Species Checklist & Dichotomous Key to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia

2019 Edition

Dr. John C. Maerz Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor & Professor of Vertebrate Ecology

Dr. Adam G. Clause

Mr. Kevin Fouts, M.Sc.

This key is designed for the Herpetology (WILD 4040/6040) course at the University of Georgia to complement descriptions in the Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia, Edited by J. B. Jensen, C. D. Camp, J. W. Gibbons, and M. J. Elliott, University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA.

The keys the lizards and snakes of Georgia was initially adapted from Gibbons, J.W., and R.D. Semlitsch. 1991. Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Savannah River Site. University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA and from Robert Powell, Joseph T. Collins, and Errol D. Hooper Jr. 2012. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United State and Canada, Second Edition.

Dichotomous Key to the Amphibians and Reptiles of GA for WILD 4040/6040 – Herpetology by John C. Maerz, Adam G. Clause, Kevin Fouts © 2019

Table of Contents Page

Georgia Amphibian and Reptile Species Checklist………………………………… 1

Georgia Ecoregions and County Maps……………………………………………… 4

Key I. Larval Salamander Genera…………………………………………………… 5

Key II. Larval Anuran Genera………………………………………………………… 6

Key III. Adult Salamanders – All Families 7

Key IV. Adult Salamanders – All Plethodontidae………………………………. 9

Key IVA. Adult Salamanders – Plethodontinae, Aneidini and Plethodontini... 13

Key IVB. Adult Salamanders – Plethodontinae Desmognathini……..……..… 14

Key IVC. Adult Salamanders – Hemidactylinae, Hemidactyliini and Spelerpini (Eurycea, Gyrinophilus, Pseudotriton, Stereochilus, Urspelerpes)…... 15

Key V. Adult Anurans – All Families…..…………………….……………………….. 17

Key VA. Adult Anurans – Hylidae, Eleutherodactylidae ………………………. 19

Key VI. Turtles ………………………………………………………………………… 21

Key VII. Crocodilians, Amphisbaenians, Squamates ……………..………………. 24

Key VIIA. Lizards – Anguidae (Ophisaurus spp.) ……….….………………….. 24

Key VIIB. Lizards – Gekkonidae, Phrynosomatidae, Dactyloidae, Scincidae, Teiidae …………………………..……………….. 25

Key VIIC. Snakes – Viperidae (VENOMOUS)…………………………………... 26

Key VIID. Snakes – Colubridae (NON-VENOMOUS)…………………….……. 26

GA Species Checklist updated January 2019

Class Order Family Genus Species Common Name 1 Amphibia Anura Bufonidae Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus American toad 2 Amphibia Anura Bufonidae Bufo (Anaxyrus) fowleri Fowler's toad 3 Amphibia Anura Bufonidae Bufo (Anaxyrus) quercicus oak toad 4 Amphibia Anura Bufonidae Bufo (Anaxyrus) terrestris southern toad 5 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Acris crepitans northern cricket frog 6 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Acris gryllus southern cricket frog 7 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Hyla avivoca bird-voiced treefrog 8 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Hyla chrysoscelis Cope’s gray treefrog 9 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Hyla cinerea green treefrog 10 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Hyla femoralis pine woods treefrog 11 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Hyla gratiosa barking treefrog 12 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Hyla squirella squirrel treefrog 13 ● Amphibia Anura Hylidae Osteopilus septentrionalis Cuban treefrog 14 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Pseudacris brachyphona mountain chorus frog 15 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Pseudacris brimleyi Brimley's chorus frog 16 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Pseudacris crucifer spring peeper 17 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Pseudacris feriarum upland chorus frog 18 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Pseudacris nigrita southern chorus frog 19 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Pseudacris ocularis little grass frog 20 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Pseudacris ornata ornate chorus frog 21 ● Amphibia Anura Eleutherodactylidae Eleutherodactylus planirostris greenhouse frog 22 Amphibia Anura Microhylidae Gastrophryne carolinensis eastern narrow-mouthed toad 23 Amphibia Anura Scaphiopodidae [Pelobatidae] Scaphiopus holbrookii eastern spadefoot 24 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) capito gopher frog 25 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana American bullfrog 26 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) clamitans green frog 27 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) grylio pig frog 28 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) heckscheri river frog 29 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) palustris pickerel frog 30 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) sphenocephala southern leopard frog 31 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) sylvatica wood frog 32 Amphibia Anura Ranidae Rana (Lithobates) virgatipes carpenter frog 33 Amphibia Caudata Ambystomatidae Ambystoma bishopi reticulated flatwoods salamander 34 Amphibia Caudata Ambystomatidae Ambystoma cingulatum frosted flatwoods salamander 35 Amphibia Caudata Ambystomatidae Ambystoma maculatum spotted salamander 36 Amphibia Caudata Ambystomatidae Ambystoma opacum marbled salamander 37 Amphibia Caudata Ambystomatidae Ambystoma talpoideum mole salamander 38 Amphibia Caudata Ambystomatidae Ambystoma tigrinum eastern tiger salamander 39 Amphibia Caudata Amphiumidae Amphiuma means two-toed amphiuma 40 Amphibia Caudata Amphiumidae Amphiuma pholeter one-toed amphiuma 41 Amphibia Caudata Cryptobranchidae Cryptobranchus alleganiensis eastern hellbender 42 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Aneides aeneus green salamander 43 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus aeneus seepage salamander 44 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus apalachicolae Apalachicola dusky salamander 45 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus auriculatus southern dusky salamander 46 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus conanti spotted dusky salamander 47 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus folkertsi dwarf black-bellied salamander 48 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus marmoratus shovel-nosed salamander 49 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus monticola seal salamander 50 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus ocoee Ocoee salamander 51 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus quadramaculatus black-bellied salamander 52 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea aquatica Coosa brownback salamander 53 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea cirrigera southern two-lined salamander 54 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea wilderae Blue Ridge two-lined salamander 55 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea guttolineata three-lined salamander 56 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea hillisi Hillis’s dwarf salamander 57 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea quadridigitata Southeastern dwarf salamander 58 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea longicauda long-tailed salamander 59 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea lucifuga cave salamander 60 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Eurycea [Haideotriton] wallacei Georgia blind salamander 61 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Gyrinophilus palleucus Tennessee cave salamander 62 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Gyrinophilus porphyriticus spring salamander 63 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Hemidactylium scutatum four-toed salamander 64 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon chattahoochee Chattahoochee slimy salamander 65 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon chlorobryonis Atlantic Coast slimy salamander 66 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon glutinosus northern slimy salamander 67 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon grobmani southern slimy salamander 68 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon ocmulgee Ocmulgee slimy salamander 69 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon savannah Savannah slimy salamander 70 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon teyahalee Southern Appalachian slimy salamander 71 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon variolatus South Carolina slimy salamander 72 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon metcalfi southern gray-cheeked salamander 73 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon petraeus Pigeon Mountain salamander 74 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon serratus southern red-backed salamander 75 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon shermani red-legged salamander 76 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon ventralis southern zigzag salamander

1 GA Species Checklist updated January 2019

Class Order Family Genus Species Common Name 77 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Plethodon websteri Webster's salamander 78 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Pseudotriton montanus mud salamander 79 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Pseudotriton ruber red salamander 80 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Stereochilus marginatus many-lined salamander 81 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Urspelerpes brucei patch-nosed salamander 82 Amphibia Caudata Proteidae Necturus cf. beyeri Alabama waterdog 83 Amphibia Caudata Proteidae Necturus maculosus mudpuppy 84 Amphibia Caudata Proteidae Necturus punctatus dwarf waterdog 85 Amphibia Caudata Salamandridae Notophthalmus perstriatus striped newt 86 Amphibia Caudata Salamandridae Notophthalmus viridescens eastern newt 87 Amphibia Caudata Sirenidae Pseudobranchus striatus northern dwarf siren 88 Amphibia Caudata Sirenidae Siren lacertina greater siren 89 Amphibia Caudata Sirenidae Siren intermedia lesser siren 90 Reptilia Crocodilia Alligatoridae Alligator mississippiensis American alligator 91 Reptilia Amphisbaenia Rhineuridae Rhineura floridana Florida worm lizard 92 Reptilia Squamata Anguidae Ophisaurus attenuatus slender glass lizard 93 Reptilia Squamata Anguidae Ophisaurus compressus island glass lizard 94 Reptilia Squamata Anguidae Ophisaurus mimicus mimic glass lizard 95 Reptilia Squamata Anguidae Ophisaurus ventralis eastern glass lizard 96 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Carphophis amoenus eastern worm snake 97 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Cemophora coccinea scarlet snake 98 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Coluber constrictor black racer 99 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Diadophis punctatus ring-necked snake 100 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Drymarchon couperi eastern indigo snake 101 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Pantherophis [Elaphe] guttatus [guttata] corn snake 102 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Pantherophis [Elaphe] obsoletus [obsoleta] rat snake 103 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Farancia abacura mud snake 104 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Farancia erytrogramma rainbow snake 105 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Haldea [Virginia] striatula rough earth snake 106 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Heterodon platirhinos eastern hog-nosed snake 107 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Heterodon simus southern hog-nosed snake 108 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Lampropeltis calligaster mole kingsnake 109 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Lampropeltis elapsoides scarlet kingsnake 110 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Lampropeltis getula eastern kingsnake 111 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Lampropeltis triangulum eastern milk snake 112 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Masticophis flagellum coachwhip 113 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Nerodia erythrogaster red-bellied water snake 114 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Nerodia fasciata banded water snake 115 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Nerodia floridana Florida green water snake 116 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Nerodia sipedon northern water snake 117 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Nerodia taxispilota brown water snake 118 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Opheodrys aestivus rough green snake 119 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Pituophis melanoleucus pine snake 120 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Regina alleni striped crayfish snake 121 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Regina rigida glossy crayfish snake 122 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Regina septemvittata queen snake 123 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Rhadinaea flavilata pine woods snake 124 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Seminatrix pygaea black swamp snake 125 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Storeria dekayi brown snake 126 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Storeria occipitomaculata red-bellied snake 127 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Tantilla coronata southeastern crowned snake 128 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Tantilla relicta Florida crowned snake 129 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Thamnophis saurita [sauritus] eastern ribbon snake 130 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Thamnophis sirtalis common garter snake 131 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Virginia valeriae smooth earth snake 132 Reptilia Squamata Elapidae Micrurus fulvius eastern coral snake 133 ● Reptilia Squamata Gekkonidae Hemidactylus garnotii Indo-Pacific gecko 134 ● Reptilia Squamata Gekkonidae Hemidactylus turcicus Mediterranean house gecko 135 Reptilia Squamata Phrynosomatidae Sceloporus undulatus eastern fence lizard 136 Reptilia Squamata Dactyloidae Anolis carolinensis green anole 137 ● Reptilia Squamata Dactyloidae Anolis sagrei brown anole 138 Reptilia Squamata Scincidae Plestiodon [Eumeces] anthracinus coal skink 139 Reptilia Squamata Scincidae Plestiodon [Eumeces] egregius mole skink 140 Reptilia Squamata Scincidae Plestiodon [Eumeces] fasciatus five-lined skink 141 Reptilia Squamata Scincidae Plestiodon [Eumeces] inexpectatus southeastern five-lined skink 142 Reptilia Squamata Scincidae Plestiodon [Eumeces] laticeps broad-headed skink 143 Reptilia Squamata Scincidae Scincella lateralis ground skink 144 Reptilia Squamata Teiidae Aspidoscelis [Cnemidophorus] sexlineata [sexlineatus] six-lined racerunner 145 ● Reptilia Squamata Typhlopidae Ramphotyphlops braminus Brahminy blind snake 146 Reptilia Squamata Viperidae Agkistrodon contortrix copperhead 147 Reptilia Squamata Viperidae Agkistrodon piscivorus cottonmouth 148 Reptilia Squamata Viperidae Crotalus adamanteus eastern diamondback rattlesnake 149 Reptilia Squamata Viperidae Crotalus horridus timber rattlesnake 150 Reptilia Squamata Viperidae Sistrurus miliarius pigmy rattlesnake 151 Reptilia Testudines Chelonidae Caretta caretta loggerhead sea turtle 152 Reptilia Testudines Chelonidae Chelonia mydas green sea turtle

2 GA Species Checklist updated January 2019

Class Order Family Genus Species Common Name 153 Reptilia Testudines Chelonidae Eretmochelys imbricata hawksbill sea turtle 154 Reptilia Testudines Chelonidae Lepidochelys kempii Kemp's ridley sea turtle 155 Reptilia Testudines Chelydridae Chelydra serpentina common snapping turtle 156 Reptilia Testudines Chelydridae Macrochelys suwanniensis Suwannee alligator snapping turtle 157 Reptilia Testudines Chelydridae Macrochelys temminckii alligator snapping turtle 158 Reptilia Testudines Dermochelydiae Dermochelys coriacea leatherback sea turtle 159 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Chrysemys picta painted turtle 160 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Clemmys guttata spotted turtle 161 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Clemmys muhlenbergii bog turtle 162 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Deirochelys reticularia chicken turtle 163 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Graptemys barbouri Barbour's map turtle 164 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Graptemys geographica northern map turtle 165 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Graptemys pulchra Alabama map turtle 166 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Malaclemys terrapin diamondback terrapin 167 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Pseudemys concinna river cooter 168 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Pseudemys floridana Florida cooter 169 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Pseudemys nelsoni Florida red-bellied turtle 170 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Terrapene carolina eastern box turtle 171 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Trachemys scripta yellow-bellied slider 172 Reptilia Testudines Kinosternidae Kinosternon baurii striped mud turtle 173 Reptilia Testudines Kinosternidae Kinosternon subrubrum eastern mud turtle 174 Reptilia Testudines Kinosternidae Sternotherus minor loggerhead musk turtle 175 Reptilia Testudines Kinosternidae Sternotherus odoratus common musk turtle 176 Reptilia Testudines Kinosternidae Sternotherus peltifer stripe-necked musk turtle 177 Reptilia Testudines Testudinidae Gopherus polyphemus gopher tortoise 178 Reptilia Testudines Trionychidae Apalone ferox Florida softshell turtle 179 Reptilia Testudines Trionychidae Apalone spinifera spiny softshell turtle

1 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Hyla andersonii pine barrens treefrog 2 Amphibia Anura Hylidae Hyla versicolor gray treefrog 3 Amphibia Caudata Ambystomatidae Ambystoma mabeei Mabee’s salamander 4 Amphibia Caudata Plethodontidae Desmognathus wrighti pygmy salamander 5 Reptilia Squamata Colubridae Lampropeltis [Stilosoma] extenuata [extenuatum] short-tailed kingsnake 6 Reptilia Squamata Gekkonidae Hemidactylus mabouia wood slave 7 Reptilia Squamata Phrynosomatidae Phrynosoma cornutum Texas horned lizard 8 Reptilia Testudines Chelonidae Lepidochelys olivacea olive ridley sea turtle 9 Reptilia Testudines Emydidae Graptemys ouachitensis Ouachita map turtle

**IMPORTANT NOTES** Square brackets “[ ]” indicate an outdated name, included here only to promote recongition of a recent synonym Parentheses “( )” indicate a subgeneric name A solid dot “•” indicates a non-native species that has become established in Georgia A star “” indicates a native or non-native species that may be present in Georgia, but no established populations are known

3 Appalachian)Plateau) Ridge)and)Valley) Blue)Ridge)

Piedmont)

Southeastern)Coastal) Atlan:c)Coastal) Plains) Plains) I. Larval Salamander Genera Key Characteristics: Presence of limbs, numbers of toes, tail morphology, gill structure, geography and habitat.

1) Hind limbs present? (note – *assumes hind limb is fully developed. Hind limbs for many larval salamanders develop later and may not be easily visible in small individuals. For species with hind limbs, a limb bud will be visible using a hand lens. a. No………………………………………………….. Sirenidae, Siren or Pseudobranchus b. Yes…………………………………………………. go to 2

2) More than 3 toes on each hind foot? *assumes foot is fully developed a. No………………………………………………….. Amphiumidae, Amphiuma spp. b. Yes…………………………………………………. go to 3

3) More than 4 toes on each hind foot? *assumes foot is fully developed a. No………………………………………………….. go to 4 b. Yes…………………………………………………. go to 6

4) Tail fin clearly extends past base of tail and hind limbs? a. No, gills with central rachis & bushy fimbriae…. Proteidae, Necturus spp. b. Yes…………………………………………………. Plethodontidae, go to 5

5) Tail fin continues mid-way up back? a. No, tail fin ends just a short length up the back Eurycea quadridigitata just before hind limbs, 15-18 costal grooves …. Eurycea quadridigitata or E. hillisi [chamberlaini] b. Yes, and blunt rounded head and 13-14 costal grooves ..………………………………………..… Hemidactylium scutatum Tail fin past base of tail 6) Tail fin extends well past midpoint of back nearly to forelimbs? a. Yes ...…………………………………….….…….. go to 7 b. No, tail fin extends only to base of tail ..……..… go 8

7) Distinct black stripe from nares, through the eye, nearly to the gills? Tail fin to base of tail a. Yes….…………………………………………..…. Notophthalmus spp. b. No ..………………………………………………... Ambystoma spp.

8) Gills have well-defined central rachis with fimbriae and are likely visibly vascularized? a. Yes, and snout is squared…...……………….…. Spelerpinae, go to 9 Central rachis and fimbriae b. No, central rachis absent, gills are white, and snout is rounded………………………………….. Desmognathus spp.

9) 16-18 costal grooves? a. Yes…………………………………………………. go 10 b. No, body slender and 15 or fewer costal go to 12 grooves..…….…………………………………….. Antler-like gills

10) Dashed pattern on sides of body? a. Yes, and 16-18 costal grooves……...………..… Stereochilus marginatus b. No……………………………….…………...…..… go to 11

11) Body stout with regular spots and pigmented venter? Gyrinophilus porphyriticus a. Yes, and 15–17 costal grooves……………….… Pseudotriton spp. b. No, body pale pink and not spots, 17-18 costal grooves……………………………………………. Gyrinophilus spp.

12) A distinct pale or golden “patch” on nose? Pseudotriton ruber a. Yes…………………………………………………. Urspelerpes brucei b. No………………...………………………………... Eurycea spp.

5 II. Larval Anuran Genera

Key Characteristics: Oral disc morphology, eye position, vent position, labial tooth row formula.

1) Oral disc present? a.No…………………………………………………... Microhylidae, Gastrophryne carolinensis b. Yes…………………………………………………. go to 2 Dorsal eyes Ventral eyes

2) Eyes dorsal? a. Yes……………………………………………….… go to 3 b. No, eyes lateral...……………………………….... go to 6

3) Oral disc emarginate? a. Yes………………………………………………… go to 4 b. No, not emarginate………………………………. go to 5

No oral disc Emarginate oral disc Non-emarginate oral disc 4) Vent medial? a. Yes………………………………………………… Bufonidae, Bufo (Anaxyrus) spp. b. No, vent dextral…………………………………… Ranidae, Rana (Lithobates) spp.

5) Labial tooth row formula (LTRF) 6/6? a. Yes, and eyes very dorsal…….…..…………….. Scaphiopodidae, Scaphiopus holbrookii b. No, LTRF is 2/2, 2/3 [most common], or 2/4 and tip of tail may be black.…………………….. Hylidae, Acris crepitans or A. gryllus

6) Oral disc emarginate? a. No…………………..……………………………… Hylidae, Acris crepitans or A. gryllus b. Yes…………………………………………………. go to 7

7) LTRF 2/2? a. Yes………………………………………………… Pseudacris nigrita b. No, LTRF 2/3……………………………………... go to 8

8) Labial tooth row P3 long? a. Yes, P2/P3 approximately 1–1.3……………….. Hyla chrysoscelis or H. femoralis b. No, P3 medium to short, and P2/P3 >1.3……… go to 9

9) Labial tooth row P3 of medium length? a. Yes, P2/P3 approximately 1.3–1.7……...……… Hyla avivoca, H. cinerea, H. gratiosa, H. squirella b. No, P3 short, P2/P3 > 2.5……………………….. Pseudacris brachyphona, P. brimleyi, P. crucifer, P. feriarum, P. ocularis

6 III. Adult Salamanders – All Families

Key Characteristics Nasolabial grooves; canthus rostralis; costal groove number; limb presence/absence; toe number and pads; gills and gill slits; body stripes, bars, spots, or chevrons; belly stripes or spots; cheek and eye stripes; snout shape; iris color; presence of eyelids

1) Snout with nasolabial grooves between nostrils and upper lip? a) No ………………………………………………………………………. go to 2 b) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… Plethodontidae, go to Key IV.

2) Hind limbs present? a) No ………………………………………………………………………. Sirenidae, go to 3 b) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… go to 5

3) Three toes on each front foot? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… Pseudobranchus striatus b) No ………………………………………………………………………. Siren spp., go to 4

4) Body with 31–34 costal grooves? a) Yes, and body relatively slender ...……………….…………………… Siren intermedia b) No, 36–39 costal grooves, and body robust with brassy flecking….. Siren lacertina

5) External gills or gill slits present? a) Yes ………………………………………………………………………. go to 6 b) No…..……………………………………………………..……………… go to 14

6) External gills present? a) Yes ……………………………………………………..……………….. go to 7 b) No, only gill slits present……………………..………………………... go to 12

7) Four toes on each hind foot? a) Yes ……………………………………………………….……………… Proteidae, go to 8 b) No…..……………………………………………………………………. go to 10

8) Animal from the Flint River Basin of western Georgia? a) Yes, and body brown with many dark spots and a white midline on belly ……………………………………………………………………... Necturus cf. beyeri b) No ..……………………………………………………………………… go to 9

9) Animal from the mountains of North Georgia? a) Yes, and body brownish gray with dark eye stripes ………..……… Necturus maculosus b) No, from the Atlantic coastal plain,and lacks eye stripes..………… Necturus punctatus

10) Three distinct belly stripes present? a) Yes ………………………………………………………………………. Ambystoma talpoideum, paedomorphic b) No, and body lacks obvious costal grooves and has a dark line through the eye ……...…………………………………………………. go to 11

11) Moderate to dense black spotting on belly? a) Yes, and scattered red spots [NEVER stripes] may be present……………………………………………………………;;……. Notophthalmus viridescens, paedomorphic b) No, sparse black spotting on belly, and red body stripes may be present..………………………………………………………………… Notophthalmus perstriatus, paedomorphic

7 III. Adult Salamanders – All Families

12) More than three toes on each foot? a) Yes, and flanks with fleshy skin folds, and toe tips with roughened pale pads………………………………………………….. Cryptobranchus alleganiensis b) No, and skin smooth..……………………………..…………………… Amphiumidae, go to 13

13) Two toes on each foot? a) Yes …………………………..………………………………………….. Amphiuma means b) No, only one toe on each foot ………………………………………… Amphiuma pholeter

14) Obvious costal grooves present? a) Yes ………………………………………………..…………………….. go to 16 b) No, and skin rough with a dark line through the eye…...…………… Salamandridae, go to 15

15) Body with a red stripe present on each side [stripe may be fragmented] and/or few or no spots on belly? a) Yes ………………………………..………………..……………………. Notophthalmus perstriatus b) No, body with red spots, sometimes with black borders [north Georgia] or small red spots or no red spots [south Georgia]. Dense black spots on belly………………………………………….……..…… Notophthalmus viridescens

16) Yellow or white dorsal spots or bars present? a) Yes…………………………………………………..……………………. go to 17 b) No…..………………………………………………………..…………… go to 19

17) Two rows of yellow or orange dorsal spots present? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………... Ambystoma maculatum b) No, bars or irregular blotches present ……………………………… go to 18

18) Alternating white and black bars present? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………..…. Ambystoma opacum b) No, yellow blotches with black bars present………….…………….. Ambystoma tigrinum

19) Body with 13–16 [average 15] costal grooves? a) Yes, and body dark gray or black with a reticulated, net-like pattern of pale gray to white markings…………………………..…… go to 20 b) No, body stout with only 10–11 costal grooves, and unmarked or with limited pale and/or dark flecking forming no distinct pattern……………………………………………..………….……… Ambystoma talpoideum

20) Was the animal found west of the Flint River? a) Yes, THEN YOU BETTER CALL SOMEONE! ….…………………. Ambystoma bishopi b) No, YOU STILL BETTER CALL SOMEONE! .……………………… Ambystoma cingulatum

8 IV. Adult Salamanders – All Plethodontidae

Green = Plethodontinae: Aneidini and Plethodontini Orange = Plethodontinae: Desmognathini Blue = Hemidactylinae [Hemidactylini & Spelerpini]

1) Nasolabial grooves present? a) No ………………………………………………………………………. go to Key III. b) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… Plethodontidae, go to 2 or Key V. – Aneidini/Plethodontini Key VI. – Desmognathini Key VII. – Hemidactyliinae 2) External gills present? a) No ………………………………………………….…………………… go to 5 b) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… go to 3

3) Eyes present? a) Yes, ……………………………………..……………………………… go to 4 b) No, and body slender with long, skinny limbs …..…………………. Eurycea [Haideotriton] wallacei

4) Hind limbs and body stout, with 17–19 costal grooves? a) Yes……………………………………..………………………………. Gyrinophilus palleucus b) No, body relatively slender with 14 costal grooves ….……………. paedomorphic E. cirrigera or Eurycea aquatica

5) Four toes on each hind foot? a) Yes ………………………………………………..…………………….. go to 6 b) No, five toes on each hind foot ……………………..………………… go to 8

6) Belly white with distinct black spotting? a) Yes, and 13–14 costal grooves ………………..……………………. Hemidactylium scutatum b) No, belly unmarked silvery white or yellow and with 15–18 costal grooves …………………………………………………………..…….. go to 7

7) Belly and underside of tail usually silvery gray to white? a) Yes, and likely found in the Coastal Plain of Georgia in creek or river floodplains .………………..……………….…………… Eurycea quadridigitata b) No, belly and underside of tail usually yellow. Likely found in the Piedmont or northern Coastal Plain of Georgia in steephead/ravine habitat….……………………………………………… Eurycea hillisi [chamberlaini]

8) Body with 20–22 costal grooves? a) Yes, and may have distinct dorsal stripe with serrated edges …….. Plethodon serratus b) No, fewer than 20 costal grooves ………….….……………………… go to 9

9) Hind limbs robust, much thicker and longer than front limbs? a) Yes, and often with a pale cheek stripe angling from the eye to the back of the jaw, and with 13–14 costal grooves…..…….…………… Desmognathus spp., go to 10 b) No, hind limbs proportionate to front legs and with 13–19 costal grooves…………………………………...………….…………………… go to 19

10) Distinct dark toe tips present, and two rows of regular, distinct white spots [lateral line] running down each side of the body? a) Yes……………………………………………………………………….. go to 11 b) No..……………………………………………………..…………….…… go to 14

11) Two rows of irregular, often offset yellow/reddish/grayish spots down the back that may coalesce on the tail? a) Yes, and head flattened, sloping down from behind eyes…………… Desmognathus marmoratus b) No, back not strongly patterned, and belly dark grey to black……………………………………………………………………… go to 12

9 IV. Adult Salamanders – All Plethodontidae

12) Snout-to-vent length more than 80 mm? a) Yes ……..……………………….………………………………………… Desmognathus quadramaculatus b) No ………………………………………………………….……………… go to 13

13) Tail with a reddish dorsal stripe? a) Yes ……………………………………………………….……………… Desmognathus quadramaculatus, juvenile b) No………………………………………………………………………… Desmognathus folkertsi

14) Assuming tail is complete, does the terminal half of the tail have a moderate to distinct dorsal keel? a) Yes, tail taller than wide at the base………………………………….. go to 15 b) No, tail rounded, and may end in a fine tip…………………………… go to 17

15) Is the belly coal black with small white or silvery flecks? a) Yes, and found in blackwater swamps below the Fall Line………… Desmognathus auriculatus b) No, belly is pale cream, pale yellow or tan color, and animal likely found above the Fall Line……………………………………………… go to 16

16) A “two-toned” line between belly color and dark color of sides and back? a) Yes, and belly never mottled. Often with “wormy” markings down back. Small juveniles may have 4 parallel pairs of spots between fore and hind limbs………………………………………………………. Desmognathus monticola b) No, pale belly gradually merges with darker dorsal color on sides and does not form a distinct “two-toned” appearance. Belly often mottled. 5-7 pairs of large yellow-reddish spots arranged in a dorsal stripe may be present, or vestiges of spots appearing as a brownish dorsal stripe …………………….….……………………………………… Desmognathus conanti

17) Animal found below the Fall Line and west of the Flint River? a) Yes, and may have 5-7 pairs of reddish-brown round or diamond shaped spots that coalesce at the base of the tail into a tail stripe………………………………………………………………….…… Desmognathus apalachicolae b) No, animal found in the Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, or upper portion of the Piedmont ………....………………………….... go to 18

18) A distinct Y-shaped marking present on the head? a) Yes, and back with a broad, relatively strait-edged stripe often with dark herringbone markings……………………………………….. Desmognathus aeneus b) No, and back with an irregular zigzag stripe of 5-7 coalescing spots or diamonds [that are often bordered by a darker color]……… Desmognathus ocoee

19) A distinct pale or golden “patch” present on the nose? a) Yes, and 15–16 costal grooves present, and found in the Blue Ridge or upper Piedmont …………….………..…………...... Urspelerpes brucei b) No ……………………………………………….……………………… go to 20

20) Fewer than 15 costal grooves present? a) Yes …………………………………………….……………………..…. Eurycea spp., go to 21 b) No, 15–19 costal grooves present …………..….………….………… go to 26

21) Belly heavily mottled with light and dark color? a) Yes, and three lengthwise stripes present on the back …..………… Eurycea guttolineata b) No, belly pale creamy yellow and unmottled.…………….………… go to 22

22) Brown-black spots scattered irregularly over the back, legs and tail? a) Yes …..………………………………………………………………….. go to 23 b) No, two distinct lengthwise stripes present on the back and no significant spotting present on body or limbs…………..…………….. Two-lined salamander complex, go to 24

10 IV. Adult Salamanders – All Plethodontidae

23) Dark blotches forming a herringbone pattern present on the sides of the tail? a) Yes ……………………………….…………………………………….... Eurycea longicauda b) No, and body dorso-ventrally compressed with a long prehensile tail [if complete], and elongate toes …………………………………… Eurycea lucifuga

24) Tail, if complete and unbroken, is less than half the length of the body? a) Yes, and body generally stout, and dorsal pattern generally indistinct. Found in the Cumberland Plateau or Ridge and Valley …………….. Eurycea aquatica b) No, tail is more than half the length of the body, and body more slender with more distinct dorsal pattern ………………..……… go to 25

25) Do the black body stripes continue unbroken down the length of tail? a) Yes, and the stripes are bordered by a row of light circles. Most likely found outside the Blue Ridge …………………………….. Eurycea cirrigera b) No, the stripes break up and do not continue down the length of the tail, and the stripes are not bordered by light circles. Most likely found in the Blue Ridge …………………………..………… Eurycea wilderae

26) Many rows of alternating dark lines running down the body? a) Yes, and body is brownish yellow with 18 costal grooves ………… Stereochilus marginatus b) No ………………………………………………………………………... go to 27

27) Snout with a canthus rostralis running from the nostrils to the upper lip? a) Yes, and the tail is strongly keeled and paddle like, and 17–19 costal grooves present ……………………….….………………….………… Gyrinophilus porphyriticus a) No, …………………………………………………..…………………… go to 28

28) Body with 18 costal grooves? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… go to 29 b) No, body with fewer than 18 costal grooves ………..……………… go to 30

29) Found in the Appalachian Plateau [Dade, Walker, or northwestern corner

of Chattooga counties, GA]?

a) Yes, and a broad dorsal stripe with irregular zigzag edges Plethodon ventralis may be present, that is usually of uniform brightness ………………..

b) No, found in the western Ridge and Valley or Piedmont, and a

broad dorsal stripe with irregular zigzag edges [if present] is often Plethodon websteri brightest near the base of the tail ………………………………………

30) Base body color uniformly black, sometimes with white or greenish spots, red legs, or chestnut saddle? a) Yes, and 15–16 costal grooves present …………….…………….… go to 31 b) No, base body color yellowish, reddish, pink, or brownish, sometimes with black spots or stripes ….…………………………… go to 35

31) Body covered with green lichen-like patches? a) Yes, and body dorsoventrally compressed, with elongate toes, squared-off toe tips, and 14–15 costal grooves. Found in the Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley, or Blue Ridge …..………… Aneides aeneus b) No…………………………………………………………………………. go to 32

32) Regular white spotting usually present on the back and sides? a) Yes, and spots may be more dense and coalesced on sides ….….. Plethodon glutinosus complex; see map in field guide to identify species b) No, body with little to no spotting, but potentially a chestnut body stripe, red legs, or grey cheeks present …...... …………...…… go to 33

11 IV. Adult Salamanders – All Plethodontidae

33) Body with a broad to narrow chestnut-colored dorsal stripe, sometimes extending onto the head and tail? a) Yes, and toes elongate with squared off tips. Found in the Appalachian Plateau …………………………………………………… Plethodon petraeus b) No, and may have a distinct grey cheek or red color on legs. Found in the Blue Ridge …………………………..…………………… go to 34

34) Red color present on the hind or fore limbs? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… Plethodon shermani b) No, has a distinct grey cheek ……………………………………..….. Plethodon metcalfi

35) Fewer than 16 costal grooves present? a) Yes, 13–15 costal grooves ..…………………………………….……… Eurycea spp.; go to 36 b) No, 16–17 costal grooves …………………………….………..……….. Pseudotriton spp.; go to 38

36) Distinct black spotting present on its sides and limbs? a) Yes, ……………………………….……………………………………... go to 37 [or 23] b) No, two distinct dorsal stripes bordering the sides of the body that do not continue all the way down the tail. Likely found in the Blue Ridge ………………………………………………...……………… Eurycea wilderae

37) Dark blotches forming a herringbone pattern present on the sides of the tail? a) Yes, ……………………………….……………………………………... Eurycea longicauda b) No, and body dorso-ventrally compressed with a long prehensile tail [if complete], and elongate toes …………………………………… Eurycea lucifuga

38) Body covered in dense black spots that often coalesce into larger spots on the back? a) Yes, and chin sometimes with dense black-and-white spotting. Eyes yellow or brassy colored …………….…………………………… Pseudotrition ruber b) No, lacks spotting entirely or with smaller, less dense spots that do not coalesce, and chin never spotted with black and white. Eyes dark brown ………………….……..………………..……………… Pseudotriton montanus

12 IVA. Adult Salamanders – Plethodontinae (Aneides and Plethodon spp.)

Plethodontidae/Plethodontinae/Aneidini and Plethodontini of GA Plethodontinae of Georgia includes the tribes Aneidini, which has one genus Aneides, the Plethodontini, which contains the genus Plethodon, and the Desmognathini, which contains the genus Desmognathus in GA. All Plethodontinae can generally be distinguished from the Spelerpini and Hemidactyliini by having a more rounded snouts and moderately robust bodies. Plethodon and Aneides typically have proportionate hind and front limbs in contrast to Desmognathus, which usually have very robust hind limbs relative to the front limbs. Desmognathus can also often be distinguished from other Plethodontidae by the presence of a cheek stripe running from the eye to the back of the jaw, a very enlarged muscular cheek, and the presence of 13–14 costal grooves [typically 14]. Plethodon have more than 14 costal grooves and Aneides aeneus typically have 15 costal grooves.

1) Body with 20–22 costal grooves? a) Yes, and may have a distinct dorsal strip with serrated edges Plethodon serratus …….. go to 2 b) No, body with fewer than 20 costal grooves ………….………………

2) Body with 18 costal grooves? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… go to 3 b) No, body with fewer than 18 costal grooves ………………………... go to 4

3) Found in the Appalachian Plateau [Dade, Walker, or northwestern corner of Chattooga counties, GA]? a) Yes, and a broad dorsal stripe with irregular zigzag edges may be present, that is usually of uniform intensity Plethodon ventralis ……..………………… b) No, found in the western Ridge and Valley or Piedmont, and a broad dorsal stripe with irregular zigzag edges [if present] Plethodon websteri is often brightest at the base of the tail …………………………………

4) Body covered with green lichen-like patches? a) Yes, and body dorsoventrally compressed, with elongate toes, squared-off toe tips, and 14–15 costal grooves. Found in the Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley, or Blue Ridge Aneides aeneus …..………… go to 5 b) No………………………………………………………………………….

5) Regular white spotting usually present on the back and sides? a) Yes, and spots may be more dense and coalesced on sides …. Plethodon glutinosus complex; see map in field guide to identify species b) No, body with little to no spotting, but potentially a chestnut dorsal stripe, red legs, or grey cheeks present ……...... ……...…… go to 6

6) Body with a broad to narrow chestnut-colored dorsal stripe, sometimes extending onto the head and tail? a) Yes, and toes elongate with squared off tips. Found in the Appalachian Plateau …………………………………………………… Plethodon petraeus b) No, and may have a distinct grey cheek or red color on legs. Found in the Blue Ridge …………………………..…………………… go to 7

7) Red color present on the hind or fore limbs? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… Plethodon shermani b) No, and has a distinct grey cheek ………………………………..….. Plethodon metcalfi

13 IVB. Adult Salamanders – Plethodontinae (Desmognathus spp.)

Plethodontidae/Plethodontinae/Desmognathini of GA Plethodontinae of Georgia includes the tribes Aneidini, which has one genus Aneides, the Plethodontini, which contains the genus Plethodon, and the Desmognathini, which contains the genus Desmognathus in GA. All Plethodontinae can generally be distinguished from the Spelerpini and Hemidactyliini by having a more rounded snouts and moderately robust bodies. Plethodon and Aneides typically have proportionate hind and front limbs in contrast to Desmognathus, which usually have very robust hind limbs relative to the front limbs. Desmognathus can also often be distinguished from other Plethodontidae by the presence of a cheek stripe running from the eye to the back of the jaw, a very enlarged muscular cheek, and the presence of 13–14 costal grooves [typically 14]. Plethodon have more than 14 costal grooves and Aneides aeneus typically have 15 costal grooves.

1) Distinct dark toe tips present, and two rows of regular, distinct white spots [lateral line] running down each side of the body? a) Yes…………………………………………………………………………………….. go to 2 b) No..……………………………………………………..…………….……………..… go to 5

2) Two rows of irregular, often offset yellow/reddish/grayish spots down the back that may coalesce on the tail? a) Yes, and head flattened, sloping down from behind eyes……………………… Desmognathus marmoratus b) No, back not strongly patterned, and belly dark grey to black….……………… go to 3

3) Snout-to-vent length more than 80 mm? a) Yes ……..……………………….…………………………………………………… Desmognathus quadramaculatus b) No, …………………………………………………………..…………….………… go to 4

4) Tail with a reddish dorsal stripe? a) Yes ……………………………………………………….……………………….… Desmognathus quadramaculatus, juvenile b) No……………………………………………………………………………….…… Desmognathus folkertsi

5) Assuming tail is complete, does the terminal half of the tail have a moderate to distinct dorsal keel? a) Yes, tail taller than wide at the base………………………………………...... go to 6 b) No, tail rounded, and may end in a fine tip………………………………..…..… go to 8

6) Is the belly coal black with small white or silvery flecks? a) Yes, and found in blackwater swamps below the Fall Line………………..…… Desmognathus auriculatus b) No, belly is pale cream, pale yellow or tan color, and animal likely found above the Fall Line……………………………………………………..…………… go to 7

7) A “two-toned” line between belly color and dark color of sides and back? a) Yes, and belly never mottled. Often with “wormy” markings down back. Small juveniles may have 4 parallel pairs of spots between fore and hind limbs…... Desmognathus monticola b) No, pale belly gradually merges with darker dorsal color on sides and does not form a distinct “two-toned” appearance. Belly often mottled. 5-7 pairs of large yellow-reddish spots arranged in a dorsal stripe may be present, or vestiges of spots appearing as a brownish dorsal stripe….……………..…..… Desmognathus conanti

8) Animal found below the Fall Line and west of the Flint River? a) Yes, and may have 5-7 pairs of reddish-brown round or diamond shaped spots that coalesce at the base of the tail into a tail stripe……………….….… Desmognathus apalachicolae b) No, animal found in the Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, or upper portion of the Piedmont ………....…………………………….………………….…………... go to 9

9) A distinct Y-shaped marking present on the head? a) Yes, and back with a broad, relatively strait-edged stripe often with dark herringbone markings……………………………………………………..……….. Desmognathus aeneus b) No, an back with an irregular zigzag stripe of 5-7 coalescing spots or diamonds [that are often bordered by a darker color]………….……….……… Desmognathus ocoee

14 IVC. Adult Salamanders – Plethodontidae (Hemidactylinae and Spelerpinae)

Hemidactyliinae: Hemidactylini and the Spelerpini of GA The subfamily Hemidactyliinae includes two tribes, Hemidactyliini, which includes a single species, Hemidactylium scutatum, and the Spelerpini, which includes 5 genera of salamanders in GA including those within the supergenus Eurycea [Eurycea, Stereochilus, and Urspelerpes]. The Spelerpini [‘cave lovers’] is so named because of its tendency to have many cave and subterranean associated species. The Spelerpini are highly morphologically variable, so there is no clear character that distinguishes all Spelerpini from other Plethodontidae. Spelerpini tend to have more squared snouts compared to the Plethodontinae, and with Hemidactylium include the only Plethodontidae with four toes on the back foot. Members of the supergenus Eurycea tend to be slender with more narrow heads [except Eurycea lucifuga] and slender fore and hind limbs. Members of the genera Gyrinophilus and Pseudotriton tend to be more robust-bodied salamanders. Hemidactylium and all Spelerpini have aquatic larval phases and therefore are seldom found more than 50 m from water. Most species are associated with flowing streams or blackwaters; however, some species will occupy swamps and isolated wetlands (e.g., Eurycea quadridigitata).

1) Gills present? a) No ………………………………………………………………………. go to 4 b) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… go to 2

2) Eyes present? a) Yes, ……………………………………..……………………………… go to 3 b) No, body slender and limbs long and slender …..…………………. Eurycea [Haideotriton] wallacei

3) Hind limbs and body stout, with 17–19 costal grooves?. a) Yes, ……………………………………..……………………………… Gyrinophilus palleucus b) No, body relatively slender with 14 costal grooves ….……………. paedomorphic E. cirrigera or Eurycea aquatica

4) Four toes on each hind foot? a) Yes ………………………………………………..……………………. go to 5 b) No, five toes on each hind foot ……………………………..……….. go to 7

5) Belly white with distinct black spotting? a) Yes, and 13–14 costal grooves present ……………………………. Hemidactylium scutatum b) No, belly unmarked silvery gray, white, or yellow, and with 15–18 costal grooves……………………………………………..…………… go to 6

6) Belly and underside of tail usually silvery gray to white? a) Yes, and likely found in the Coastal Plain of Georgia in creek or river floodplains.……..……………………………………. Eurycea quadridigitata b) No, belly and underside of tail usually yellow. Likely found in the Piedmont or northern Coastal Plain of Georgia in steephead/ravine habitat …..……….…………………………….… Eurycea hillisi [chamberlaini]

7) A distinct pale or golden “patch” present on the nose? a) Yes, and 15–16 costal grooves present, and found in the Blue Ridge or upper Piedmont …………….………………………... Urspelerpes brucei b) No, ……………………………………………….…………………….. go to 8

8) Fewer than 16 costal grooves present? a) Yes, …………………………………………….………………………. Eurycea spp., go to 9 b) No, 16–19 costal grooves present …………..….…….…………….. go to 14

9) Belly heavily mottled with light and dark color? a) Yes, and three lengthwise stripes present on the back …..…….... Eurycea guttolineata b) No, belly pale creamy yellow and unmottled…………………….… go to 10

10) Brown-black spots scattered irregularly over the back, legs and tail? a) Yes …..……………………………………………………………….... go to 11 b) No, two distinct lengthwise stripes present on the back and no significant spotting present on body or limbs…………..………….. Two-lined salamander complex, go to 12

15 IVC. Adult Salamanders – Plethodontidae (Hemidactylinae and Spelerpinae)

11) Dark blotches forming a herringbone pattern present on the sides of the tail? a) Yes ……………………………….………………………………….... Eurycea longicauda b) No, and body dorso-ventrally compressed with a long prehensile tail [if complete], and elongate toes …………………… Eurycea lucifuga

12) Tail, if complete and unbroken, is less than half the length of the body? a) Yes, and body generally stout, and dorsal pattern generally indistinct. Found in the Cumberland Plateau or Ridge and Valley …………………………………………………….. Eurycea aquatica b) No, tail is more than half the length of the body, and body slenderer with more distinct dorsal pattern ……………….…… go to 13

13) Do the black body stripes continue unbroken down the length of tail? a) Yes, and the stripes are bordered by a row of light circles. Most likely found outside the Blue Ridge ………………………….. Eurycea cirrigera b) No, the stripes break up and do not continue down the length of the tail, and the stripes are not bordered by light circles. Most likely found in the Blue Ridge ……………….……..………… Eurycea wilderae

14) Many rows of alternating dark lines running down the body? a) Yes, and body is brownish yellow with 18 costal grooves ……… Stereochilus marginatus b) No, body uniformly red, pink or brown with light to heavy black spots or chevrons on back …………………………………... go to 15

15) Snout with a canthus rostralis running from the nostrils to the upper lip? a) Yes, and the tail is strongly keeled and paddle like, and 17–19 costal grooves present ……………………….….…………………. Gyrinophilus porphyriticus b) No, and 16-17 costal grooves present …………………………… go to 16

16) Body covered in dense black spots that often coalesce into larger spots on the back? a) Yes, and chin sometimes with dense black-and-white spotting. Eyes yellow or brassy colored …………….………………………… Pseudotrition ruber b) No, lacks spotting entirely or with smaller, less dense spots that do not coalesce, and chin never spotted with black and white. Eyes dark brown ………………….……..……………….…………… Pseudotriton montanus

16 V. Adult Anurans – All Families

Key Characteristics Toe pads; toe webbing; spades; body shape; postorbital ridges, transverse fold; supratympanic folds; dorsolateral folds; crests, knobs, and spurs; tympanum; skin texture; parotoid glands; body coloration and patterning; eye stripes; lip stripes; flash patches on inner thighs and groin

1) Distinct toe pads present? c) No ……………………………………………………………………… go to 2 d) Yes, and claw-shaped terminal phalanges likely present………… Hylidae or Eleutherodactylidae, go to Key IX. 2) Dark triangle-shaped marking present between the eyes, pointing away from the snout? go to 3 a) No………………………………………………………………………... b) Yes, and claw-shaped terminal phalanges with small toe pads likely present [that you missed until a closer look] ………………… Hylidae or Eleutherodactylidae, go to Key IX. 3) Has a transverse fold of skin present behind the eyes [look closely] and lacks tympanum? a) Yes, and body size small (less than 40 mm SVL)…………………… Gastrophryne carolinensis b) No..………………………………………………………………………. go to 4

4) Vertical pupils present? a) Yes, and a dark, sharp-edged spade present on each hind foot…. Scaphiopus holbrookii b) No, pupils rounded..…….……….……………………..……………… go to 5

5) Body stout and rounded, with relatively short hind limbs? a) Yes, and likely with parotoid glands and cranial crests present, and horny “spade-like” protuberances on the hind feet ……..……. Bufonidae, go to 6 b) No...……………………………………………………..…………….… Ranidae, go to 9

6) Do the postorbital ridges touch the parotoid glands? [note: ridges,

crests and knobs are not always apparent in small juveniles]

a) Yes, and usually at least 3 warts present in each dark spot Bufo (Anaxyrus) fowleri on the back ………………………………………………….………….

b) No, the postorbital ridges [if present] are separated from the go to 7 parotoid glands…………………………………………………………

7) Do the postorbital ridges curve to cup the eyes, and do the ridges end in distinct large knobs? [note: ridges, crests and knobs are not always apparent in small juveniles] a) Yes, and the postorbital ridge is connected to the parotoid gland by a spur ……………………...……………………..……………….. Bufo (Anaxyrus) terrestris b) No, the postorbital ridges [if present] curve away from the eyes and end in small knobs ………………………………………………. go to 8

8) Do the postorbital ridges curve away from the eyes, and end in small knobs? a) Yes, and usually only 1–2 warts present in each dark spot on the back, and two distinct tibial warts present ………………………... Bufo (Anaxyrus) americanus b) No, postorbital ridges absent, and body size small (less than 40 mm SVL). A distinct yellow midline down the back, that divides 2–5 pairs of large dark spots………………………………………… Bufo (Anaxyrus) quercicus

17 V. Adult Anurans – All Families

9) Supratympanic folds present? a) Yes..………………………………………………..………………..… go to 10 b) No, but dorsolateral folds present [may be faint]. Dark spots or salt-and-pepper patterning usually present on the back……… go to 15 10) Dorsolateral folds present? a) Yes ………………………….…………………………………………. go to 11 b) No ……………………………………………………..……………….. Aquarana, go to 12

11) Face with a dark “mask” that extends to the supratympanic fold? a) Yes, and mask bordered by a white line on the upper lip, and dorsolateral folds extend all the way down the side of the body to the groin ……………………………………………….…………… Rana (Lithobates) sylvatica b) No, dorsolateral folds interrupted and do not continue all the way down to the groin. Hind toes moderately webbed, and belly extensively mottled……………………………………………………. Rana (Lithobates) clamitans [Aquarana] 12) Four yellowish or golden-brown stripes running down the body? a) Yes, and the webbing on the longest toe does not extend most of the way towards the toe tip. Adults small, less than 70 mm SVL……………………………………………………………………… Rana (Lithobates) virgatipes [Aquarana] b) No [but stripes may be present in young frogs], and the webbing on the longest toe extends nearly to the toe tip. Adults large, up to 165 mm SVL ……………………………………………………. Rana (Lithobates) grylio [Aquarana]

c) No, body color is uniform, or spotted or mottled...………………… go to 13

13) Belly dark gray with white spots? a) Yes, and lower lips with prominent white spotting ………….……. Rana (Lithobates) heckscheri [Aquarana] b) No, belly white or yellowish with dark mottling, particularly toward the vent ……………………………………………………………….. go to 14

14) Does the webbing on the longest toe extend to the toe tip? a) Yes ………………………………………………..……………………. Rana (Lithobates) grylio [Aquarana] b) No, the webbing extends only 1/3–1/2 of the way from the terminal joint to the tip of the longest toe .………………………….. Rana (Lithobates) catesbeiana [Aquarana] 15) Pairs of large, squarish, regular dark spots present on the back? a) Yes, and likely with a dark spot on snout in front of the eyes, and yellow-orange color on the inner thighs and groin …………… Rana (Lithobates) palustris b) No ………………………………………………………………………. [Pantherana, Nenirana] go to 16 16) Back with rounded spots scattered across a relatively uniform brown, olive or green dorsal color, and skin smooth? a) No, back with salt-and-pepper patterning and irregular dark spots or broken bars. Skin warty, and tympanum spot absent ………… Rana (Lithobates) capito [Pantherana, Nenirana] b) Yes, but no spots on the head in front of the eyes, and a white or yellow spot usually present in the center of the tympanum …….. Rana (Lithobates) sphenocephala [Pantherana, Scurrilirana]

18 VA. Adult Anurans – Hylidae and Eleutherodactylidae

1) Distinct toe pads present? a) No .……………………………………………………………………… Bufonidae, Microhylidae, Scaphiopodidae, or Ranidae; go to Key VIII. b) Yes, [look closely, they may be small] and claw shaped terminal phalanges likely present ……………………………...……………… go to 2

2) Dark triangle-shaped marking present between the eyes, pointing away from the snout? a) Yes, …………………………………………..………………..………. go to 3 b) No …………………………………………………………………….… go to 5

3) The triangle on the head splits a paler colored (green, brown, tan, chestnut) stripe to create a Y-shaped stripe down the back? a) Yes, …………………………………………………………..………. Acris spp., go to 4 b) No …………………………………………………………………….… go to 5

4) Leg stripes on the inner thigh usually straight, with clean borders? a) Yes, and the snout is more pointed. The webbing on the hind feet reaches no more than ½ way to the second to last joint on the longest toe, and the heel of the ankle extends beyond the nose when stretched forward …………………..……………….………… Acris gryllus b) No, the leg stripes on the inner thigh usually have ragged borders, and the snout is more rounded and blunt. The webbing on the hind feet reaches the next to last joint on the longest toe, and the heel of the ankle does not extend beyond the nose when stretched forward ..…………………………………………………… Acris crepitans

5) Large, distinct toe pads present? a) Yes, and the hind limbs are relatively long and thin ……………… go to 6 b) No, toe pads relatively small ..………..…………………………….. go to 12

6) Skin fused to skull (co-ossified) with casquing visible? a) Yes, and toe pads generally as large as tympanum .……………. Osteopilus septentrionalis b) No, skin is not fused to skull ……………………………………...… Hyla spp., go to 7

7) Greenish yellow, yellow, or orange “flash patches” on the inner thighs, or on the sides of the body near the hind limbs? a) Yes, ……………………………………………...…….………………. go to 8 b) No, but likely has a bold or irregular white stripe down its side .… go to 10

8) Distinct orange to silvery-orange spots present on the inner thighs? a) Yes, and a trapezoidal blotch likely present between the eyes, and lacks a square botch under each eye ..……………………….. Hyla femoralis b) No, an orange, yellow or greenish wash (with dark mottling) present on the inner thighs, and a distinct, pale square blotch present below each eye ….………………………………………….. go to 9

9) An orange-yellow wash (with dark mottling) on the inner thighs? a) Yes ………………………...…………………………..………………. Hyla chrysoscelis b) No, inner thighs with a greenish yellow-white wash (with dark mottling) ……………………………………………………………….. Hyla avivoca

10) A prominent white stripe, with a sharp lower border, present on each side of the body? a) Yes, and skin relatively smooth skin, sometimes with small yellow spots..…………………………………………………………… Hyla cinerea b) No, white stripe on sides often faint, and with an incomplete or indistinct lower border ………………………………………..……… go to 11

19 VA. Adult Anurans – Hylidae and Eleutherodactylidae

11) Skin texture distinctly granular? a) Yes, and body large (up to 70 mm SVL) and often with dark blotches ….………………………………………………………..…… Hyla gratiosa b) No, skin smoother, and likely with yellow coloration in the armpits and groin and the appearance of a faint mask on the eyes or bar between the eyes. Body color sometimes brown with dark spots… Hyla squirella

12) Webbing present between any hind toes? a) No, and sometimes with a faint chevron-shaped band or two light stripes extending down the back ……………………………………. Eleutherodactylus planirostris a) Yes …………………………………..………….…..…………………. Pseudacris spp., go to 13

13) A dark mask running through the eyes, possibly forming a bar or stripe that extends the length of the body? a) Yes, and a distinct partial or complete white lip line is present ….. go to 14 b) No, but probably has a cruciform pattern on the back that resembles an “X” or two opposing parentheses “)(“ . ..………….… Pseudacris crucifer

14) A dark bar or stripe present that extends from the eye mask, past the tympanum, and down the side of the body? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………… go to 15 b) No, stripe or bar does not extend past the front leg, and the mask may be incomplete appearing only on the snout or between the eye and tympanum. Found in the Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley or western Piedmont of Georgia ………………. Pseudacris brachyphona

15) Does the bar or stripe extend down the length of the body unbroken? a) No, the mask continues through the tympanum but the bar is broken or blotchy. Groin yellow, and a distinct dark blotch present dorsal to the groin …...…………………………………………….….. Pseudacris ornata b) Yes .……………………………………………………………………… go to 16

16) Body with three distinct dorsal stripes or distinct blotches that form three complete or incomplete dorsal stripes? a) No, body with no stripes or faint dorsal stripes, and very small (less than 21 mm SVL) ………………………………………………. Pseudacris ocularis b) Yes, and a distinct white line present along the upper lip ………... go to 17

17) Do all three of dorsal stripes continue unbroken onto the head? a) No, the stripes are irregular, and often broken to form rows of blotches with only the center stripe/row potentially extending onto head and the outer two stripes/rows ending on the neck…………. Pseudacris nigrita b) Yes ……….……………………………………………………………... go to 18

18) Do the three dorsal stripes coalesce on the head into a triangle or diamond shape between the eyes? a) Yes ……………………….….……………………..…………………… Pseudacris feriarum* b) No, and belly is usually white with black speckles. Leg stripes/bars run down rather than across legs ……………..………..…………… Pseudacris brimleyi

*NOTE: Pseudacris feriarium occurs in a rare form that is all green with distinct dark spots. This form is very similar in appearance to Hyla gratiosa (see Jensen et al. 2008, p. 81). The two can easily be distinguished by body size, form, and the size of the toe pads.

20 Key VI. Turtles

Key Characteristics Hinged or reduced plastron, serrated and flared marginal scutes, caudal notch of marginal scutes, supramarginal scutes, leathery shell, stripes, spots, bars, “ear” patch, keeled shell, elephantine feet, webbing, barbels, prefrontal scales, and cusps on upper jaw.

1) Forelimbs modified into elongate flippers with indistinct toes? a) Yes ………………………………………………………………………. marine turtles, go to 26 b) No ………………………………………………………..……………… go to 2

2) Carapace flat and leathery? a) No, carapace hard and shell-like with distinct scutes ……………… go to 4 b) Yes, and a snorkel-like nose present………………………..………. Trionychidae, go to 3

3) Carapace nearly round or slightly oblong, with small conical spines on the margin near the neck? a) Yes, and carapace usually brown, greenish, or tan with small dark spots. ………….…………………………………………………… Apalone spinifera b) No, carapace distinctly oblong, and with small flattened bumps [NOT conical] on the margin near the neck. Carapace with large dark blotches when young, turning uniform dark brown in age …… Apalone ferox

4) Plastron distinctly hinged? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………….… go to 5 b) No ………………………………………………………..…………….… go to 10

5) A single anterior hinge present between the abdominal and pectoral scutes? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………... go to 6 b) No, two hinges present on the plastron, one on either side of the abdominal scutes. ……..…………………………………………….… Kinosternon spp., go to 9

6) Plastron reduced, such that the turtle cannot completely enclose itself within its shell? a) No, plastron large, and the turtle can completely enclose itself within its shell. Hooked beak and toes are reduced and feet are partially elephantine………………………………………………….… Terrapene carolina (Emydidae) b) Yes …………………………………………………………………….… Sternotherus spp., go to 7

7) Two pairs of barbels (one pair on the chin, and one pair on the throat)? a) Yes, and distinct whitish to yellowish stripes present on each side of the head (one above the eye, one below the eye) .… Sternotherus odoratus b) No, only one pair of barbels present (on the throat), and head differently patterned…………………………………….….. Go to 8 8) Top of head with small, distinct dark spots on a pale background? a) Yes, and neck without obvious dark stripes (but may be mottled). Carapace often with three lengthwise keels (may be worn off in old adults)…………………………………………………………..… Sternotherus minor b) No, top of head with reticulate pattern of fine dark lines on a pale background, and neck with distinct dark stripes. Carapace may have one lengthwise keel (absent in adults)…….… Sternotherus peltifer

9) A light stripe present between the nostril and the eye? a) Yes, and often three pale lengthwise stripes on the carapace ….…. Kinosternon baurii b) No…..……………………………………………………..…………….… Kinosternon subrubrum

21 Key VI. Turtles

10) Plastron strongly reduced (exposing much of the limbs and soft belly), and connected to the bridge by elongate abdominal scutes that give the plastron a “+” shape? a) No, plastron complete and conceals most of the soft belly ...…..… go to 13 b) Yes, and head large with a distinct beak ………………...... ……….. Chelydridae, go to 11

11) Carapace with 1–5 supramarginal scutes? a) Yes, and usually with three distinct keels present on the costal and vertebral scutes. Tail smooth and round ………….………….. Macrochelys, go to 12 b) No, and keels on the carapace often reduced. Top of tail with a jagged ridge ……………………………..…………..….……………… Chelydra serpentina 12) Caudal notch of carapace wider than notches formed by adjacent marginal scutes? a) Yes, and likely found in the Suwannee river drainage of southeast Georgia …………………………………………..………… Macrochelys suwanniensis b) No, caudal notch of carapace narrower than notches formed by adjacent marginal scutes. Likely found in the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, or Flint river drainages of southwest Georgia…… Macrochelys temminckii

13) Front and hind feet elephantine (wide, flat-bottomed, covered with scales)? a) Yes, and carapace domed. Adult males with enlarged, protruding gular scutes ……………………..………………..……….. Gopherus polyphemus b) No .………………………………………………………….…………… go to 14

14) Carapace with serrated marginal scutes? a) No, carapace with a smooth, rounded margin ………………….…. go to 15 b) Yes ………………………………………………………….………….. go to 18

15) Most scutes on the carapace with one or more distinct yellow spots? a) Yes, and each scute on the plastron with a large black blotch …… Clemmys guttata b) No ……………………………………………………………....………. go to 16

16) A large reddish-yellow blotch behind or covering the ear (but the ear itself usually not colored)? a) Yes, and feet with minimal webbing ………………………………… Clemmys muhlenbergii b) No ……………………………………………………………....………. go to 17

17) Legs with distinct vertical yellow striping on back of thighs and large dark spots that usually coalesce into a bar on the bridge? a) Yes, and a reticulated pattern on carapace…………………...…….. Deirochelys reticularia b) No, but significant red coloration on the marginal scutes (particularly on the ventral surface), red or yellow stripes on the neck, and a yellow spot behind the ear. First marginal scute usually not extending beyond suture between first vertebral and first costal scute………………………………………………………… Chrysemys picta

18) Each gular scute with a single, distinct dark spot? a) Yes, and a solid spot on the ventral surface of each marginal scute. Head, neck and limbs with yellow stripes, and a yellow blotch present behind each eye …………….……………………..… Trachemys scripta scripta b) No …..………..…………………………………………………………. go to 19

19) Entire carapace black or dark brown, sometimes with greenish markings? a) Yes, and head, legs and feet similarly colored. Body large, more than 120 mm long……………………………..……………………….. Trachemys scripta scripta melanistic adult male b) No………………………………………………………………………… go to 20

22 Key VI. Turtles

20) Neck and legs with distinct salt-and-pepper or spotted patterning? a) Yes, and moderate dorsal keel spines present along with an enlarged bill. Distinct concentric rings on carapacial scutes. Likely found within Atlantic salt marsh within Georgia.………………..…… Malaclemys terrapin b) No, neck has yellow stripes.,……………….……………………....…. go to 21

21) Chin with a longitudinal, yellowish bar-shaped marking just behind the bill? Juveniles or males may have pronounced [keeled] knobs or spines. Females will have a larger head and large bill. a) Yes. Likely found in the Conasauga or Oostanaula river drainages of northwest Georgia…………………………………………………… Graptemys pulchra b) No…………………………..……………………….…………….……… go to 22

22) Chin with a transverse yellowish marking that is often curved or comma shaped? Juveniles or males may have pronounced [keeled] knobs or spines. Females will have megacephaly and large bill. a) Yes. Likely found in the Flint or Chattahoochee river drainages of southwest Georgia ……………………………………………………… Graptemys barbouri b) No, and vertebral knobs not pronounced [shallow] or absent……… go to 23

23) Small yellow spot behind eye surrounded but not touching stripes? a) Yes……………………………………………………...………………… Graptemys geographica b) No,……..………………….…………………………………………...…. go to 24

24) Upper jaw with a median notch bordered laterally with prominent cusps? a) Yes, and the plastron may have red or orange color………………. Pseudemys nelsoni b) No, the upper jaw lacks a median notch………….…………………. go to 25

25) Plastron with dark blotches particularly around seams between scutes? a) Yes, and the carapace is flatter, more elongate, with more flare to rear marginal scutes, and likely to have reddish/orange coloration. Neck stripes are yellow-orange and broader ..……….…………..… Pseudemys concinna b) No …..………..…………………………………………………………. Pseudemys floridana

26) Carapace leathery and lacking distinct scutes? a) Yes, and carapace with five longitudinal ridges …………………… Dermochelys coriacea b) No ……………………………………………………………………..... Cheloniidae, go to 27

27) Five pairs of costal scutes present? a) Yes ………….………………………………………….………….…… go to 28 b) No, four pairs of costal scutes present ….………………………….. go to 29

28) Two claws on the leading edge of each front flipper? a) Yes, and each hind flipper with two or three claws…………………. Caretta caretta b) No, only one claw on each front flipper, and each hind flipper with one or two claws……………………………………..…………… Lepidochelys kempii

29) Two pairs of prefrontal scales present on the top of the head? a) Yes, and each front flipper with two claws on the leading edge. Beak distinctly curved and pointed ……………………………….…. Eretmochelys imbricata b) No, only one pair of prefrontal scales, and each front flipper with only one claw ………………….…………..………..………….… Chelonia mydas

23 Key VII. Crocodilians, Amphisbaenians, and Squamates

Key Characteristics Limbs; claws; cloacal slit; ear openings; loreal pit; eyelids; lateral folds; labial and postlabial scales; anal scale(s); caudal scales; scales keeled, granular, or smooth; stripes, bands, bars, blotches; vertical pupil; tail rattle

1) Limbs present? a) Yes, and claws present on toes ……………………………………. go to 2 b) No ………………………………………………………..……………… go to 3

2) Cloacal slit parallel to the long axis of the body? a) Yes, and dorsal scales with raised osteoderms ……..………….… Alligator mississippiensis b) No, cloacal slit perpendicular to the long axis of the body, and dorsal scales lacking raised osteoderms…………………………… Lizards (in part), go to Key XIB.

3) External ear openings present? a) Yes, and each side of body with a distinct fold. Tail [when unbroken] about twice the length of the body……………………… Anguidae, go to Key XIA. b) No ……………………………………………………………………… go to 4

4) Rings of scales encircling body [“earthworm-like” appearance]? a) Yes, and eyes invisible [covered by scales]. Tail tip blunt and similar to head. Entire body pink or whitish ……………..………… Rhineura floridana b) No, scales differently arranged, and external eyes visible [may be small]…………………………………………………………. go to 5

5) Loreal pit present between nostril and eye? a) Yes, and single row of caudal scales. Tail rattle may be present ... VENOMOUS, Viperidae, Key XIC. b) No, and two rows of caudal scales present.……………………….. go to 6

6) Ventral scales not enlarged relative to dorsal scales [all body scales are relatively uniform in size]? a) Yes, and body unmarked dark gray or purplish-black with a slightly paler belly. Eyes not readily visible. Body small, less than 20 cm long…………………………………………………..………..… Rhamphotyphlops braminus b) No, single row of enlarged, plate-like ventral scales.………………. go to 7

7) Body with alternating red, black, and yellow bands, with the red and yellow bands touching? a) Yes, and body scales smooth and glossy. Front of head black….. VENOMOUS, Elapidae, Micrurus fulvius

b) No, color pattern different…………………………………………….. NON-VENOMOUS, Colubridae

go to Key XID.

Key VIIA. Non-serpent Squamates [“Lizards”] – Anguidae

1) More than 97 scales along the lateral fold? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………….. go to 2 b) No, 97 or fewer scales along the lateral fold ……………..……….. go to 3

2) Are 2–4 conspicuous rows of dark spots or stripes present below the lateral fold? a) Yes, and may have a dark stripe running down the middle of back.. Ophisaurus attenuatus b) No, body unmarked below the lateral fold. No dark stripe running down middle of back ………..…………….………………….. Ophisaurus ventralis

3) A single dark stripe present above the lateral fold? a) Yes, and probably an additional dark stripe down middle of back .. Ophisaurus compressus b) No, several dark stripes (sometimes broken into rows of dark spots) present above the lateral fold ………………………………… Ophisaurus mimicus

24 Key VIIB. Non-serpent Squamates [“Lizards”] (Gekkonidae, Teiidae, Phrynosmatidae, Dactyloidae, and Scincidae)

1) Eyelids absent, and eyes with vertical pupils? a) Yes, and toe tips dramatically expanded ………………………… Gekkonidae, go to 2 b) No, eyelids present and eyes with rounded pupils. Toe tips may be somewhat expanded ……………………………………… go to 3

2) Enlarged, tubercular scales scattered over the entire body, giving a “rough” appearance? a) Yes……………………………………………………………………... Hemidactylus turcicus b) No, enlarged scales small and inconspicuous, limited to a few rows running down the body………………………………………… Hemidactylus garnotii

3) Dorsal scales conspicuously keeled, many ending in a tiny point? a) Yes, and belly often with bright blue patches……………………… Phrynosomatidae, Sceloporus undulatus

b) No ………………………………………………………..…………….. go to 4

4) Dorsal scales granular? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………..… go to 5 b) No, dorsal scales smooth and glossy………………………………. Scincidae, go to 7

5) Six pale stripes running the length of the body? a) Yes, and belly scales much larger than scales on the back……… Teiidae, Aspidoscelis sexlineata

b) No, stripes (if present) fewer than six, and dewlap often visible…. Dactyloidae, go to 6

6) Tail laterally compressed, and taller than wide? a) Yes, and body never green. Body often with dark bands or chevrons, or a wide pale stripe down the center of the back. Male dewlap orange or red-orange, with a yellow or whitish margin….. Anolis sagrei b) No, tail rounded and body often bright green. Body never with large dark markings, but sometimes with a narrow pale stripe down the back. Male dewlap pink or red, with no pale margin…… Anolis carolinensis

7) Several pale stripes running the length of the body, and tail often blue or reddish OR no pale stripes on body and SVL more than 7 cm? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………..… go to 8 b) No, body brown with a wide, dark stripe running down each side. Body slender, elongate, and SVL less than 6 cm. Tail never blue or reddish………………………………………………………………… Scincella lateralis

8) Middle row of scales on ventral surface of tail conspicuously enlarged? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………..… go to 9 b) No, all scale rows on ventral surface of tail are similar in size…… go to 11

9) A single postmental scale present immediately behind the chin scale? a) Yes, and four pale stripes running the length of the body ………… Plestiodon anthracinus b) No, two postmental scales present, and body may have more or less than four pale stripes ……………………………….………… go to 10

10) Four upper labial scales present between eye and tip of snout [count on BOTH SIDES of the face!] a) Yes, and two enlarged postlabial scales present at the back of the jaw. SVL less than 22 cm …………………………………..… Plestiodon fasciatus b) No, five upper labial scales present, and no postlabial scales. SVL often more than 22 cm ……………………………….………… Plestiodon laticeps

11) Tail pink, reddish, red-orange or red-brown? a) Yes, and four pale stripes running down the body. Found only in the Coastal Plain in Georgia …………..….………………………… Plestiodon egregius b) No, tail blue or brown, and often with five pale stripes running down the body. Found throughout Georgia …………….…………. Plestiodon inexpectatus

25

Key VIIC. Snakes – Viperidae (Agkistrodon, Crotalus, Sistrurus) VENOMOUS 1) Tail rattle present [may be small]? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………... go to 4 b) No ………………………………………………………..……………… go to 2

2) Dark eye-stripe present on the face? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………... Agkistrodon piscivorous b) No ………………………………………………………..……………… go to 3

3) Body with dark, saddle-like markings that often resemble “Hershey’s kisses” in profile? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………... Agkistrodon contortrix b) No, body with differently-shaped dorsal blotches …….…………… go to 4

4) Top of head with nine enlarged, plate-like scales? a) Yes, and tail rattle often inconspicuous. Body small, less than 90 mm total length ……………………………………….………….... Sistrurus miliarius b) No ………………………………………………………..……………… go to 5

5) Dorsal blotches diamond-shaped? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………………... Crotalus adamanteus b) No, body with dark chevron-shaped crossbands ……..…………… Crotalus horridus

Key VIID. Snakes – Colubridae NON-VENOMOUS

1) Dorsal scale rows 13–19 at mid-body? a) Yes …………………………………….………………………..……. go to 2 b) No, 21 or more dorsal scale rows at mid-body ……..…………… go to 25

2) Scales smooth? a) Yes, but keeling sometimes present on the middle 3–5 dorsal scale rows and/or the scales just above the cloaca…………..…. go to 3 b) No, scales weakly or strongly keeled …….………………..…….. go to 18

3) Body (excluding the head and neck region) uniformly black or brown, without blotches, crossbands, or stripes? a) Yes, but red or pink triangles may extend from the belly onto the flanks……………………………………………………………… go to 4 b) No, body differently colored ……….……………………………….. go to 13

4) Body tan, light brown, or reddish brown? a) Yes, and total length usually less than 30 cm …………………… go to 5 b) No, body color black or dark gray ……………….………………… go to 9

5) A conspicuous dark eye-stripe present, running from the snout to the angle of the jaw? a) Yes, and labial scales white to yellowish ………………..…….… Rhadinea flavilata b) No ..………………………………………………………………….. go to 6

6) Head and neck black? a) Yes, and contrasting sharply against the pale body color ……… go to 7 b) No, color uniform from head to tail ………………………………… go to 8

7) A light ring separating the dark head from the dark neck band? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………… Tantilla coronata b) No, but a light patch present behind each eye ………………….. Tantilla relicta

26

8) Dorsal scale rows 13 at mid-body? a) Yes, and pinkish belly contrasts sharply with brown dorsal coloration. Tail had distinct blunt spine and eyes are reduced….. Carphophis amoenus b) No, 15 dorsal scale rows at mid-body, and white or gray belly more evenly transitions with the brown dorsal coloration ... Virginia valeriae

9) Belly gray, black, or bluish? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………… go to 10 b) No, belly white, yellow, orange, or red …………………………… go to 11

10) Chin, throat, and sometimes part of the face with reddish, orange, or brown coloration? a) Yes, and the anal scale is undivided. Middle 3–5 dorsal………… Drymarchon couperi b) No, chin, throat and labial scales white, and anal scale divided… Coluber constrictor

11) Pale ring present on neck, and belly yellow or orange (often with a single row of black spots running down the middle)? a) Yes, and body small (less than 40 cm total length) ……………… Diadophis punctatus b) No, neck ring absent and belly lacks a row of black spots ……… go to 12

12) Belly uniformly orange or red? a) Yes, although belly scales usually with black bars on the leading edges encroaching from the flanks. Dorsal scales on flanks may have light lines suggesting keels …………………………………… Seminatrix pygea b) No, belly with alternating black and red checkerboard pattern….. Farancia abacura

13) Three indistinct, dark stripes running the length of the otherwise brown body? a) Yes, and lower sides of body yellowish tan. Scales directly above the cloaca slightly keeled ……………………………..…….. Regina alleni b) No ..…………………………………………………………………….. go to 14

14) Body with red, orange, or yellow coloration? a) Yes …………………………………………………………..………… go to 15 b) No …………………………………………………………..…………. go to 16

15) Three thin, red stripes running the length of the body? a) Yes, and belly is bright red or yellow, with two rows of black spots running the length of the belly …………………………..…… Farancia erytogramma b) No, body with black-bordered red saddles, separated from one another by whitish background color. Belly uniform white or cream colored ………………………………………………………… Cemophora coccinea

16) Head and front half of body dark brown to black (sometimes just with dark bands), fading to light brown or tan rearward? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………….. Masticophis flagellum b) No, body differently colored ………………………………………… go to 17

17) Dorsal scale rows 15 just anterior to the cloaca? a) Yes, and dark blotches (or sometimes bands) present on the body and tail ………………………………………………………….. Coluber constrictor, juvenile b) No, 13 scale rows just anterior to the cloaca. Dark bands (or sometimes blotches) may be present along the entire body, but usually less evident near the tail ……………………………….. Masticophis flagellum, juvenile

18) Body and tail long and slender, with unmarked green body and white or yellow belly? a) Yes (But beware! Dead snakes rapidly turn blue) …..…………… Opheodrys aestivus b) No ……………………………………………………………………… go to 19

27

19) Two or three yellow or white stripes running the length of the body? a) Yes, and belly pale and unmarked ………………………………… Thamnophis spp., go to 20 b) No ……………………………………………………………………… go to 21

20) Rear margin of each upper labial scale with a vertical black bar or wedge? a) Yes, and a pale stripe running down each side of the body on scale rows 2–3 ……………………………………………………….. Thamnophis sirtalis b) No, and a pale stripe running down each side of the body on scale rows 3–4 ……………………………………………………….. Thamnophis saurita

21) Belly pale with four dark lengthwise stripes? a) Yes …….……………………………………………………………… Regina septemvittata b) No ……………………………….…………………………………….. go to 22

22) Belly pale with two lengthwise rows of dark spots shaped like half- moons or triangles? a) Yes, and back shiny olive-brown to black, often with two narrow darker stripes running along either side of the midline ………...… Regina rigida b) No ...……………………………………………………………………. go to 23

23) Belly red or orange? a) Yes, and 15 dorsal scale rows present ………………………….… Storeria occipiptomaculata b) No, belly brown, gray, or tan, and 17 dorsal scale rows present.. go to 24

24) Two rows of dark spots or small blotches on at least the first third of the body, which may fuse to form dark stripes on the rear of the body? a) Yes, and two dark blotches at the base of the neck may fuse to form a dark neck ring ……………..…………………………………. Storeria dekayi b) No, body unmarked, or with some fine dark speckling. A faint pale neck ring may be present in juveniles ………………..……… Haldea [Virginia] striatula

25) Scales smooth, including those on the middle 3–5 dorsal scale rows? a) Yes …………………………………………………………………….. Lampropeltis spp., go to 26 b) No, at least some scales (particularly the middle 3–5 dorsal scale rows) with regular keels [look carefully!] ……………………. go to 29

26) Body black with many thin, white to yellow crossbands forming a chain-like pattern? a) Yes ………………………………………..…………………………… Lampropeltis getula b) No ………………………………………...……………………………. go to 27

27) Body with red, black, and cream or yellow bands that completely encircle the body (including the belly)? a) Yes, and red and black bands touching. Head red ………………. Lampropeltis elapsoides b) No ……………………………………………………………………… go to 28

28) Body with numerous, closely spaced, sometimes irregular brown blotches bordered in black? a) Yes, and belly black-and-white checkered. Found only in the Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Vally, and Blue Ridge in Georgia …………………….……………………………………… Lampropeltis triangulum b) No, brown body blotches well separated, and may be obscure or missing entirely. Found throughout Georgia EXCEPT the Coastal Plain. Anal scale undivided. *Note* often confused with Pantherophis guttatus, which has a divided anal scale……………………………………………………………….…… Lampropeltis calligaster

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29) Rostral scale distinctly pointed and upturned? a) Yes ……………………………………………………………..……… Heterodon spp., go to 30 b) No ……………………………………………………………..………. go to 31

30) Prefrontal scales separated by small scales? a) Yes, and rostral scale sharply upturned. Venter and underside of tail usually pale, similar in color, and unmarked ………..………… Heterodon simus b) No, prefrontal scales touch. Rostral scale less sharply upturned. Venter usually with gray flecking or mottling or is entirely gray to black, and darker overall than the underside of the tail..…………. Heterodon platirhinos

31) Body loaf-shaped (not rounded) in cross section? a) Yes, and dorsal scales are smooth or only weakly keeled ……… Pantherophis [Elaphe] spp., go to 32 b) No, body is rounded in cross section, and dorsal scales are strongly keeled ……………….………………………………………. go to 33

32) A spear- or V-shaped marking present on top of the head? a) Yes, and a black-bordered, broad red or brown eye-stripe extends from the eye onto the neck. Body usually has brown, gray, or tan background, and black-bordered, large red or brown blotches. Belly with black-and-white checkerboard pattern……… Pantherophis [Elaphe] guttatus b) No, and eye-stripe (if present) is solid black and stops at the jaw. Pattern highly variable. May be solid black, gray with darker gray or black blotches, or yellow or greenish with dark stripes running the length of the body………………………………………………… Pantherophis [Elaphe] obsoletus

33) Four prefrontal scales present on the top of the head? a) Yes, and lacking a row of scales between the eyes and labial scales. Belly white or cream colored, sometimes with moderate dark freckling ………………………………………………………… Pituophis melanoleucus b) No, only two prefrontal scales present. Belly usually more strongly colored or patterned. If belly white or creamy, a row of scales is present between the eyes and labial scales …………… Nerodia spp., go to 34

34) Dorsal scale rows 27–33 at mid-body? a) Yes ………………..…………………………………………………… go to 35 b) No, only 23–25 dorsal scale rows at mid-body …………………… go to 36

35) A row of scales present between the eye and labial scales? a) Yes, and body usually greenish or brownish with no distinct pattern …..…………………………………………………………….. Nerodia floridana b) No, and body usually with three alternating rows of dark, square blotches on a uniform brown to tan background ………… Nerodia taxispilota

36) Belly yellow to orange-red with no markings? a) Yes, and body (in adults) is uniform brown to black, with no markings. Juveniles sometimes have alternating dark and light crossbands on the body, and obscure pale lines on the belly ….. Nerodia erythrogaster b) No, belly is yellowish with distinct reddish, brown or black markings. Body is tan, brown, or reddish-brown, usually with darker blotches or crossbands even in adults …………………….. go to 37

37) Dark eye-stripe present, extending to the angle of the jaw? a) Yes, and complete dark crossbands present along the entire length of the body. Belly markings usually square-shaped ……… Nerodia fasciata b) No, eye-stripe absent, and dark crossbands are usually complete only at the front of the body, changing to three rows of alternating blotches at the rear of the body. Belly markings tend to be half-moon shaped…….……………..………………………… Nerodia sipedon

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