Practical Flashcards

1
Q

Caecillians

A
  • order: Gymnophiona
  • Primarily fossorial (eyes beneath bone, hard head, limbless)
  • Tentacles (chemosensory organs)
  • internal fertilization through phallodeum
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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)
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3
Q

Skeletal features of Caudata

A
  • separate radius and ulna (same as humans)

- elongated spinal column

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4
Q

Sirens (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Sirenidae
  • Eel-like/slender
  • Paedomorphic features
  • no hindlimbs
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5
Q

Hellbenders and Asiatic giant salamanders (family and characteristics)

A
  • family: Cryptobranchidae
  • largest extant salamanders
  • external fertilization
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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
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7
Q

Newts and European salamanders (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Salamandridae
  • no costal grooves
  • internal fertilization
  • typically bright colors
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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
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9
Q

Mole salamanders (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Ambystomatidae
  • fossorial
  • breed in late winter/early spring
  • no nasolabial grooves
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10
Q

Spotted salamander (name, range, characteristics

A
  • Ambystoma maculatum
  • spectacular migrations on first rainy nights of spring
  • Common throughout NY
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11
Q

Jefferson’s salamander (name, range, characteristics

A
  • Ambystoma jeffersonianum
  • larger than BSS with elongated legs and toes
  • very patchy range throughout NY
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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
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13
Q

Interesting/unusal things about hybrids of the JS and BSS

A
  • unisex
  • parthenogenetic reproduction
  • polyploidy
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14
Q

What is the scientific name of the species complex that the BSS and JS belong to

A

-Ambystoma jeffersonium-laterale complex

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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
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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
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17
Q

Waterdogs, mudpuppies, and the olm (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Proteidae

- fully aquatic, paedomorphic

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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
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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
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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)
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21
Q

Northern dusky salamander (name, range, characteristics

A
  • Desmognathus fuscus
  • keeled tail (improves swimming)
  • eye strip
  • distributed widely across NY
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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
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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
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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
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25
Q

Spring salamander (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
  • major predator of other salamanders
  • largest plethodontid in NY
  • good distribution in NY, more popular in SW NY
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26
Q

Four-toed salamander (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Hemidactylium scutatum
  • often found in sphagnum moss
  • females guard nests
  • can have communal nests
  • very patchy range across NY
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27
Q

Eastern red-backed salamander (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Plethodon cinereus
  • most abundant salamander in NY
  • several color morphs
  • found everywhere in NY
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28
Q

Northern slimy salamander (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • 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
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29
Q

Wehrle’s salamander (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Plethodon wehrlei
  • xeric habitat
  • webbed feet
  • found in one specific watershed at western PA/NY border
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30
Q

Red salamander (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Pseudotriton ruber
  • golden eyes
  • no white line across nasolabial grooves (diff from spring sal)
  • found primarily in S NY, but not long island
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31
Q

Anuran skeletal characteristics

A
  • fused radius and ulna (radioulna)
  • fused tibia and fibula (tibiofibula)
  • caudal vertebrae fusing into urostyle
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32
Q

What is the term taht describes the warning coloration on frogs?

A

Amposematism

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33
Q

How do frogs feed

A
  • adhesive tongue attached in front of mouth

- jaws and teeth usually play minor role in prey capture

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34
Q

Term for frog humping

A

Amplexus

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35
Q

Feature for toad ID

A
  • cranial crest
  • Parotoid glands
  • Warts
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36
Q

New Zealand Frogs & Tailed Frogs (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Leiopelmatidae
  • Voiceless
  • Copulatory organ -> coplexus
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37
Q

Fire-bellied toads, flat headed frogs (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Bombinatoridae
  • Common in pet trade
  • has a sp of frog with no lungs
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38
Q

African Clawed Frog, Suriname Toads (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Pipidae
  • Tend to have an elaborate mating system
  • Eggs embedded in females
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39
Q

Nearctic spadefoots (family and characteristiscs)

A
  • Family: Scaphiopodidae
  • Fossorial
  • warty, but soft skin
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40
Q

Eastern Spadefoot (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Scaphiopus holbrookii
  • vertical pupils
  • sickle-shaped spade on underside of each foot
  • prefers well drained, sandy soil
  • Only in long island
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41
Q

Glass Frogs (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Centrolenidae
  • transparent abdominal skin
  • mostly arboreal
  • lay eggs on leaves and branches above streams
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42
Q

Posion frogs (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Dendrobatidae
  • lipophilic alkaloids sequestered from feeding on ants
  • Aposematic
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43
Q

True toads, harlequin frogs (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Bufonidae
  • Parotoid glands
  • Pelvic patch for rapid water uptake from a substrate
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44
Q

American toad (name, range, characteristics)

A

-Anaxyrus americanus
-spots on belly
parotoid glads dont touch cranial crest
-breed in spring
-extremely common in NY

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45
Q

Fowlers toad (name, characteristics, range)

A
  • Anaxyrus fowleri
  • unspotted belly
  • prefers sandy soils
  • Southern NY, long island range
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46
Q

Tree frogs (family, characteristics)

A
  • Family: Hylidae
  • high diversity in tropics
  • most arboreal, some ground dwelling
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47
Q

Gray tree frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Hyla versicolor
  • tree-dwelling
  • identical to copes gray treefrog
  • common in most parts of NY
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48
Q

Copes gray tree frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Hyla chrysoscelis
  • call speed varies with temp
  • faster call than H. versicolor
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49
Q

Spring peeper (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Pseudacris crucifer
  • dark X on back
  • breed in late winter/early spring
  • found everywhere in NY
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50
Q

Western chorus frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Pseudacris triseriata
  • poorly developed toe discs
  • no webbing between toes
  • Found in W NY south of Lake Ontario
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51
Q

Why is there an open spot between in the W chorus frog range

A
  • two separate species that were usually treated as one

- Boreal chorus frog

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52
Q

True frogs (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Ranidae
  • typically found in ponds
  • long legs with webbing between toes
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53
Q

Bullfrog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lithobates catesbeianus
  • largest frog in NY
  • no dorsolateral fold
  • breed in summer
  • common everywhere in NY
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54
Q

Green frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lithobates clamitans
  • one of the most common frogs in NY
  • permanent water bodies
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55
Q

Mink frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lithobates septentrionalis
  • musky, mink like odor
  • breed in summer
  • webs on feet go past toes
  • only in ADK region
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56
Q

Pickerel frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lithobates palustris
  • rectangle spots on back
  • slow, shallow moving waters
  • last frog to enter habitation
  • common throughout NY
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57
Q

Northern leopard frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lithobates pipiens
  • light borders around spots on back
  • dorsolateral fold (white) runs down entire length
  • common in everywhere except S NY and ADK
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58
Q

Southern leopard frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lithobates sphenocephalus
  • light dot in middle of tympanum
  • prefers wetlands
  • only in long island, and one watershed in central NY
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59
Q

Atlantic coast leopard frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lithobates kauffeldi
  • open and vegetated wetlands
  • lass varied coloration than southern
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60
Q

Wood frog (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lithobates sylvaticus
  • dark eye mask
  • prominent dorsal folds
  • freeze tolerant
  • explosive breeders in early spring
  • common everywhere in NY
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61
Q

Toxins associated with toads

A

-Bufotoxins in parotoid glands

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62
Q

Function of the tympanum

A

-transmits sound vibrations to inner ear

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63
Q

Side-necked turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Suborder: Pleurodira
  • 3 families
  • restricted primarily to Southern Hemisphere
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64
Q

Australoamerican side-necked turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Chelidae

- flattened skulls, shells

65
Q

African side-necked turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Pelomedusidae

- bottom walkers, not strong swimmers

66
Q

Madagascan and South America side-necked turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Podocnemididae
  • Largest known turtle ever
  • flat shells, active swimmers
67
Q

Hidden-necked turtles (suborder and characteristics)

A
  • suborder: Cryptodira

- 11 families representing the majority of turtle diversity

68
Q

Pig-nosed turtles (family, characteristics)

A
  • Family: Carettochelyidae

- Nostrils resembling pig

69
Q

Softshell turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Trionychidae
  • fully aquatic, strong swimmers
  • carapace covered in leathery skin
70
Q

Spiny softshell turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Apalone spinifera
  • can breathe through skin
  • genetic sex determination
  • scattered on western nose of NY
71
Q

Mud and musk turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Kinosternidae

- musk glands on underside

72
Q

Common musk turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Sternotherus odoratus
  • Barbels under chin
  • front of plastron hinged
  • found in Oswego area and S NY
73
Q

Eastern mud turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Kinosternon subrubrum
  • doubly hinged plastron
  • Only in long island
74
Q

Snapping turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Chelydridae

- limbs, head, and tail cannot be retracted into shell

75
Q

Common snapping turtles (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Chelydra serpentina
  • symbiotic relationship with painted turtles
  • saw toothed tail
  • everywhere in NY
76
Q

Sea turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Cheloniidae
  • Complete marine except when nesting
  • claws present
77
Q

Loggerhead sea turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Caretta caretta
  • named for large head
  • the furniture turtle
  • only in long island
78
Q

Green sea turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Chelonia mydas
  • Bask on shore for vitamin D
  • named for greenish fat
  • one pair of prefrontal plates
  • only in long island
79
Q

Atlantic hawksbill (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Eretmochelys imbricata
  • two pairs of prefrontal plates
  • source of turtle shell jewlery
  • nuchal scute separated from costals
  • only in long island
80
Q

Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lepidochelys kempii
  • smallest sea turtle in NY
  • nuchal scute touches costals
  • only in long island
81
Q

What species exhibits group nesting, and what is it called

A
  • Kemp’s Ridley

- Arribada nesting

82
Q

Leatherback sea turtles (family and characteristics)

A

-Family: Dermochelyidae

83
Q

Leatherback sea turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Dermochelys coriacea
  • largest extant turtle
  • eats jellyfish
  • carapace composed of osteoderms
  • no claws
  • only in long island
84
Q

Threats to sea turtles

A
  • Pollution
  • Fisheries bycatch
  • climate change
  • Coastal development
85
Q

Pond and river turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Emydidae
  • some have hinged plastrons
  • no range given
86
Q

Painted turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Chrysemys picta
  • prefers slow moving waters
  • red bars on marginal scutes
  • found everywhere in NY
87
Q

Spotted turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • 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
Q

Wood turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Glyptemys insculpta
  • genetic sex determination
  • Riverside or streamside, woodlands
  • large home ranges
  • spotty range throughout NY, common in S NY
89
Q

Bog turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Glyptemys muhlenbergii
  • smallest turtle in NY
  • wet meadows and fens
  • found in oswego and S NY
90
Q

Blanding’s turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A

-Emydoidea blandingii
-smiley face, notched upper jaw
Found in N W S NY

91
Q

Northern map turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Graptemys geographica
  • contour map-like markings
  • found along the Hudson
92
Q

Eastern box turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Terrapene carolina carolina
  • highly domed carapace
  • plastron double hinged
  • lives 100+ years
  • S NY, some found in SW NY
93
Q

Diamondback terrapin (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Malaclemys terrapin
  • webbed feet, large hind limbs
  • concentric grooves on scutes
  • found only in long island
94
Q

Red-eared slider (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Trachemys scripta elegans
  • exotic
  • subspecies of pond slider
  • found in long island and few spots along NY
95
Q

Bigheaded turtles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Platysternidae

- china

96
Q

Old world emydids (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Geoemydidae

- S europe to japan, central and s america

97
Q

Totoises (family and characteristics)

A

Family: Testudinidae

-head and limbs fully withdrawn

98
Q

Yellowbelly slider (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Trachemys scripta scripta
  • native to SE US
  • pets that were released in the wild
  • only long island
99
Q

Eastern redbelly turtle (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Pseudemys rubriventris
  • reddish to orange yellow plastron
  • long island and central NY
100
Q

Snake characteristics

A
  • highest degree of cranial kinesis of any tetrapods
  • transparent spectacle covering eye
  • large right lung, reduced left
  • jacobson/vomeronasal organ (for chemoreception)
101
Q

Pit organs in snakes

A
  • sensitive infrared receptors
  • pit vipers: b/t nostril and eye
  • boas and pythons: paired structure along lips
102
Q

Reproduction with snake

A
  • paired copulatory organs - hemipenes

- genetic sex determination

103
Q

Feeding in snakes

A
  • unilateral feeding (right and left bones of upper jaw move alternately)
  • have a glottis to breathe while consuming prey
104
Q

How do snakes kill prey

A
  • Constriction

- immobilization with fangs (venom)

105
Q

Viperid venom

A
  • generally hemolytic, attacks blood - internal bleeding

- also cytolytic, destructs cells

106
Q

Elapid venom

A
  • generally neurotoxic

- immobilizes prey, permanent damage, suffocates first)

107
Q

Threats to snake populations

A
  • indiscriminate killing and collecting
  • habitat loss and fragmentation
  • snake fungal disease
108
Q

Primitive snakes (order, characteristics)

A

Order: Scolecophidia

  • solid skulls
  • fossorial
  • primitive eyes - retina only contains rods
109
Q

Pythons (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Pythonidae
  • nonvenomous constrictors
  • habitat: desert to rain forest
  • cloacal spurs
  • pit organs
  • includes longest extant snake
110
Q

Burmese python

A
  • introduced into Everglades - invasive
  • 30k-300k pythons could be in park
  • implicated in severe declines of mammal species
111
Q

Boas (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Boidae
  • nonvenomous - vivparous
  • vestigal pelvic girdle
  • heaviest extant snake
112
Q

Vipers and pit vipers (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Viperidae
  • venomous
  • viviparous or oviparous
113
Q

Copperhead (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Agkistrodon contortrix
  • no rattle
  • dark cross bands in hourglass pattern
  • mostly nocturnal
  • south NY
114
Q

Timber rattlesnake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • 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
Q

Massasauga (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Sistrurus catenatus
  • venomous with rattle
  • wetland-dependant
  • viviparous
  • two spots in NY, one is in Onondaga
116
Q

Cobras, kraits, sea snakes, death adders and allies (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Elapidae
  • worlds deadliest snakes
  • neurotoxin to paralyze prey
117
Q

Common snakes (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Colubridae

- largest snake family

118
Q

Northern water snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Nerodia sipedon
  • most aquatic NY snake
  • permanent freshwater habitats
  • All around NY except ADK
119
Q

Queen snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • 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
Q

DeKays brown snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Storeria dekayi
  • small with keeled scales
  • terrestrial and marshy habitats
  • scattered everywhere in NY
121
Q

Red-bellied snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Storeria occipitomaculata
  • smallest snake in NY
  • 2 color morphs: red/brown
  • 3 light spots behind head
  • moist forests
  • common everywhere in NY
122
Q

Short-headed garter snake

A
  • Thamnophis brachystoma
  • meadows, forest edge
  • brown with 3 light stripes
  • SW border of NY
123
Q

Eastern ribbon snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • 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
Q

Common garter snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Thamnophis sirtalis
  • most widespread snake in NY
  • Variable in color
  • true viviparity
  • everywhere in NY
125
Q

Smooth green snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Liochlorophis vernalis
  • bright green with white belly
  • wet grassy areas near forests, lakes, wetlands
  • scattered throughout NY
126
Q

Eastern worm snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Carphophis amoenus
  • brown with pink belly, blunt tail
  • moist forests with streams
  • mostly fossorial
  • only in S NY, long island
127
Q

Eastern racer (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Coluber constrictor
  • black with white chin and dark belly
  • does not constrict
  • S NY, some in central NY
128
Q

Ring-necked snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • 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
Q

Eastern rat snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Elaphe alleghaniensis
  • longest snake in NY
  • black with white checkered belly
  • constricts
  • mostly S NY, some scattered throughout
130
Q

Eastern hognose snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Heterodon platirhinos
  • flattened, upturned snout
  • S NY, some Eastern
131
Q

Milk snake (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Lampropeltis triangulum
  • red or reddish-brown blotches with black outline
  • old fields, farmlands
  • everywhere in NY except ADK
132
Q

Features for frog ID

A
  • Tympanum

- Dorsolateral skin folds

133
Q

Northern cricket frog (name, characteristics, range)

A
  • Acris crepitans
  • smallest frog in NY
  • breed in early summer
  • restricted to one range in S NY
134
Q

Tuataras (order and characteristics)

A
  • 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
Q

Tuatara family and species name

A
  • Family: Sphenodontidae

- Sphenodon punctatus

136
Q

Wall climbing geckos (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Gekkonidae
  • tail autonomy
  • eyes covered by immovable spectacle (same as snakes)
  • climbing abilities
137
Q

Crag and girdle-tailed lizards (family and characteristics)

A
  • family: Cordylidae
  • scales in transverse circles
  • curl into ball for defense
  • rock-dwelling
138
Q

Skinks (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Scincidae
  • most speciose family of lizards
  • osteoderms under skin
  • tail autonomy
  • parental care of eggs
139
Q

Northern Coal Skink (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • 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
Q

Five-lined skink (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • Plestiodon fasciatus
  • 5 lines down body
  • moist open canopy forests with abundant ground cover
  • northern hudson and southern NY range
141
Q

Wall and rock lizards (family, characteristics)

A
  • Family: Lacertidae
  • diurnal, rock-dwelling
  • oviparous
  • primarily insectivorous
142
Q

Italian wall lizard (name, range, characteristics)

A
  • 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
Q

Whiptail lizards and tegus (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Teiidae
  • oviparous with communal nesting
  • long tail with autonomy
  • Parthenogenesis are common
144
Q

Alligator and glass lizards (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Anguidae
  • tropical and temperate regions
  • mostly diurnal and terrestrial
  • limbs lost in several genera
145
Q

Gila monster, mexican beaded lizard (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Helodermatidae
  • Venomous - released by slow chewing
  • used in pharmaceutical research
  • good climbers
  • oviparous
146
Q

Monitors and Goannas (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Varanidae
  • many are venomous
  • fast moving with forked tongue
  • small heads with long neck
147
Q

Chameleons (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Chamaeleonidae
  • prehensile tails
  • zygodactlyous feet
  • eyes move independently
  • color changing
  • long tongue that can be length of body
148
Q

Angleheads, Calotes, Dragon lizards (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Agamidae
  • Diurnal, most are oviparous
  • terrestrial or or arboreal
149
Q

North American Spiny Lizards (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Phrynosomatidae

- squirt stream of blood from eyes for defense

150
Q

Eastern fence lizard (name, range, characteristics)

A

-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
Q

Iguanas (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Iguanidae
  • large-bodied
  • autonomy
  • spp distinguished by skull morphology and dentition
152
Q

True Anoles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Dactyloidae
  • extensive radiation in Caribbean and west indies
  • continually produce single egg
  • dewlap for communication
153
Q

Amphisbaenians or worm lizards (suborder, characteristics)

A
  • Amphisbaenia
  • limbless
  • right lung reduced
  • fossorial
  • skin moves independently for rectilinear locomotion
154
Q

Crocodilians order and characteristics

A
  • Crocodylia
  • osteoderms
  • all feet are webbed
  • 4 chambered heart
  • Dome pressure receptors on head
155
Q

What is the function of the dome pressure receptors on the head of Crocodylia

A

-they detect surface waters, acute hearing, and smell

156
Q

Reproduction in crocodilians

A
  • oviparous, and construct nests underground
  • parental care
  • temp determined sex
157
Q

Gavials or gharials (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Gavialidae
  • 2 species
  • most endangered crocs
  • weak limbs, feed on fish
  • long, narrow snouts
158
Q

Alligators and caimans (family and characteristics)

A
  • family: Alligatoridae
  • 9 species
  • teeth of lower jaw cannot be seen
159
Q

Crocodiles (family and characteristics)

A
  • Family: Crocodylidae
  • teeth on lower jaw can be seen when mouth is closed
  • lingual salt glands