Amphibians

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Amphibians
Ive got the frogs completed on this powerpoint
and the final version will have the salamanders
too Some good links for Amphibians Frog Loggers
Created by Crawford, Stokes and Meier Frogs and
toads of Georgia great site for calls Common
Amphibians of Kentucky Murrays Amphibian
site Amphibians of Georgia and SC another nice
website KY.GOV website with range maps for KY
tetrapods
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Rana catesbeiana American Bullfrog Link to all
calls
Largest American frog, green above, netlike
pattern of gray or brown Habitat inhabit lakes,
ponds, bogs, sluggish streams Reproduction
March to August in ponds, males defend
territories in weedy shallows, call Jug-o-rum,
20 K eggs Life cycle voracious predator, eats
anything it can LS- 8-10 yrs
Scaphiopus holbrookii Eastern Spadefoot
Grayish, blackish brown, Two yellow lines run
down back, no boss (raised area) between eyes,
sickle shaped spade on each hindfoot Habitat
wooded areas but with sandy or loose
soils Reproduction call explosive low-pitched
grunt Life cycle eats insects LS-
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Psuedacris crucifer Spring Peeper
Small frog with a characteristic X on back, color
from yellow, gray, green, not striped, spotted,
mottled Habitat woodlands Reproduction May to
July, high pitched, short peep Life cycle feeds
on insects LS-
Rana clamitans Green Frog
Similar to bull frog but smaller and with
dorso-lateral ridges and a raised center of the
tympanum, color green to brown, Habitat creeks
and streams, rivers and swamps Reproduction
april to August, female lays 4K eggs in floating
mass. call sounds like a loose banjo
string Life cycle - Feed on inverts LS-
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Gastrophryne carolinensis Easter Narrowmouth
Toad
Rotund frog with a small head and narrow mouth,
no external tympanum Habitat found in leaf
litter along ponds, streams. Reproduction
breeds in stable habitats, males produce mucus to
glue themselves to female suring amplexus females
release 800 Eggs in film at surface. Call like a
Bleating lamb. Life cycle feeds on ants,
termites and beetles, LS-
Bufo americanus American Toad
Medium sized toad with kidney shaped paratoid
glands, body cranial ridges do not touch
paratoid. Habitat rocky wooded areas with loose
substrate Reproduction late spring in temporary
ponds, 2-20K eggs, call high pitched trill Life
cycle worms and insects LS-
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Hyla chrysoscelis Copes Gray Treefrog
(Diploid) call slightly faster and higher Hyla
versicolor Gray Treefrog (Tetraploid) call
Small gray frog with warty skin and prominent
adhesive pads on fingers and toes. Habitat in
Wooded areas, near water Reproduction spring to
summer In fishless sloughs and ponds, 2K eggs in
40 egg masses Life cycle invertebrates
Acris crepitans Northern Cricket Frog
Small brown tree frog, extensive webbing of hind
foot, no adhesive pads, light colored triangle on
head Habitat although in treefrog family,
usually found on ground or in water along ponds
or streams Reproduction in early summer, about
200 eggs, call Life cycle LS-
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Cryptobranchus alleganiensis Eastern Hellbender
A large aquatic salamander with a flat body and
two fleshy ridges running along the body, gills
lost in adults, up to 21 Habitat live in clear
rivers and large streams, often found under large
flat rocks Reproduction late September to
November external fertilization, 200-700 eggs
under a flat rock Life cycle feed on crayfish,
small fish LS- 35yrs
Siren intermedia Lesser Siren
Large aquatic salamander with external gills, no
back legs, 4-toes on limb Habitat Sluggish
streams ponds sloughs aestivates in mud cocoon
when dried. Reproduction -200 eggs laid in a
depression in mud Life cycle crayfish,
inverts, nocturnal LS- ?
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Necturus maculosus Mudpuppy
Llarge aquatic species with thick prominent neck
gills, 4 toes on all 4 limbs, Habitat large
creeks, rivers, reservoirs Reproduction Fall,
internal fert. 75-100 eggs laid under rock Life
cycle invertebrates,small fishLS- 20
Amphiuma tridactylum Three-toed Amphhiuma
Large aquatic salamander with 3 toes on each tiny
limb, has lung, obligate breather Habitat
bayous and ditches of Mississippi delta,
nocturnal Reproduction late summer to fall, 200
eggs in log near water, female guards Life cycle
, crayfish, et al. LS-
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Notophthalmus viridescens Eastern (red-spotted)
Newt
Bumpy skin, no costal grooves, aquatic adults
normally olive green, land dwelling red-eft stage
redish, in some the eft stage is skipped and the
adults retain gills Habitat moist forested
upland habitats, ponds Reproduction occurs in
late spring, male swims after female and wraps
around her, male deposits spermatophore which
female picks up, 200-400 eggs laid singly on
aquatic vegetation. Life cycle LS-
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Ambystoma opacum Marbled Salamander
Dark bodied with iridescent white stripes with
rungs, stout, terrestrial Habitat forests, leaf
litter Reproduction in fall, internal fert.,
eggs (50-200) deposited in depression where next
rain will immerse, females guard until rains.
Life cycle feed on invertebrates (insects,
worms, slugs) LS- females mature at 4 yrs
Ambystoma tigrum Tiger Salamander
Dark bodied with yellow spots or blotches Habitat
wide variety of habitats (forests swamps farms)
hide in leaf litter during day and are active
nocturnally Reproduction - migrate to ponds in
fall or early spring, internal fert. Deposit up
to 1000 eggs - Life cycle insects, slugs,
spiders, et al. LS-
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Plethodontidae lungless salamanders,
naso-labial grooves, often non-gilled larvae
Eurycea lucifuga Cave Salamander
Slender bright orange salamander, with a long
tail and dark spots. If harrassed, will wave its
tail to distract predator. Habitat found in
caves and rocky limestone outcroppings or forests
nearby. Reproduction -. Life cycle small
arthropods LS-
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Plethodon glutinosus Slimy Salamander
Blue or blue-black with bright specks, with
rounded tails Produces white sticky unappetizing
substance for defense Habitat moist forested
habitats, found throughout area Reproduction
females lay 10-20 eggs in a moist area suspended
from roof by a stalk, no aquatic larval
stage Life cycle inverts LS-
Desmognathus fuscus - Northern Dusky Salamander
Medium sized salamander with a keeled tail, color
variable Habitat wooded areas near running
water (brooks streams seepages) Reproduction
summer, inter. Fert., females lay 12-26 eggs in
moist area, females guard Life cycle inverts
LS-