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Cheyenne Bottoms Reptiles and Amphibians

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Cheyenne Bottoms Reptiles and Amphibians Amphibians FROGS & TOADS Great Plains Toad CHEYENNE Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area is Anaxyrus cognatus home to at least nine species of Woodhouse’s Toad BOTTOMS amphibians. Additional species may Anaxyrus woodhousii occur at the Bottoms but have not yet Blanchard’s Cricket Frog been observed. Acris blanchardi The name "amphibian" comes from the Greek root words "amphi" meaning Boreal Chorus Frog "both" and "bios" meaning "life", which Pseudacris maculata refers to all amphibians' lifestyles of living Western Narrow-mouthed Toad Gastrophryne olivacea both in water and on land. While some WESTERN TIGER SALAMANDER amphibians can live away from water Plains Leopard Frog (terrestrial), they require water (aquatic) Lithobates blairi for at least part of their life cycle. American Bullfrog All Kansas amphibians deposit eggs Lithobates catesbeianus Reptiles,TurtlesReptiles,Turtles in water, which hatch into aquatic larvae. Plains Spadefoot && Toad and frog larvae are called tadpoles, Spea bombifrons salamanders are referred to as larva. Some salamander larvae can remain in AmphibiansAmphibians that stage for their entire lives, but most SALAMANDERS larvae (including tadpoles) eventually Western Tiger Salamander metamorphose (change) into adults. Ambystoma mavortium Adult frogs and salamanders tend to stay near water and have very thin, moist Thanks to Curtis Schmidt at the skin, while toads, with thicker, dry skin, Sternberg Museum of Natural History and can venture further from water. Frogs and Curtis Wolf at Kansas Wetland Education Center toads can be distinguished by their calls, for expertise in updating this list. and can be heard in the wetlands, PLAINS LEOPARD FROG Funded in part by your especially immediately after spring and hunting license dollars and Cheyenne Bottoms summer rains. Amphibians eat aquatic Wildlife Area the federal excise tax on and terrestrial insects, tadpoles, fish, 56 NE 40 Rd. sporting arms and ammunition frogs and toads. Amphibians also are Great Bend, KS 67530 for wildlife restoration (620) 793-7730 (24-hr. Hotline) important food items for wading birds, (620) 793-3066 (Area Office) raptors, reptiles, and some mammals, Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs (620) 227-8609 (Regional Office) described herein is available to all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, such as Virginia opossums, striped gender identity, political affiliation, and military or veteran status. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to Office of the Department Website: skunks, mink and raccoons. Secretary, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 S Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66612-1327. 06/20 www.ksoutdoors.com Common Watersnake Turtles & Reptiles LIZARDS Nerodia sipedon Prairie Lizard Graham’s Crayfish Snake wenty-four species of turtles and Sceloporus consobrinus Regina grahamii reptiles (lizards and snakes) have T Great Plains Skink DeKay’s Brownsnake been observed at Cheyenne Bottoms; Plestiodon obsoletus Storeria dekayi however, due to their secretive lifestyles, several other species found Six-lined Racerunner Plains Gartersnake in nearby areas may also be present at Aspidoscelis sexlineata Thamnophis radix the Bottoms. Turtles and reptiles tend Common Gartersnake to be more terrestrial than amphibians, Thamnophis sirtalis but all reptiles can swim and most of Lined Snake the turtle species are aquatic. Tropidoclonion lineatum All turtles, lizards and many species of snakes, such as SIX-LINED RACERUNNER TURTLES Gophersnakes and North American Snapping Turtle Racers - lay eggs, while others such Chelydra serpentina as gartersnakes and watersnakes give SNAKES live birth. Painted Turtle North American Racer Chrysemys picta Reptiles and turtles can often be Coluber constrictor found basking in the sun on the Ornate Box Turtle Prairie Kingsnake Terrapene ornata water's edge during the day or on Lampropeltis calligaster roads at night. Pond Slider Cheyenne Bottoms is home to a Speckled Kingsnake Trachemys scripta Lampropeltis holbrooki healthy population of venomous Yellow Mud Turtle Western Massasauga rattlesnakes. Gophersnake (Bullsnake) Kinosternon flavescens Pituophis catenifer While they can be observed with Spiny Softshell caution, extra care should be taken if Prairie Rattlesnake Apalone spinifera walking in grassy areas around the Crotalus viridis wetlands. Western Massasauga The diets of turtles and reptiles Sistrurus tergeminus include aquatic plants, insects, Ring-necked Snake crayfish, fish, amphibians, snakes, Diadophis punctatus turtles, bird eggs, small birds and small mammals. Some snakes may Plains Hog-nosed Snake Heterodon nasicus be important predators of ground nesting birds. Reptiles are preyed on Diamond-backed Watersnake PAINTED TURTLE by wading birds, raptors and raccoons. Nerodia rhombifer.
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