Pennsylvania Endangered Reptiles and Amphibians

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Pennsylvania Endangered Reptiles and Amphibians
Of Pennsylvanias 73 species of Reptiles and
Amphibians, 8 are listed as either endangered or
threatened.
Turtles
Bog Turtle Full grown at less than 4.5 inches,
the bog turtle is Pennsylvanias smallest turtle.
The bog turtle is dark brown except for patches
of orange on each side of its head. A habitat
specialist, loss of wet meadows and bogs due to
fragmentation and and habitat succession have
contributed to this turtle being considered
endangered in Pennsylvania and at the federal
level.
Northern Redbellied Turtle Unlike the bog
turtle, The Redbellied turtle is among
Pennsylvanias largest turtles and can measure
12 inches in shell length. The southeastern
counties of the state are home to this turtle
where it prefers deep water lakes and ponds with
adequate vegetation. Habitat loss and water
quality have both lead to this species
threatened status.
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Pennsylvanias Endangered Reptiles and Amphibians
Snakes
Eastern Massassauga A small rattlesnake,
massasaugas have brownish saddles upon a lighter
background and a have a tail with brown and black
rings. These venomous reptiles live in open old
wet meadows. In Pennsylvania, these remnant
prairie habitats are only found in a few western
counties. Because of their limited distribution,
they are considered endangered within the
commonwealth.
Rough Green Snake This bright green slender
harmless snake reaches the northern limits of
its range in southeastern Pennsylvania. It
spends most of its time in low shrubs near water
where it feeds upon insects and spiders. The
rough green snake has a very limited distribution
in Pa and is listed as endangered.
Kirtlands Snake The Kirtlands snake is an
endangered species from a few western Pa counties
that is believed to no longer exist in
Pennsylvania. Habitat destruction of the wet
meadows, fields and marshes may have lead to to
this species no longer being found in
Pennsylvania.
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Frogs
Southern Leopard Frog This species of spotted
frog is an inhabitant of coastal plains ponds and
wetlands. Pennsylvanias coastal plain province
is small and places this species on the
periphery of its overall broad national range.
Development of these coastal plains habitat has
contributed to its decline and listed on the
states endangered species list.
New Jersey Chorus Frog This is a small striped
frog that uses small open bodies of water
including vernal pools in which to breed. Like
the southern leopard frog, the New Jersey chorus
frog is a coastal plains species whose habitat in
an industrialized area of southeastern Pa is
threatened by development and pollution. PA has
listed this species as endangered.
Salamanders
Green Salamander The green coloration of the
green salamander is unique among Pennsylvanias
salamanders. At the northern extent of their
range, the green salamander inhabits only certain
sandstone cliffs and outcroppings in one
southwestern PA county. Mining and deforestation
has proven to be a threat to this species
survival within the state. The green salamander
is listed as threatened in Pennsylvania.