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Reptiles and Amphibians ____Northern Dusky Salamander c ____Southern Two-lined Salamander c Amphibians and Reptiles of West Virginia (Desmognathus fuscus) (Eurycea cirrigera) ____Allegheny Mountain Dusky ____Northern Two-lined Salamander c A Field Checklist Salamander c (Eurycea bislineata) (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) ____Long-tailed Salamander c There are 87 species of amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia. Both groups are cold- (Eurycea l. longicauda) blooded vertebrates whose body temperatures are regulated by the temperature of the environ- ____Seal Salamander c (Desmognathus monticola) ____Cave Salamander u ment. Amphibians are easily distinguished from reptiles. Amphibians lack body scales (except (Eurycea lucifuga) some tropical and subtropical forms) and claws which are present on reptiles. ____Black Mountain Salamander u Many people often malign members of these groups, especially snakes. This disfavor is (Desmognathus welteri) Toads unjustified. Amphibians and reptiles are of immeasurable ecological value, serving as a natural ____Black-bellied Salamander u (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) ____Eastern Spadefoot r pest control service, eating many rodents and insects that annoy humans. (Scaphiopus holbrookii) In studying amphibians and reptiles, you should refer to a field guide for key identifica- ____Eastern Red-backed Salamander c (Plethodon cinereus) ____Eastern American Toad c tion characteristics. In addition, the habitat as well as the region of the state where the animal (Bufo a. americanus) was observed is important. Some species have limited habitats and ranges and this informa- ____Southern Ravine Salamander c (Plethodon richmondi) ____Fowler’s Toad c tion can assist in identifying the animal. (Bufo fowleri) The number of different species of amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia are: ____Northern Ravine Salamander c (Plethodon electromorphus) Cricket Frogs AMPHIBIANS (48) REPTILES (39) ____Valley and Ridge Salamander c ____**Eastern Cricket Frog u Toads 3 Turtles 13 (Plethodon hoffmani) (Acris c. crepitans) Frogs 11 Lizards and Skinks 6 ____Shenandoah Mountain Salamander u ____**Blanchard’s Cricket Frog r Salamanders 34 Snakes 20 (Plethodon virginia) (Acris crepitans blanchardi) The classification of amphibians and reptiles in this checklist conforms to current ac- _____Cumberland Plateau Salamander c cepted zoological nomenclature. Although the scientific names may appear formidable and (Plethodon kentucki) Tree Frogs unpronounceable, they are necessary because an animal may often be known by more than ____Cheat Mountain Salamander r ____Gray Treefrog c one common name. (Plethodon nettingi) (Hyla versicolor) This checklist was designed for use by students as an educational tool or by anyone ____Northern Slimy Salamander c ____Cope’s Gray Treefrog c interested in amphibians and reptiles that inhabit West Virginia. The incidence or likelihood of (Plethodon glutinosus) (Hyla chrysoscelis) finding each animal has been designated by one of the following letters: ____White-spotted Slimy Salamander c (Plethodon cylindraceus) Chorus Frogs c = common – can be commonly seen in suitable habitat within present distribution ____Wehrle’s Salamander c ____Mountain Chorus Frog c u = uncommon – seldom seen because of restricted habitat and/or secretive behavior (Plethodon wehrlei) (Pseudacris brachyphona) r = rare – not often present even in suitable habitat ____Cow Knob Salamander u ____Upland Chorus Frog u ** = Denotes more than one subspecies occurs in WV. (Plethodon punctatus) (Pseudacris f. feriarum) ____Four-toed Salamander c ____Northern Spring Peeper c (Hemidactylium scutatum) (Pseudacris c. crucifer) ____**Northern Spring Salamander c Amphibians (Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus) True Frogs ____**Kentucky Spring Salamander c ____American Bullfrog c Salamanders (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus duryi) (Rana catesbeiana) Eastern Hellbender c ____Marbled Salamander c ____West Virginia Spring Salamander r ____Northern Green Frog c (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) (Ambystoma opacum) (Gyrinophilus subterraneus) (Rana clamitans melanota) ______Common Mudpuppy c ____Small-mouthed Salamander r ____Midland Mud Salamander u ____Wood Frog c (Necturus m. maculosus) (Ambystoma texanum) (Pseudotriton montanus diastictus) (Rana sylvatica) ______Jefferson Salamanderu ____Streamside Salamander r ____Northern Red Salamander c ____Northern Leopard Frog u (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) (Ambystoma barbouri) (Pseudotriton r. ruber) (Rana pipiens) ______Spotted Salamander c ____Red-spotted Newt, Red Eft c ____Green Salamander u ____Pickerel Frog c (Ambystoma maculatum) (Notophthalmus v. viridescens) (Aneides aeneus) (Rana palustris) _____Broad-headed Skink u _____Northern Copperhead c Reptiles (Eumeces laticeps) (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) _____Northern Coal Skink u _____Timber Rattlesnake c Amphibians Turtles (Eumeces a. anthracinus) (Crotalus horridus) ____Eastern Snapping Turtle c and Reptiles (Chelydra s. serpentina) Snakes Suggested Literature for ____Spotted Turtle r _____Queen Snake c Further Information: (Regina septemvittata) of West Virginia (Clemmys guttata) Amphibians and Reptiles in West ____Wood Turtle u _____Common Watersnake c (Glyptemys insculpta) (Nerodia s. sipedon) Virginia by N. Bayard Green and ____Eastern Box Turtle c _____Northern Brownsnake u Thomas K. Pauley (1987, University (Terrapene c. carolina) (Storeria d. dekayi) of Pittsburgh Press). A Field ____Northern Map Turtle u _____Northern Red-bellied Snake c Toads and Frogs of West Virginia* (Graptemys geographica) (Storeria o. occipitomaculata) Checklist ____Ouachita Map Turtle r _____Common Ribbonsnake u by Thomas K. Pauley (Graptemys o. ouachitensis) (Thamnophis s. sauritus) Turtles and Lizards of West ____**Eastern Painted Turtle c _____Eastern Gartersnake c Virginia* by Thomas K. Pauley and (Thamnophis s. sirtalis) (Chrysemys p. picta) Michael Seidel. ____**Midland Painted Turtle c _____**Eastern Smooth Earthsnake u (Chrysemys picta marginata) (Virginia v. valeriae) Snakes of West Virginia* by ____Red-eared Turtle c _____**Mountain Earthsnake u N. Bayard Green, Frank Jernejcic, (Trachemys scripta elegans) (Virginia valeriae pulchra) Thomas K. Pauley and Duane _____Eastern Hog-nosed Snake u ____Eastern River Cooter u Pursley. (Pseudemys c. concinna) (Heterodon platirhinos) ____Northern Red-bellied Cooter u _____Eastern Wormsnake c Salamanders of West Virginia* by (Pseudemys rubriventris) (Carphophis a. amoenus) Thomas K. Pauley. ____Stinkpot c _____Northern Ring-necked Snake c (Sternotherus odoratus) (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) *brochures available from the WVDNR ____Eastern Spiny Softshell c _____Northern Black Racer c (Apalone s. spinifera) (Coluber c. constrictor) ____Midland Smooth Softshell r _____Northern Rough Greensnake u (Opheodrys a. aestivus) Published by the (Apalone m. mutica) West Virginia Division of Natural Resources _____Smooth Green Snake c Wildlife Resources Section (Opheodrys vernalis) Lizards Wildlife Diversity Program _____Red Corn Snake r P.O. Box 67 ____Eastern Fence Lizard c (Elaphe guttata) (Sceloporus undulatus) Elkins, WV 26241 _____Eastern Ratsnake c (304) 637-0245 ____Eastern Six-lined Racerunner u (Elaphe alleghaniensis) (Aspidoscelis s. sexlineata) _____Northern Pine Snake r (Pituophis m. melanoleucus) Skinks _____**Eastern Kingsnake r www.wvdnr.gov (Lampropeltis g. getula) Published by the ____Little Brown Skink u It is the policy of the Division of Natural Resources to West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (Scincella lateralis) _____**Eastern Black Kingsnake c provide its facilities, services, programs, and employ- Wildlife Resources Section ____Common Five-lined Skink c (Lampropeltis getula niger) ment opportunities to all persons without regard to Wildlife Diversity Program (Eumeces fasciatus) _____Eastern Milksnake c sex, race, age, religion, national origin or ancestry, P. O . B o x 67 (Lampropeltis t. triangulum) disability, or other protected group status. Elkins, WV 26241 (304) 637-0245 vPrinted on recycled paper Revised 12/03 10M.
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