Visit us on the Web at www.ontarionature.org FAMILY NATURE NOTES SUMMER 2005 Written by Kerry Everitt Design and illustrations by Judie Shore Amphibians and Reptiles awesome What you can do to help reptiles At-Risk and amphibians Give 'em space. Reptiles and amphibians, along with Many forests and wetlands across it would much rather escape under a most other species, are losing their Amphibians grey tree frog Ontario have been destroyed. The loss bush! The extirpation (permanent loss of natural habitat across Ontario. Shrubs, of wetlands is particularly devastating to a species in a particular region or area) of long grasses, rock piles and decaying logs reptiles and amphibians who rely the timber rattlesnake from Canada and provided ideal habitat for many of these There are more on these habitats for at least one part the reduced range of the eastern Massas- species. Leave some of these areas undis- species of reptiles and of their life-cycle. Wetlands are often sauga rattlesnake is a result of people’s turbed in your backyard, and Ontario's and amphibians here Reptiles separated from one another by buildings, needless persecution of these creatures. nature will thank you. than in any other roads and highways. Many reptiles and amphibians as they try to move from Toxins in our environment also have a Give 'em a brake! Many reptiles and part of Canada. of Georgian Bay devastating effect on reptiles and amphib- amphibians die each year on our roads one area of their habitat to another. In fact, at least 33 ians. Chemicals such as PCBs, dioxins and highways. Basking in the warmth of Georgian Bay is located east of Lake Huron, nestled Snakes, in turn, are terribly misunder- and furans, used in various industrial the sun, they are unaware of the danger different species call between the Canadian Shield in the north and the Great stood. Some people are afraid of them, processes, affect the ability of reptiles and of remaining on the warm pavement. this region home! Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands in thinking that they are slimy and danger- amphibians to reproduce by damaging to Watch out for snakes and turtles along the south. Wetlands, rocky out- ous, when in fact, they aren't! Only the their eggs. the road and, when safe, try to nudge crops, and woodlands can all be eastern Massassauga rattlesnake is poiso- them back into their regular habitat. found here. Due to its large size nous. And even though it could bite you, and the fact that it is nearly separat- ed from Lake Huron by the Bruce Amphibian Antics and Reptile Round-Up Peninsula and Manitoulin Island, some people consider Georgian Bay to be a sixth All answers can be found in the Great Lake. Because of the uniqueness and Nature Note. Good luck! To escape danger, the variety of habitats found within this relatively ACROSS northern ribbon snake musk turtle small region and among its many islands there 3. Ontario's largest frog will dive into the water 7. Cold-blooded and swim is an abundance of plants and animals. There 9. Thin snake, dives to avoid danger are more species of reptiles and amphibians 11. Colour-changing frog here than in any other 12. Ontario's only rattlesnake Reptiles Amphibians Manitoulin Island part of Canada. In fact, at 14. Lays shelled eggs (snakes, turtles and skinks) (frogs, toads and salamanders) Georgian Supplement to Supplement least 33 different species 15. Young called Red Eft Bay • are covered with either scales • have smooth, moist skin Lake call this region home! 16. Deepest harbour in the World Huron 17. Sixth Great Lake or a shell • smaller, less developed teeth Did you know… 18. Sleigh bell call • their skin is dry • no claws Georgian Bay contains the O DOWN O • sharp teeth or beaks (turtles) world's largest freshwater N N • lay jelly-covered eggs in water NA 1. Also called Stinkpot Turtle NA • sharp claws (except snakes), island, Manitoulin Island, TURE, S 2. Frosty frog found in far north TURE and the world's deepest harbour, Parry Sound! 4. Ontario's only lizard • most lay eggs but some 5. Snoring & clucking noise species bear 6. Largest freshwater island ummer 2005 live young 8. Reptile never asks for directions. Common... 10. 2nd largest snake in Ontario 11. Permanent loss of species in area 12. Plays dead if threatened 13. Two lives leopard frog 355 Lesmill Rd, Toronto, ON M3B 2W8 Tel: (416) 444-8419, 1 800 440-2366 Fax: (416) 444-9866 E-mail:[email protected], Website:www.ontarionature.org Editor: Victoria Foote Reviewer: Gregor Beck Printing: DTP Inc. Eastern Fox Snake Eastern Massassauga Rattlesnake This constrictor gets its name from the fox-smelling musk This is Ontario's only rattlesnake and is on that it gives off when threatened. Five-lined the Canadian Endangered Species List. Habitat: The eastern fox snake takes advantage of the diverse landscapes in the Georgian Bay area and can be found near Skink Habitat: Mixed forests and rocky outcrops. marshes, sand dunes and beaches. The five-lined Description: Grey-brown in colour with several rows A unique habitat Description: Yellow-brown in colour with large brown skink is Ontario’s of black blotches, ringed in grey along its back and sides. It is hard to believe that wildlife can sur- or black blotches running along the back that alternate with only lizard. The underside is black. Its thick tail does not narrow like other vive on the seemingly desolate rocky out- a series of lateral smaller blotches. Its belly is yellow with a snakes but has a rattle, giving it its name. It feeds on birds, amphibians, insects and small mammals. The Massassauga rattlesnake crops on Georgian Bay’s islands. This black checkboard pattern and it has a reddish-brown head. injects its prey with venom. Once the venom has immobilized the prey, unique habitat is ideal for many species of As a constrictor, the eastern fox snake crushes its prey, which consists of Habitat: The skink is the snake swallows it whole. amphibians reptiles. Turtles and snakes small rodents, birds and amphibians. found in open woodlands Wow: This is the second largest snake in Ontario, and can grow as long as and rocky outcrops on many Wow: This is the only snake in the region with a vertical pupil and a can often be seen sunning themselves on 140 centimetres (that's about as long as you are tall)! of the islands in Georgian Bay. the warm rocks. Reptiles are cold blooded Description: As its name suggests, this lizard (ectothermic), which means that their has five yellowish-cream coloured stripes run- body temperature is controlled by the Common Map Turtle ning down its back from nose to tail. The back- Bull Frog outside air temperature. A reptile's dark Habitat: Large bodies of water. ground colour may be black, brown or even Habitat: Deep ponds and lakes. scales or shell helps it absorb the sun's Description: Its olive-brown shell and skin has many yellowish-orange olive. Juveniles have bright blue tails but the Description: This gentle giant, at a length of over rays which, in turn, warms its body. The lines on it, like contour lines on a map, giving this turtle its name. females may also retain a bluish tinge. Adult 15 centimetres, is Ontario's largest frog. They are usually a dull greenish-brown but may be nearly rocky landscape of this region holds heat Most map turtles have a small yellow triangle behind each eye. males have a reddish or orange coloured jaw. They have powerful jaws with which they crush crayfish and Adults are up to 20 centimetres long and feed black in colour. They have no distinctive patterns just like a sidewalk in the summer. If a other molluscs that make up a large portion of their diet. mainly on insects and spiders. but their size is usually enough to make a positive reptile doesn't get enough sunlight, it Wow: Because of their strong muscles and wide webbing Wow: A skink’s tail can drop off — which can identification. In the spring, you can hear their becomes cold and sluggish. on their feet, the map turtle can swim in fast currents be useful when trying to escape from predators familiar "jug-o-rum, jug-o-rum" call. of large rivers where most other — and a new, smaller one, will grow back in Wow: It takes approximately three years for turtles cannot. its place. a bullfrog's eggs to undergo metamorphosis and turn into tadpoles while for most other amphibian species, this Heading to the process takes less than two weeks. Georgian Bay area for a vacation? Red-Spotted Newt Wood Frog Take the mini field guide along to help Habitat: Ponds and lakes with dense red-spotted newt Habitat: Although they are primarily terrestrial, these frogs you identify some of the region's unique submerged vegetation. are never far from water and can be found in marshes, Description: Shorter than a pencil, these creatures amphibians and reptiles. Even better, wet meadows and open grassy areas. are both aquatic and terrestrial-dwelling make a photocopy of the cards and Description: This medium-sized brown-grey frog at different stages of their lives. As their name suggests, has a distinctive black triangular mask running staple them together to make your own they have characteristic red-orange spots that are ringed in black along their backs. between its eyes and along the side of its head. field guide. You might want to include The adult aquatic newt has a brownish-olive colour background while the terrestrial Its call sounds much like the quacking of a duck.