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Chris Asquith

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Chris Asquith Herpetology !"#$%&'%()$*"& Outline • Evolutionary history of Reptiles and Amphibian • Amphibian: Biodiversity and Distribution • Amphibians: Natural History and Biology • Amphibians: Species of the Virginia Piedmont • Reptiles: Biodiversity and Distrubtion • Reptiles: Natural History and Biology • Reptiles: Species of the Virginia Piedmont • Environmental Threats to “Herps” • Rare and Endangered Species in Virginia Evolutionary History of Reptiles and Amphibians https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/obl4he/vertebratediversity/index.html Why “Herps”? • From the Greek “Herpeton” meaning Creeping Animal • Carolus Linnaeus, the father of taxonomy, grouped reptiles and amphibians together • Reptiles and amphibians fill similar ecological roles • Reptiles and amphibians are found in similar habitats • Reptiles and amphibians attract similar enthusiasts Tiktaalik https://www.npr.org/2010/07/05/127937070/the-human- https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/science/16fossil.html edge-finding-our-inner-fish Amphibians! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphibian Herps by the Numbers: Global Species Virginia Species • Reptiles • Reptiles • Turtles: 356 • Turtles: 25 • Lizards: 6,000+ • Lizards: 10 • Snakes: 3,600 • Snakes: 34 • Amphibians • Amphibians • Frogs: 4,800 • Frogs: 28 • Salamanders: 655 • Salamanders: 56 Appalachia: A Biodiversity Hotpot https://biodiversitymapping.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Amphibians_Caudata.jpg Frog Diversity? Go to the Amazon https://biodiversitymapping.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Amphibians_Anura.jpg Amphibian Characteristics • Ectothermic (Cold-blooded) • Complex Life Cycles • Larvae with gills • Moist, slimy, permeable skin • Hollow, lightweight bones • No nails or claws • Adults have a 3-chambered heart • Mostly predators • Many species have evolved poisons Frog Anatomy http://animalia-life.club/other/frog-external-anatomy.html Salamander Anatomy http://www.animalspot.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Newt-Anatomy.jpg Amphibian Life Cycle https://previews.123rf.com/images/blueringmedia/blueringmedia1807/ blueringmedia180700647/105065723-salamander-life-cycle-concept- illustration.jpg Amphibian Larvae http://fwf.ag.utk.edu/mgray/wfs493/HovermanLarvaeID.pdf Amphibians in Food Webs https://www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/ foodweb.html Beneficial Impacts of Amphibians • Major Part of Many Ecosystems • Prey on Pest Species • Burrows Improve Soil Characteristics • Used in Human Cuisine • Contribute to our Medical Knowledge Amphibian Families in Virginia Frogs Salamanders Ranidae- “The True Frogs” Ambystomatidae- “The Mole Salamanders” Hylidae- “The Tree Frogs” Plethodontidae- “The Lungless Salamanders” Bufonidae- “The True Toads” Salamandridae- “True Salamanders” Microhylidae- “Narrowmouthed Toads” Sirenidae- “The Sirens” Scaphiopodidae- “Spadefoot Toads” Proteidae- “The Mudpuppies” Amphiumidae- “The Amphiumas” Cryptobranchidae- “The Giant Salamanders” Eastern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) Eastern American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus americanus) Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris) Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum) Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum ) Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) Northern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus) Seal Salamander (Desmognathus monticola) Southern Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) Three-Lined Salamander (Eurycea guttolineata) Northern Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus porphyriticus) Four-Toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) White-Spotted Slimy Salamander (Plethodon cylindraceus) Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber ruber) Threats to Amphibians • Habitat Loss • Pollution • Disease • Introduced Predators Shenandoah Salamander (Plethodon shenandoah) State and Federally Endangered Species Eastern Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) State Endangered Species Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) Near Threatened Quiz Time! -&&2.7DDEEEFRPV*/F>#5D2-#&#[VWXUSTIQ[()&%*1Hc%1.&'#(.H).H)H<*11(H/*#<H E'&-H'&.H&#(<%1H.-)213H).H)Hc%1.&'#(H5)*GH).H)H.+56#$H/#*H1>#$#<+H)F-&5$, Reptiles! https://socratic.org/questions/what-are-the-four-types-classes-of-reptiles Turtles and the Indo-Burma Hotspot https://www.researchgate.net/figure/World-map-showing-tortoise-and- freshwater-turtle-hotspots-and-the-numbers-of-species-and_fig1_281129874 Like Snakes? Go to Borneo or Australia http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/cpb/history/workshops/globalassessmentofreptiledistributions And Lizards? Several Tropical Hotspots http://shaimeirilab.weebly.com/research-interests.html Reptile Characteristics • Ectothermic • Mostly egg-laying, with amniotic eggs • 3-chambered hearts (crocodilians have 4-chambered like birds) • Breathe using lungs • Skin is covered in thick, armor-like scales • Predominantly predators, except for turtles and some lizards • Digits end in claws Reptiles in Food Webs https://desertsarahdice.weebly.com/food-chain-and-food-web.html Beneficial Impacts of Reptiles • Major Part of Many Ecosystems • Prey on Pest Species • Burrows Improve Soil Characteristics • Used in Human Cuisine • Contribute to our Medical Knowledge • Historically used in Clothing/Fashion Reptile Families Lizards Snakes Scincidae- “The Skinks” Colubridae- “The Typical Snakes” Phrynosomatidae- “The Spiny Lizards” Viperidae- “The Vipers” Anguidae- “The Glass Lizards and Alligator Lizards” Turtles Teiidae- “The Whiptails and Emydidae- “The Pond Turtles” Racerunners” Chelydridae- “The Snapping Turtles” Kinosternidae- “Mud and Musk Turtles” Cheloniidae- “The Sea Turtles” Dermochelyidae- “The Leatherback Sea Turtle” Eastern Six-Lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata sexlineata) Northern Coal Skink (Plestiodon anthracinus anthracinus) Common Five-Lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) Broad-Headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) Little Brown Skink (Scincella lateralis) Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) Photo by Ryan Niccoli Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) Eastern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus) Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) Northern Ring-Necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii) Eastern Hog-Nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) Northern Mole Kingsnake ( Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata) Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon) Northern Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus) Eastern Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) Queensnake (Regina septemvittata) Dekay's Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi) Red-Bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) Common Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) Eastern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta picta) Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna) Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) Woodland Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) Threats to Reptiles • Habitat Loss • Pollution • Pet Trade • Introduced Predators • Fearful Humans Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) Critically Endangered, State and Federal Eastern Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia reticularia) State Endangered Sea Turtles Clockwise from Top Left: Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Loggerhead Sea Turtle State and Federally Endangered Thank you! 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  • Background on Sea Turtles
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