Michigan Reptiles

Question 1

Serrate rear margin of carapace

Answer 1

Chelydra serpentina (snapping turtle)

Question 2

2 yellowish stripes on side of head, barbels on throat

Answer 2

Kinosternon odoratus (musk turtle or stinkpot)

Question 3

Red + yellow stripes on head, carapace with red lines along edge

Answer 3

Chrysemys picta (painted turtle)

Question 4

Red/orange stripe behind eye

Answer 4

Trichemys scripta (red-eared slider)

Question 5

Smooth black carapace with yellow spots

Answer 5

Clemmys guttata (spotted turtle)

Question 6

Rough, brownish carapace (looks like wood)

Answer 6

Clemmys insculpta (wood turtle)

Question 7

Brown with yellow or orange pattern

Answer 7

Terrapene carolina (eastern box turtle)

Question 8

Black carapace with yellowish spots + streaks, yellow chin

Answer 8

Emydoidea blandingii (Blanding’s turtle)

Question 9

Green-olive carapace like topo map

Answer 9

Graptemys geographica (map turtle)

Question 10

Flat, smooth shell

Answer 10

Apalone spinifera (spiny softshell)

Question 11

Skink (smooth scales)

Answer 11

Eumeces fasciatus (five-lined skink)

Question 12

Teiidae (rough scales on tail)

Answer 12

Cnemidophorus sexlineatus (six-lined racerunner)

Question 13

Rattle, facial pit

Answer 13

Sistrurus catenatus (massasauga rattlesnake)

Question 14

Black, yellow stripes, thicker

Answer 14

Thamnophis sirtalis (eastern garter snake)

Question 15

Black, yellow stripes, thinner

Answer 15

Thamnophis sauritas (northern ribbon snake)

Question 16

Upturned snout

Answer 16

Heterodon platyrhinos (eastern hognose snake)

Question 17

Half-moon shaped red, orange or black spots on belly

Answer 17

Nerodia sipedon (northern water snake)

Question 18

Yellowish belly with 4 dark brown stripes

Answer 18

Regina septemvittata (queen snake)

Question 19

Dark blue/greenish/grey back, lighter blue underside

Answer 19

Coluber constrictor (blue racer)

Question 20

Large, black, shiny

Answer 20

Elaphe obsoleta (black rat snake)

Question 21

Brown, reddish brown blotches, Y- or V-shaped mark on top of head

Answer 21

Lampropeltis triangulatum (milk snake)

Question 22

2 rows of parallel dark dots down back bordering lighter middle stripe

Answer 22

Storeria dekayi (brown snake)