SC herpers at Francis Marion - again!

Here we are behind the Sewee Visitor's Center in the Francis Marion National Forest, having just finished hiking the trail behind the visitor's center.

And on the I'on Swamp Trail, also in the Francis Marion, relaxing before heading back to campus.

(posted by Allison Welch)

A sexy man

Here is the very sexy American toad I found at Woodland Trails on Thursday. Kudos to Brain Lutter for his skills with the net.
Notice the perturbed look on this fellow's face. Doubtless he thought the end was near, as he was chortling a few pitiful warning chirps and puffing himself up like a balloon. Little did he know, we only wanted to take his picture.
-Melanie Davis

Releasing Bufo Americanus

On Thursday April 10th, 2008 we ventured to woodland trails to locate herps. Our first order of business was to release a few Bufo americanus' back into their natural habitat after a year in the laboratory.

Here is a video of the escape:


Also here is a picture of the Toads enjoying their homeland:



Bufo americanus information:
A relatively abundant toad found throughout America, they require a freshwater pond or pool for early development. Physically they are a stout creature with a thick skin and warts. their color can range from yellow to black or green. Their size ranges from 50-100 mm and they have dark patches which include 1 or 2 warts, which distinguishes it from the Bufo woodhousi which can be confused with the American Toad (Post by: Bahram Khosraviani

Terrapin Trip

Our class went on a field trip to the Grice Marine Lab in Charleston Harbor to find malaclemys terrapin. The concentric grooves & ridges on the scutes of the carapace and the spotted heads & legs are characteristic. They are ususally found in coastal marshes, rarely straying from salt or brackish water. We only caught this one, but we can tell it is a male because of its small size in relation to a female and (to distinguish it from a young female) its cloaca on the tail is past the carapace.

Lauren Stewart

Spring Peeper, Woodland Trails

We found a Spring Peeper, Pseudacris crucifer, at Woodland trails at the second, smaller pond. We found this frog in the swampier area of the pond that contained a lot of vegetation such as grasses and cattails. The area we found it in was consistent with its typical preferred habitat of marshy swamps or ponds. The peeper was a dark brown color, had round disk-like fingertips and a dark cross on its back that made it easy to identify. These frogs will only reach a size of about 20-25 millimeters at maturity. Males will gather at a pond (hundreds gather together and try to establish territory) and begin to start their mating calls shortly after hibernation. The males who can call the fastest and longest (their call is a "peep" noise) have the best chance of attracting a female, but females also tend to choose the largest male mate available. The breeding season typically lasts from March to June. Spring peeper adults feed during the late afternoon or early evening and eat small insects such as spiders, ants and flies. They have a lot of predators which include snakes, salamanders, owls and other birds. Their small size helps them survive because they are able to hide under available litter. (posted by Jeff Naples)

Spring Peeper Find

Our class was again in the field today at a spot called Woodland Trails. The day was overcast and about fifty degrees with a slight wind. Walking towards the pond, which was in an area with sparse tree coverage, we immediately began hearing American toads (Bufo americanus) calling. As I was about to wade into the water, I spotted this spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) sitting on the shore. It was about one and a half inches long with a dark brown x pattern on its back which distinguishes it from other Hylidae members. They generally eat small invertebrates like water beetles and ants found around the pond they inhabit. They are rather explosive breeders and begin mating in the early spring time. The males will call the females--with a disproportionally loud "peep", hence the name. The females can lay up to a thousand eggs at a time. Though generally nocturnal, this one seemed to be up early! It better be careful as its main predators--snakes, small mammals, beetle larvae, and herp students--are on the look out for them! (Posted by Morgan Smith)

Rana pipiens tadpoles

Near the edge of the pond, in about a foot deep of water, I found a clutch of eggs and young Northern Leopard Frog tadpoles. The Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens, tadpoles that I found at the Woodland trails pond were very tiny and extremely dark which made them difficult to identify. Female Rana pipiens lay around 3,000 eggs in a large jelly-like mass in the water; they can hatch after one to three weeks with variation occurring due to temperature. Adult Leopard frogs do not parent or protect their eggs once they are laid. When they hatch, the tadpoles eat plants, algae and even some dead tadpoles or invertebrates that are small enough for them. These tadpoles will reach a maximum size of 8.4 centimeters and undergo metamorphosis after a larval period of 70-110 days. (posted by Jeff Naples)