1
Q
Caecillians
A
- order: Gymnophiona
- Primarily fossorial (eyes beneath bone, hard head, limbless)
- Tentacles (chemosensory organs)
- internal fertilization through phallodeum
2
Q
Salamanders (order and characteristics)
A
- Order: Caudata
- all are predators
- skin has granular (poison) and mucous glands
- paedomorphosis in some species (external gills, absence of eyelids)
3
Q
Skeletal features of Caudata
A
- separate radius and ulna (same as humans)
- elongated spinal column
4
Q
Sirens (family and characteristics)
A
- Family: Sirenidae
- Eel-like/slender
- Paedomorphic features
- no hindlimbs
5
Q
Hellbenders and Asiatic giant salamanders (family and characteristics)
A
- family: Cryptobranchidae
- largest extant salamanders
- external fertilization
6
Q
Hellbender (name, range, characteristics)
A
- Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
- 5 toes on hind limbs, 4 on fore limbs
- diet consists of crayfish
- largest salamander in western hemisphere by mass
- restricted to 2 specific watersheds
7
Q
Newts and European salamanders (family and characteristics)
A
- Family: Salamandridae
- no costal grooves
- internal fertilization
- typically bright colors
8
Q
Eastern (red-spotted) newt (name, range, characteristics
A
- Notophthalmus viridescens
- depostis eggs singly, wrapped in vegetation
- efts in forests, adults in ponds, lakes, slow-moving rivers
- obvious sexual dimorphism
- everywhere in NY
9
Q
Mole salamanders (family and characteristics)
A
- Family: Ambystomatidae
- fossorial
- breed in late winter/early spring
- no nasolabial grooves
10
Q
Spotted salamander (name, range, characteristics
A
- Ambystoma maculatum
- spectacular migrations on first rainy nights of spring
- Common throughout NY
11
Q
Jefferson’s salamander (name, range, characteristics
A
- Ambystoma jeffersonianum
- larger than BSS with elongated legs and toes
- very patchy range throughout NY
12
Q
Blue-spotted salamander (name, range, characteristics
A
- Ambystoma laterale
- smaller than JS with short legs
- prefers sandy or loamy soils
- statewide distribution but very patchy
13
Q
Interesting/unusal things about hybrids of the JS and BSS
A
- unisex
- parthenogenetic reproduction
- polyploidy
14
Q
What is the scientific name of the species complex that the BSS and JS belong to
A
-Ambystoma jeffersonium-laterale complex
15
Q
Marbled salamander (name, range, characteristics
A
- Ambystoma opacum
- breed in fall, females guard nests
- range limited to S NY possibly due to severe weather
16
Q
(Eastern) tiger salamander (name, range, characteristics
A
- Ambystoma tigrinum
- NY’s largest terrestrial salamander
- most widely distributed salamander in NA
- restricted to long island in NY
17
Q
Waterdogs, mudpuppies, and the olm (family and characteristics)
A
- Family: Proteidae
- fully aquatic, paedomorphic
18
Q
(common) mudpuppy (name, range, characteristics
A
- Necturus maculosus
- 4 toes on all 4 limbs
- External gills, breathes through skin
- spotty range in central/northern NY
19
Q
Amphiumas or congo eels (family and characteristics)
A
- family: Amphiumidae
- heavy bodied eel-like with 4 tiny limbs
- paedomorphic
- survives droughts by burrowing and aestivation for 2+ years
- different species distinguished by amount of toes
20
Q
Lungless salamanders (family and characteristics)
A
- Family: Plethodontidae
- most divers and species rich salamander family
- cutaneous respiration (breathes through skin)
- nasolabial grooves (aid in chemoreception)
21
Q
Northern dusky salamander (name, range, characteristics
A
- Desmognathus fuscus
- keeled tail (improves swimming)
- eye strip
- distributed widely across NY
22
Q
Allegheny mountain dusky salamander (name, range, characteristics)
A
- Desmognathus ochrophaeus
- rounded tail
- ventures further from water than northern dusky
- wide range across NY, more popular in W NY
23
Q
Northern two lined salamander (name, range, characteristics)
A
- Eurycea bislineata
- small, slender
- females attach eggs to underside of submerged rocks in streams
- widely distributed acros NY
24
Q
long-tailed salamander (name, range, characteristics)
A
- Eurycea longicauda
- tail accounts of ~60% of total length
- breathes primarily though skin
- not popular in NY, only 15 reported occurances
25
Spring salamander (name, range, characteristics)
- Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
- major predator of other salamanders
- largest plethodontid in NY
- good distribution in NY, more popular in SW NY
26
Four-toed salamander (name, range, characteristics)
- Hemidactylium scutatum
- often found in sphagnum moss
- females guard nests
- can have communal nests
- very patchy range across NY
27
Eastern red-backed salamander (name, range, characteristics)
- Plethodon cinereus
- most abundant salamander in NY
- several color morphs
- found everywhere in NY
28
Northern slimy salamander (name, range, characteristics)
- Plethodon glutinosus
- called slimy because it can excrete a sticky, glue like substance from skin
- restricted range in S NY, found up to ADK, no further
29
Wehrle's salamander (name, range, characteristics)
- Plethodon wehrlei
- xeric habitat
- webbed feet
- found in one specific watershed at western PA/NY border
30
Red salamander (name, range, characteristics)
- Pseudotriton ruber
- golden eyes
- no white line across nasolabial grooves (diff from spring sal)
- found primarily in S NY, but not long island
31
Anuran skeletal characteristics
- fused radius and ulna (radioulna)
- fused tibia and fibula (tibiofibula)
- caudal vertebrae fusing into urostyle
32
What is the term taht describes the warning coloration on frogs?
Amposematism
33
How do frogs feed
- adhesive tongue attached in front of mouth
| - jaws and teeth usually play minor role in prey capture
34
Term for frog humping
Amplexus
35
Feature for toad ID
- cranial crest
- Parotoid glands
- Warts
36
New Zealand Frogs & Tailed Frogs (family and characteristics)
- Family: Leiopelmatidae
- Voiceless
- Copulatory organ -> coplexus
37
Fire-bellied toads, flat headed frogs (family and characteristics)
- Family: Bombinatoridae
- Common in pet trade
- has a sp of frog with no lungs
38
African Clawed Frog, Suriname Toads (family and characteristics)
- Family: Pipidae
- Tend to have an elaborate mating system
- Eggs embedded in females
39
Nearctic spadefoots (family and characteristiscs)
- Family: Scaphiopodidae
- Fossorial
- warty, but soft skin
40
Eastern Spadefoot (name, range, characteristics)
- Scaphiopus holbrookii
- vertical pupils
- sickle-shaped spade on underside of each foot
- prefers well drained, sandy soil
- Only in long island
41
Glass Frogs (family and characteristics)
- Family: Centrolenidae
- transparent abdominal skin
- mostly arboreal
- lay eggs on leaves and branches above streams
42
Posion frogs (family and characteristics)
- Family: Dendrobatidae
- lipophilic alkaloids sequestered from feeding on ants
- Aposematic
43
True toads, harlequin frogs (family and characteristics)
- Family: Bufonidae
- Parotoid glands
- Pelvic patch for rapid water uptake from a substrate
44
American toad (name, range, characteristics)
-Anaxyrus americanus
-spots on belly
parotoid glads dont touch cranial crest
-breed in spring
-extremely common in NY
45
Fowlers toad (name, characteristics, range)
- Anaxyrus fowleri
- unspotted belly
- prefers sandy soils
- Southern NY, long island range
46
Tree frogs (family, characteristics)
- Family: Hylidae
- high diversity in tropics
- most arboreal, some ground dwelling
47
Gray tree frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Hyla versicolor
- tree-dwelling
- identical to copes gray treefrog
- common in most parts of NY
48
Copes gray tree frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Hyla chrysoscelis
- call speed varies with temp
- faster call than H. versicolor
49
Spring peeper (name, range, characteristics)
- Pseudacris crucifer
- dark X on back
- breed in late winter/early spring
- found everywhere in NY
50
Western chorus frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Pseudacris triseriata
- poorly developed toe discs
- no webbing between toes
- Found in W NY south of Lake Ontario
51
Why is there an open spot between in the W chorus frog range
- two separate species that were usually treated as one
| - Boreal chorus frog
52
True frogs (family and characteristics)
- Family: Ranidae
- typically found in ponds
- long legs with webbing between toes
53
Bullfrog (name, range, characteristics)
- Lithobates catesbeianus
- largest frog in NY
- no dorsolateral fold
- breed in summer
- common everywhere in NY
54
Green frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Lithobates clamitans
- one of the most common frogs in NY
- permanent water bodies
55
Mink frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Lithobates septentrionalis
- musky, mink like odor
- breed in summer
- webs on feet go past toes
- only in ADK region
56
Pickerel frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Lithobates palustris
- rectangle spots on back
- slow, shallow moving waters
- last frog to enter habitation
- common throughout NY
57
Northern leopard frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Lithobates pipiens
- light borders around spots on back
- dorsolateral fold (white) runs down entire length
- common in everywhere except S NY and ADK
58
Southern leopard frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Lithobates sphenocephalus
- light dot in middle of tympanum
- prefers wetlands
- only in long island, and one watershed in central NY
59
Atlantic coast leopard frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Lithobates kauffeldi
- open and vegetated wetlands
- lass varied coloration than southern
60
Wood frog (name, range, characteristics)
- Lithobates sylvaticus
- dark eye mask
- prominent dorsal folds
- freeze tolerant
- explosive breeders in early spring
- common everywhere in NY
61
Toxins associated with toads
-Bufotoxins in parotoid glands
62
Function of the tympanum
-transmits sound vibrations to inner ear
63
Side-necked turtles (family and characteristics)
- Suborder: Pleurodira
- 3 families
- restricted primarily to Southern Hemisphere
64
Australoamerican side-necked turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Chelidae
| - flattened skulls, shells
65
African side-necked turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Pelomedusidae
| - bottom walkers, not strong swimmers
66
Madagascan and South America side-necked turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Podocnemididae
- Largest known turtle ever
- flat shells, active swimmers
67
Hidden-necked turtles (suborder and characteristics)
- suborder: Cryptodira
| - 11 families representing the majority of turtle diversity
68
Pig-nosed turtles (family, characteristics)
- Family: Carettochelyidae
| - Nostrils resembling pig
69
Softshell turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Trionychidae
- fully aquatic, strong swimmers
- carapace covered in leathery skin
70
Spiny softshell turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Apalone spinifera
- can breathe through skin
- genetic sex determination
- scattered on western nose of NY
71
Mud and musk turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Kinosternidae
| - musk glands on underside
72
Common musk turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Sternotherus odoratus
- Barbels under chin
- front of plastron hinged
- found in Oswego area and S NY
73
Eastern mud turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Kinosternon subrubrum
- doubly hinged plastron
- Only in long island
74
Snapping turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Chelydridae
| - limbs, head, and tail cannot be retracted into shell
75
Common snapping turtles (name, range, characteristics)
- Chelydra serpentina
- symbiotic relationship with painted turtles
- saw toothed tail
- everywhere in NY
76
Sea turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Complete marine except when nesting
- claws present
77
Loggerhead sea turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Caretta caretta
- named for large head
- the furniture turtle
- only in long island
78
Green sea turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Chelonia mydas
- Bask on shore for vitamin D
- named for greenish fat
- one pair of prefrontal plates
- only in long island
79
Atlantic hawksbill (name, range, characteristics)
- Eretmochelys imbricata
- two pairs of prefrontal plates
- source of turtle shell jewlery
- nuchal scute separated from costals
- only in long island
80
Kemp's Ridley sea turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Lepidochelys kempii
- smallest sea turtle in NY
- nuchal scute touches costals
- only in long island
81
What species exhibits group nesting, and what is it called
- Kemp's Ridley
| - Arribada nesting
82
Leatherback sea turtles (family and characteristics)
-Family: Dermochelyidae
83
Leatherback sea turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Dermochelys coriacea
- largest extant turtle
- eats jellyfish
- carapace composed of osteoderms
- no claws
- only in long island
84
Threats to sea turtles
- Pollution
- Fisheries bycatch
- climate change
- Coastal development
85
Pond and river turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Emydidae
- some have hinged plastrons
- no range given
86
Painted turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Chrysemys picta
- prefers slow moving waters
- red bars on marginal scutes
- found everywhere in NY
87
Spotted turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Clemmys guttata
- black with yellow dots on carapace and head
- vernal pools, uplants, wetlands (seasonally)
- Found in oswego and to the west, also S NY
88
Wood turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Glyptemys insculpta
- genetic sex determination
- Riverside or streamside, woodlands
- large home ranges
- spotty range throughout NY, common in S NY
89
Bog turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Glyptemys muhlenbergii
- smallest turtle in NY
- wet meadows and fens
- found in oswego and S NY
90
Blanding's turtle (name, range, characteristics)
-Emydoidea blandingii
-smiley face, notched upper jaw
Found in N W S NY
91
Northern map turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Graptemys geographica
- contour map-like markings
- found along the Hudson
92
Eastern box turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Terrapene carolina carolina
- highly domed carapace
- plastron double hinged
- lives 100+ years
- S NY, some found in SW NY
93
Diamondback terrapin (name, range, characteristics)
- Malaclemys terrapin
- webbed feet, large hind limbs
- concentric grooves on scutes
- found only in long island
94
Red-eared slider (name, range, characteristics)
- Trachemys scripta elegans
- exotic
- subspecies of pond slider
- found in long island and few spots along NY
95
Bigheaded turtles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Platysternidae
| - china
96
Old world emydids (family and characteristics)
- Family: Geoemydidae
| - S europe to japan, central and s america
97
Totoises (family and characteristics)
Family: Testudinidae
| -head and limbs fully withdrawn
98
Yellowbelly slider (name, range, characteristics)
- Trachemys scripta scripta
- native to SE US
- pets that were released in the wild
- only long island
99
Eastern redbelly turtle (name, range, characteristics)
- Pseudemys rubriventris
- reddish to orange yellow plastron
- long island and central NY
100
Snake characteristics
- highest degree of cranial kinesis of any tetrapods
- transparent spectacle covering eye
- large right lung, reduced left
- jacobson/vomeronasal organ (for chemoreception)
101
Pit organs in snakes
- sensitive infrared receptors
- pit vipers: b/t nostril and eye
- boas and pythons: paired structure along lips
102
Reproduction with snake
- paired copulatory organs - hemipenes
| - genetic sex determination
103
Feeding in snakes
- unilateral feeding (right and left bones of upper jaw move alternately)
- have a glottis to breathe while consuming prey
104
How do snakes kill prey
- Constriction
| - immobilization with fangs (venom)
105
Viperid venom
- generally hemolytic, attacks blood - internal bleeding
| - also cytolytic, destructs cells
106
Elapid venom
- generally neurotoxic
| - immobilizes prey, permanent damage, suffocates first)
107
Threats to snake populations
- indiscriminate killing and collecting
- habitat loss and fragmentation
- snake fungal disease
108
Primitive snakes (order, characteristics)
Order: Scolecophidia
- solid skulls
- fossorial
- primitive eyes - retina only contains rods
109
Pythons (family and characteristics)
- Family: Pythonidae
- nonvenomous constrictors
- habitat: desert to rain forest
- cloacal spurs
- pit organs
- includes longest extant snake
110
Burmese python
- introduced into Everglades - invasive
- 30k-300k pythons could be in park
- implicated in severe declines of mammal species
111
Boas (family and characteristics)
- Family: Boidae
- nonvenomous - vivparous
- vestigal pelvic girdle
- heaviest extant snake
112
Vipers and pit vipers (family and characteristics)
- Family: Viperidae
- venomous
- viviparous or oviparous
113
Copperhead (name, range, characteristics)
- Agkistrodon contortrix
- no rattle
- dark cross bands in hourglass pattern
- mostly nocturnal
- south NY
114
Timber rattlesnake (name, range, characteristics)
- Crotalus horridus
- largest venomous snake in NY
- has ratte
- yellow and dark morphs
- reproduce every 3-4 years
- S NY, along W+S border
115
Massasauga (name, range, characteristics)
- Sistrurus catenatus
- venomous with rattle
- wetland-dependant
- viviparous
- two spots in NY, one is in Onondaga
116
Cobras, kraits, sea snakes, death adders and allies (family and characteristics)
- Family: Elapidae
- worlds deadliest snakes
- neurotoxin to paralyze prey
117
Common snakes (family and characteristics)
- Family: Colubridae
| - largest snake family
118
Northern water snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Nerodia sipedon
- most aquatic NY snake
- permanent freshwater habitats
- All around NY except ADK
119
Queen snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Regina septemvittata
- moving water with shrubs
- specializes on molted crayfish
- dark tan-black with yellow stripe on lower sides
- 4 spots on W NY
120
DeKays brown snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Storeria dekayi
- small with keeled scales
- terrestrial and marshy habitats
- scattered everywhere in NY
121
Red-bellied snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Storeria occipitomaculata
- smallest snake in NY
- 2 color morphs: red/brown
- 3 light spots behind head
- moist forests
- common everywhere in NY
122
Short-headed garter snake
- Thamnophis brachystoma
- meadows, forest edge
- brown with 3 light stripes
- SW border of NY
123
Eastern ribbon snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Thamnophis sauritus
- small spot of yellow in front of eye
- long tail
- fairly aquatic but bask in grass
- Scattered through NY but not common
124
Common garter snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Thamnophis sirtalis
- most widespread snake in NY
- Variable in color
- true viviparity
- everywhere in NY
125
Smooth green snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Liochlorophis vernalis
- bright green with white belly
- wet grassy areas near forests, lakes, wetlands
- scattered throughout NY
126
Eastern worm snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Carphophis amoenus
- brown with pink belly, blunt tail
- moist forests with streams
- mostly fossorial
- only in S NY, long island
127
Eastern racer (name, range, characteristics)
- Coluber constrictor
- black with white chin and dark belly
- does not constrict
- S NY, some in central NY
128
Ring-necked snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Diadophis punctatus
- yellow/orange belly and neck ring
- mostly nocturnal
- common in central NY mostly, some in S and W NY, almost none north
129
Eastern rat snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Elaphe alleghaniensis
- longest snake in NY
- black with white checkered belly
- constricts
- mostly S NY, some scattered throughout
130
Eastern hognose snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Heterodon platirhinos
- flattened, upturned snout
- S NY, some Eastern
131
Milk snake (name, range, characteristics)
- Lampropeltis triangulum
- red or reddish-brown blotches with black outline
- old fields, farmlands
- everywhere in NY except ADK
132
Features for frog ID
- Tympanum
| - Dorsolateral skin folds
133
Northern cricket frog (name, characteristics, range)
- Acris crepitans
- smallest frog in NY
- breed in early summer
- restricted to one range in S NY
134
Tuataras (order and characteristics)
- Rhynchocephalia
- live in islands off New Zealand
- spines on nape and back
- live in burrows
- oviparous
- mature sexually at 20 years
- third vestigal eye
135
Tuatara family and species name
- Family: Sphenodontidae
| - Sphenodon punctatus
136
Wall climbing geckos (family and characteristics)
- Family: Gekkonidae
- tail autonomy
- eyes covered by immovable spectacle (same as snakes)
- climbing abilities
137
Crag and girdle-tailed lizards (family and characteristics)
- family: Cordylidae
- scales in transverse circles
- curl into ball for defense
- rock-dwelling
138
Skinks (family and characteristics)
- Family: Scincidae
- most speciose family of lizards
- osteoderms under skin
- tail autonomy
- parental care of eggs
139
Northern Coal Skink (name, range, characteristics)
- Plestiodon anthracinus
- 2 wide black stripes bordered by light stripes
- males have red jaw during breeding season
- young have blue tails
- western NY
- moist forests near wetlands or on rocky hillsides near water
140
Five-lined skink (name, range, characteristics)
- Plestiodon fasciatus
- 5 lines down body
- moist open canopy forests with abundant ground cover
- northern hudson and southern NY range
141
Wall and rock lizards (family, characteristics)
- Family: Lacertidae
- diurnal, rock-dwelling
- oviparous
- primarily insectivorous
142
Italian wall lizard (name, range, characteristics)
- Podarcis sicula
- tail is half of total length
- EXOTIC
- sun-exposed urban and suburban areas
- upper body green with brownish lines
- very small spot in long island
143
Whiptail lizards and tegus (family and characteristics)
- Family: Teiidae
- oviparous with communal nesting
- long tail with autonomy
- Parthenogenesis are common
144
Alligator and glass lizards (family and characteristics)
- Family: Anguidae
- tropical and temperate regions
- mostly diurnal and terrestrial
- limbs lost in several genera
145
Gila monster, mexican beaded lizard (family and characteristics)
- Family: Helodermatidae
- Venomous - released by slow chewing
- used in pharmaceutical research
- good climbers
- oviparous
146
Monitors and Goannas (family and characteristics)
- Family: Varanidae
- many are venomous
- fast moving with forked tongue
- small heads with long neck
147
Chameleons (family and characteristics)
- Family: Chamaeleonidae
- prehensile tails
- zygodactlyous feet
- eyes move independently
- color changing
- long tongue that can be length of body
148
Angleheads, Calotes, Dragon lizards (family and characteristics)
- Family: Agamidae
- Diurnal, most are oviparous
- terrestrial or or arboreal
149
North American Spiny Lizards (family and characteristics)
- Family: Phrynosomatidae
| - squirt stream of blood from eyes for defense
150
Eastern fence lizard (name, range, characteristics)
-Sceloporus undulatus
-strongly keeled scales
-dry open woodlands with lots of sun
-oviparous
one spot in long island and another north of long island
151
Iguanas (family and characteristics)
- Family: Iguanidae
- large-bodied
- autonomy
- spp distinguished by skull morphology and dentition
152
True Anoles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Dactyloidae
- extensive radiation in Caribbean and west indies
- continually produce single egg
- dewlap for communication
153
Amphisbaenians or worm lizards (suborder, characteristics)
- Amphisbaenia
- limbless
- right lung reduced
- fossorial
- skin moves independently for rectilinear locomotion
154
Crocodilians order and characteristics
- Crocodylia
- osteoderms
- all feet are webbed
- 4 chambered heart
- Dome pressure receptors on head
155
What is the function of the dome pressure receptors on the head of Crocodylia
-they detect surface waters, acute hearing, and smell
156
Reproduction in crocodilians
- oviparous, and construct nests underground
- parental care
- temp determined sex
157
Gavials or gharials (family and characteristics)
- Family: Gavialidae
- 2 species
- most endangered crocs
- weak limbs, feed on fish
- long, narrow snouts
158
Alligators and caimans (family and characteristics)
- family: Alligatoridae
- 9 species
- teeth of lower jaw cannot be seen
159
Crocodiles (family and characteristics)
- Family: Crocodylidae
- teeth on lower jaw can be seen when mouth is closed
- lingual salt glands
Herpetology
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