U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Erie is one of more than 470 refuges in the National Antphibians Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of lands and waters managed and specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat and represents the most comprehensive wild­ life management program in the world. Units of the system stretch across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Keys and include small islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific. The character of the refuges is as diverse as the nation itself.

The Service also manages National Fish Hatcheries, and provides Federal leadership in habitat protection, fish and wildlife research, technical assistance and the conservation and protection of migratory birds, certain marine mammals and threatened and endangered species. ( , ______For further information, contact: ---~---­ Redbnck Salmnnnder Refuge Manager Erie National Wildlife Refuge RD 1 , Wood Duck Lane Guys Mills, Pennsylvania 16327 Telephone: (814) 789-3585

Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

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Erie National Wildlife Refuge DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Pennsylvania

RL-51590-7 June 1991 Erie National Wildlife Refuge, Amphibians established in 1959, is located in Crawford County in The first vertebrates to emerge onto land, amphib­ northwestern Pennsylvania. The refuge consists of ians have never adapted to a totally terrestrial two separate land units. The Sugar Lake Division, existence. Their eggs must be laid in water or in containing 5,205 acres, is 10 miles east of Meadville moist places since they lack shells that prevent on the outskirts of the village of Guys Mills. The desiccation. Most young pass through an aquatic Seneca Division, containing 3,463 acres, is 1O miles larval or tadpole stage after which they usually north of the Sugar Lake Division, near Cambridge metamorphose into air breathing adults which have Springs. moist glandular skin and two pair of legs with clawless toes. Amphibians include salamanders, toads and . Wetlands including swamps, beaver ponds, man­ made impoundments, marshlands, wet meadows and creeks are interspersed by wooded slopes, Salamanders croplands and grasslands in the refuge. This diver­ sity of habitats provides homes for a wide assort­ Eastern Hellbender ment of amphibians and reptiles. Many of them are (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) easily overlooked because they are secretive and/or A huge grotesque salamander that has a broad flattened head and folds of loose skin along its sides. nocturnal. Frogs, which can be identified from their Totally aquatic in running waters of rivers and large voices, are most obvious on spring nights when the streams. Eats crayfish. · refuge wetlands echo with their breeding songs. Salamanders, on the other hand, make no sounds Mudpuppy and can often only be found hiding under stones, (Necturus m. maculosus) logs or leaves. Although usually shy and elusive, This large completely aquatic salamander retains may be seen on cool sunny days absorbing three bushy red gills on each side of neck through­ the warmth of the sun. Painted turtles are, also, out life. Habitats include lakes, ponds, rivers and commonly seen basking in the sun on logs or streams. stumps in ponds. Other turtles may wander onto roads during the summer months. All of these Spotted Salamander , whether we see them or not, play active (Ambystoma maculatum) A purplish-black salamander marked with two rows roles in the complex community life that the refuge of large round yellow spots extending from head to supports. tail tip. An underground burrower in moist woods.

The following list was compiled from refuge staff Red-spotted Newt observations, consultation with experts, student (Notophthalmus v. viridescens) internships and literature research. Common and Aquatic larva transforms into terrestrial bright red­ scientific names follow Collins, Joseph T., et al., orange immature Red Eft. After 1-3 years the eft Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for returns to water and changes into red-spotted North American Amphibians and Reptiles, 1978. aquatic adult. Found in moist woods and nearby quiet shallow water. Northern Dusky Salamander Slimy Salamander Green (Desmognathus f. fuscus) (Plethodon g. glutinosus) (Rana clamitans melanota) Often is grayish or brownish with darker spots or A large black salamander sprinkled with silvery white The color of this common frog varies from green to blotches but can be quite variable in coloration and dots. Terrestrial in moist wooded ravines and brown with darker spots or blotches; however, head pattern. Terrestrial on the moist banks of woodland hillsides. Skin gland secretions cling to your hands and back are usually bright green. Found wherever streams. like glue. there is shallow fresh water.

Mountain Dusky Salamander Northern Red Salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) (Pseudotriton r. ruber) Typically has a light stripe down back and tail with a A red or reddish-orange salamander with its upper row of dark chevron-like spots down its center. surface dotted with black spots. Prefers clear cold Found in damp areas under stones, logs or leaves running water of springs or streams with sand or usually near a stream. gravel bottoms.

Northern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea b. bislineata) Toads and Frogs Named for two dark lines, one on each side, running Eastern American Toad from eye to tail. Belly is yellow. Found under stones (Bufo a. americanus) and debris at woodland stream borders. Wanders This is the widespread and abundant "hoptoad" that away from water. has one or two warts in each dark spot. Found in Longtail Salamander most habitats with some moisture and shallow pools available for breeding. (Eurycea I. longicauda) Pickerel Frog A yellow to orange salamander marked with black Northern Spring Peeper "herringbone" pattern along sides of long tail. (Hy/a c. crucifer) Terrestrial under logs and stones in woods near Known for its spring breeding song, this small streams and in caves. Pickerel Frog treefrog has a dark X-shaped mark on back. Abun­ (Rana palustris) Northern Spring Salamander dant in areas of brushy secondary growth or cutover Marked with two rows of squarish dark spots on woodlands near ponds or swamps. (Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus) brownish back and bright orange on undersides of Pinkish or salmon colored clouded with brown, this is hind legs. Prefers cool clear water of ravine and Gray Treefrog our largest lungless salamander. Found in cool meadow streams. Wanders away from water in (Hy/a versicolor) springs and streams and in wet depressions beneath summer. Depending on environment or activity, this treefrog logs and stones. changes color from gray to green to brown, but Northern Leopard Frog Four-toed Salamander always has yellow-orange on undersurfaces of hind (Rana pipiens) legs. Found in thickets and woodlands near shallow (Hemidactylium scutatum) Marked with irregular rows of roundish dark spots on water. Named for the fact it only has four toes on each hind greenish or brownish back. Found in shallow fresh foot, this small salamander has a reddish-brown water habitats but wanders far afield in summer. Bullfrog back and white belly with black spots. Found near (Rana catesbeiana) boggy woodland ponds. Wood Frog Greenish often mottled with gray or brown, this is our (Rana sy/vatica) Redback Salamander largest frog. Aquatic, preferring large bodies of A pinkish to brownish frog with a "robber's mask" or water, such as ponds, lakes, or bogs. Known for its (Plethodon cinereus) dark patch extending backward from each eye. bass "jug-a-rum" call. Exhibits two color phases - one with reddish stripe Found in moist wooded areas. down back and the other with plain gray or black back. Both have bellies SJJrinkled with "salt and Reptiles Wood Turtle Eastern Smooth Green (C/emmys insculpta) (Opheodrys v. vernalis) Reptiles are distinguished from amphibians by A large turtle with a rough sculptured shell and A gentle little snake that is plain green above and several adaptations that permit them to live and orange on neck and legs. Semi-aquatic; at home in whitish below. Often called "grass snake" for its breed in dry places. Their eggs are shelled and can the water, but may be found wandering in woods, terrestrial habits in meadows and fields. Feeds on be laid on dry land. Their skin is dry and scaly, meadows or on the road. insects and spiders. offering greater protection. They have well devel­ oped lungs from birth and either no limbs or four Eastern Spiny Softshell Queen Snake limbs with claws. Reptiles include turtles, lizards and (Trionyx s. spiniferus) (Regina septemvittata) snakes. Distinguished by a pointed head and a flat p_an~ake­ A slender brown aquatic snake that has a yellow like leathery shell with spiny edges. Occurs in rivers stripe along lower sides of body and a yellow belly Turtles and quiet water where sand and mud bars are with brown stripes. Found in small stony creeks an available. rivers where it eats crayfish. Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra s. serpentina) . Northern Brown Snake A large turtle with a long saw-toothed tail and a short Snakes (Storeria d. dekayi) temper. At home in freshwater lakes and ponds A little brown snake with a light central back stripe Northern Rlngneck Snake where it is omnivorous. bordered by small black spots. Inhabits swamps, (Diadophis punctatus edwardsi) marshes, moist woods, open fields and gardens. A plain dark snake with a yellow collar and belly, Feeds on earthworms and slugs. this secretive species is often found under stones and rotting logs in woods. Salamanders are an Northern Redbelly Snake important food. (Storeria o. occipitomaculata) . A bright red belly is the best identifying mark for th1 Black Rat Snake dark-backed snake. Found in open woods and (Elaphe o. obsoleta) sphagnum bogs. Feeds on earthworms and insect A large, thick-bodied snake that is shiny black above larvae. and has a blotched or checkered belly. An excellent tree climber, it is often found on field edges or Shorthead woods. Kills its prey by constriction. (Thamnophis brachystoma) Painted Turtles Marked with three longitudinal yellowish stripes Eastern MIik Snake similar to Eastern Garter Snake but its very small (Lampropeltis t. triangulum) head is distinctive. Low herbaceous cover in mead Marked with brown or red-brown blotches above and Mldland Painted Turtle ows and old fields is preferred. Diet is mostly earth black and white checks on belly. Found in a wide (Chrysemys picta marginata) worms. variety of habitats. Frequently enters barns in search Look for a smooth black shell with red designs of rodents. around its lower outer edge and yellow stripes on Northern Ribbon Snake head and throat. Prefers shallow water of ponds and (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis) Northern Water Snake marshes. Commonly seen sunning on logs. A dark-bodied slender snake with three bright yello (Nerodia s. sipedon) longitudinal stripes. Semi-aquatic; rarely found far Displays dark blotches on sides and back and Spotted Turtle from shallow water where it swims on the surface. usually has dark half-moon markings o_n belly. . (Clemmys guttata) Aquatic; common in all freshwater habitats where 1t Eastern Garter Snake Recognized by round yellow spots on upper s~ell feeds on fish, frogs and salamanders. and head. Found in shallow streams and margins of (Thamnophis s. sirtalis) . ponds, lakes and marshes. Color is variable but often exhibits three yellowish longitudinal stripes with a double row of black spot between striQes. Common in many habitats.