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)

Eggs!

Today we went to a couple secluded ponds and had our most successful herp-hunt yet. The above eggs were found in the shallow edge of the pond. The first picture is a wriggling mass of newly hatched tadpoles, eggs, and algae (you can see some of the black tadpoles around the edge). We also found several strings of eggs which may have come from an American toad (Bufo Americanus). One toad was captured and there were toads trilling when we arrived as well. I'm sure you'll see more posts from this excursion including lots of cricket frogs and spring peepers.

-posted by Andrew Henterly

Ambystoma maculatum!

On March 27, our class had the biggest find of the season--a spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)! It was found by our classmates, Beau and Bahram, hiding under a log in damp soil at a site called Boesel Pond in Oxford, Ohio. The day had been slightly overcast and cool--previously, we had found some smaller species of salamander and frog. But at 8 inches, this was definitely our largest catch. This particular salamander was a male--this was determined by the presence of swollen cloacal folds. Very secretive, they generally live underground, but will come out to breed. These salamanders begin mating in March or April--as soon as the snow begins to melt. The females lay 100-200 eggs in the water, usually attached to a plant. This spotted salamander was probably born in this pond as they rarely move away from their original hatching spot. Preferring cool damp places to inhabit, this docile amphibian eats mainly small invertebrates like earthworms and insects found on the woodland floor. Since they can secrete a milky toxin from their back, we made sure to wash our hands after this catch! (Posted by Morgan Smith)

Woodland Trails

I found an American toad, Bufo americanus, sitting amongst a patch of cattails in the water near the bank of the pond at Woodland trails. The water where it was sitting was only a few inches deep. These toads can be identified by their olive green color and black spots which have warts filled with a poisonous fluid used as defense against predators. It is common to find these toads in freshwater ponds such as this and they require dense patches of vegetation where they can find food and hide from predators (they are most active at night). This particular toad was hiding amongst a thick patch of cattails. The adult toads eat insects and other invertebrates such as earthworms, beetles and snails that they capture using their sticky tongues. Their main predators tend to be snakes. We could hear several American toads calling around us at the pond. They have a very distinct call, a long trill, that they use to attract females for breeding. Their mating season is usually in March or April but it can last as late July. The American toad eats a variety of insects and invertebrates and so are beneficial to farmers and gardeners. Their toxins are also being studied to see if they can have any medical benefits (posted by Jeff Naples).