles are traditionally found in the Mississippi River and its tributaries throughout the southeastern U.S. We managed to get a couple of pretty good pictures safely before we let the beast of a turtle go.

-Lindsey Stewart, TN

Herpetological Cartoons

Hello Herpers in SC & TN:

Our class has made some herp cartoons. There's really very few people who will have the required knowledge to really appreciate these, so we're targeting our audience. Some are even funny. Just remember as you become scientists--cartoons are funny and flow charts are not cartoons. Also posting a recent picture of the "funny" Ohio herpers. Go to: http://www.users.muohio.edu/boonemd/cartoons2009.pdf

Michelle D. Boone

Another weekend Herping trip

Yesturday (Saturday April 18) a friend and I went walking along the creek at Pepher Park in Oxford Ohio. It was about 2:30 in the afternoon with wonderful 73 degree weather, lots of sun, a little wind, and a few clouds. The creek we are at is about 20ft wide, with water depths from 6 inches to about 3 feet and a faily steady current. As we began makingo our way up the creek, I saw a thin shape moving in the water, it was a small snake that, once caught, I identified as a Queen snake (Regina septemvittata) which must be an abundant speices in the area since this is the second one I've found.

Further upstream in a more stagnant offshoot with a small waterfall and much more tree cover I spotted two snakes sitting in the branches of a small tree overhaning the water. From their patterning I guessed them both to be Norther water snakes (Nerodia sipedon). I was able to coax them out of the tree and into my net seperatly, and I was guessing one to be male and the other female. They were pretty aggressive once I got them in the net, and I wasn't able to pick them up for fear of being viscously bitten, but I still got a few good pictures. These snakes are usually 24-42 inches (so the ones I found were very average size) and prefer quiet waters near swift flowing streams, which was exactly where I found them.

Male

FemaleAlso a species to note that we observed earlier that day around 1:00, still in Oxford but along the wide 4 mile creek (more north east of where we these animals were found) was a Spiny soft shell turtle (Apalone spinifera). We caught a glance of him basking on a wide log that protruded into the middle of the stream. It was pretty far away, so idenifying him by the traditional nostral ridges, streaked foot pattern, or rough shell was impossible. Due to our location, it is more probable to find the Spiny softshell rather than the Smooth softshell. These animals are highly aquatic and prefer large bodies of water where they can bask on logs or hide in mud flatts.

~Victoria Ferraro, Miami University

Bufo quercicus

I found the specimen on Saturday April 18th at 12:30am. It had been raining all day, was 61 degrees and fairly humid. The specimen was sitting in my driveway and tried to escape when I approached but I proved too quick for it. After consulting my key and some online images I determined that it was an oak toad, mainly from the white line traveling dorsally on the animal.

-Robert Lofton, TN

Fowler's Toad

Here we found a couple fowler's toads, Anaxyrus fowleri, in amplexus. We were able to identify them by their skin, these toads have 3 or more warts per spot. Also their cranial crests come into contact with their paratoid glands, which are both characters that differ from the American Toad. We were also able to sex the individuals, the female obviously is on the bottom, but she is also much bigger than the male. The male has a dark chin, as you can see in the picture, while the females venter is all light colored. During the breeding season, which is the warmer months, April-July, the males migrate to shallow ponds or other water bodies and call to attract females. These toads are known to burrow during the day and come out at night to eat insects and other small invertebrates. A couple ways they defend themselves are by having amazing camaflouge, gland secretions that irritate the predator when the toad is in their mouth which usually causes them to be spit out and they have also been reported to roll over and play dead. They are pretty common, I have seen them all my life, so it is not too exciting now when I see them. However, the other night it was really warm and rainy and I could hear males calling in the distance and I found about 15 females in my driveway all heading towards the calling males, which was pretty interesting. Also it is fun now to determine if they are fowler's toads or american toads.
JENA FAY, TN

Eurycea longicauda

It's arround 2:00 on Thursday April 2nd. The temp is about 70 degrees, sunny, few clouds, a little wind and our class had made their way down the creek in Reily, Ohio to a small flood area just off to the side of the main water way. The area is forrested, with lots of tree cover and leaf litter on the ground. The tiny run off is stagnant, obviously ephemeral and contains only about 3-6 or so inches of water. It contains mainly rocks covered by mud and leaves. Our T.A found this Longtail salamander (Eurycea longicauda) under one of the rocks.

Lontail salamanders are usually 4-6 inches (so this guy was faily small) and distinguished by dark orange to brown ground color with black markings, but these can also vary depending. They have 13-14 costal grooves and range from PA through the midwest and as far south as GA.

-Victoria Ferraro

Ambystoma barbouri-- streamside salamander

On April 2nd, 2009, our herpetology class drove to Indian Creek Park in Reily, Ohio. This particular afternoon, it was around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with a few scattered clouds and a mild breeze. This specimen was found in a small stream off of the main creek (that wound its way into the woods) that contained approximately three inches of water. This small offshoot contained many limestones of various sizes, many of which had salamander eggs attached to the underside. The class lifted up a medium sized limestone and found this guy sitting there. Reaching about six inches, this individual is a very large streamside salamander.
This species is mostly located around the Ohio tri-state area (southwestern Ohio, northern Kentucky, and southeastern Indiana), however, colonies have been reported in western West Virginia and Tenessee. The streamside salamander breeds in smaller limestone creeks located in forests in late winter and early spring. Eggs are laid and attached to the botton of rocks and take between two and three weeks to hatch. The larve take between six and ten weeks to complete metamorphosis. Adult Ambystoma barbouri migrate away from their breeding sites and take up residency in nearby forests under rocks and logs. As adults, they can reach up to six inches in size, and are quite chunky. They have a gray lichen-like pattern on their sides and a small head. These guys can be confused with small-mouthed salamanders (Ambystoma texanum), however their location (stream) distinguishes them.

Catherine Ade
Miami University

Aquarium - Charleston SC

Just some pics from today!


Left: Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)









Below: Various sea turtle skulls - behind-the-scenes! : P

















Left: Siren



Below: Sea turtle in rehab center





















Left: Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum)

Left: Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

SNOOOOZIN'!!!

Left: Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)

Look for: shiny black or dark brown with light, bold chain-like pattern.

Left: Hellbender (Cryptobranchus allegniensis)

Look for: flat head with wrinkly body/folds along side. Adults have no external gills.

Left: Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)

Look for: stumpy feet without webbing & rigid,

unhinged plastron. These tortoises will burrow.

Left: American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis)

Left: Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)

Look for: distinct pattern on carapace and spots on legs, neck and head.

Above: Corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus) AND Below: Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

This exhibit showed people how to tell the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes - illustrating the triangular head versus a rounded head, vertical-slit pupils versus rounded pupils, and pits on the face.

Above: Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
Below: another American alligator.

'Ello Everyone! Just wanted to share a few pics from our trip to the SC Aquarium today. We had an awesome time and got a cool behind-the-scenes tour! The greatest part of the day was seeing the sea turtle rehab center. It was great and very interesting. These creatures are amazing!

~Mel. P.

College of Charleston (Dr. Welch)