Reptiles of West Virginia

Amphibians and Reptiles of West Virginia
____Northern Dusky Salamander
c
____Southern Two-lined Salamander
c
(Desmognathus fuscus)
(Eurycea cirrigera)
A Field Checklist
____Allegheny Mountain Dusky
____Northern Two-lined Salamander
c
Salamander
c
(Eurycea bislineata)
(Desmognathus ochrophaeus)
____Long-tailed Salamander
c
There are 87 species of amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia. Both groups are cold-
(Eurycea l. longicauda)
blooded vertebrates whose body temperatures are regulated by the temperature of the environ-
____Seal Salamander
c
(Desmognathus monticola)
____Cave Salamander
u
ment. Amphibians are easily distinguished from reptiles. Amphibians lack body scales (except
(Eurycea lucifuga)
some tropical and subtropical forms) and claws which are present on reptiles.
____Black Mountain Salamander
u
(Desmognathus welteri)
Many people often malign members of these groups, especially snakes. This disfavor is
Toads
unjustified. Amphibians and reptiles are of immeasurable ecological value, serving as a natural
____Black-bellied Salamander
u
(Desmognathus quadramaculatus)
____Eastern Spadefoot
r
pest control service, eating many rodents and insects that annoy humans.
(Scaphiopus holbrookii)
In studying amphibians and reptiles, you should refer to a field guide for key identifica-
____Eastern Red-backed Salamander
c
(Plethodon cinereus)
____Eastern American Toad
c
tion characteristics. In addition, the habitat as well as the region of the state where the animal
____Southern Ravine Salamander
c
(Bufo a. americanus)
was observed is important. Some species have limited habitats and ranges and this informa-
(Plethodon richmondi)
____Fowler’s Toad
c
tion can assist in identifying the animal.
(
____Northern Ravine Salamander
c
Bufo fowleri)
The number of different species of amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia are:
(Plethodon electromorphus)
Cricket Frogs
AMPHIBIANS
(48)
REPTILES
(39)
____Valley and Ridge Salamander
c
Toads
3
Turtles
13
____**Eastern Cricket Frog
u
(Plethodon hoffmani)
(Acris c. crepitans)
Frogs
11
Lizards and Skinks
6
____Shenandoah Mountain Salamander u
____**Blanchard’s Cricket Frog
r
Salamanders
34
Snakes
20
(Plethodon virginia)
(Acris crepitans blanchardi)
The classification of amphibians and reptiles in this checklist conforms to current ac-
_____Cumberland Plateau Salamander
c
cepted zoological nomenclature. Although the scientific names may appear formidable and
(Plethodon kentucki)
Tree Frogs
unpronounceable, they are necessary because an animal may often be known by more than
____Cheat Mountain Salamander
r
____Gray Treefrog
c
one common name.
(Plethodon nettingi)
(Hyla versicolor)
This checklist was designed for use by students as an educational tool or by anyone
____Northern Slimy Salamander
c
____Cope’s Gray Treefrog
c
interested in amphibians and reptiles that inhabit West Virginia. The incidence or likelihood of
(Plethodon glutinosus)
(Hyla chrysoscelis)
finding each animal has been designated by one of the following letters:
____White-spotted Slimy Salamander
c
(Plethodon cylindraceus)
Chorus Frogs
c = common – can be commonly seen in suitable habitat within present distribution
____Wehrle’s Salamander
c
____Mountain Chorus Frog
c
u = uncommon – seldom seen because of restricted habitat and/or secretive behavior
(Plethodon wehrlei)
(Pseudacris brachyphona)
r = rare – not often present even in suitable habitat
____Cow Knob Salamander
u
____Upland Chorus Frog
u
** = Denotes more than one subspecies occurs in WV.
(Plethodon punctatus)
(Pseudacris f. feriarum)
____Four-toed Salamander
c
____Northern Spring Peeper
c
(Hemidactylium scutatum)
(Pseudacris c. crucifer)
Amphibians
____**Northern Spring Salamander
c
(Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus)
True Frogs
____American Bullfrog
c
Salamanders
____**Kentucky Spring Salamander
c
(Gyrinophilus porphyriticus duryi)
(Rana catesbeiana)
Eastern Hellbender
c
____Marbled Salamander
c
____West Virginia Spring Salamander
r
____Northern Green Frog
c
(Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis)
(Ambystoma opacum)
(Gyrinophilus subterraneus)
(Rana clamitans melanota)
______Common Mudpuppy
c
____Small-mouthed Salamander
r
____Midland Mud Salamander
u
____Wood Frog
c
(Necturus m. maculosus)
(Ambystoma texanum)
(Pseudotriton montanus diastictus)
(Rana sylvatica)
______Jefferson Salamanderu
____Streamside Salamander
r
____Northern Red Salamander
c
____Northern Leopard Frog
u
(Ambystoma jeffersonianum)
(Ambystoma barbouri)
(Pseudotriton r. ruber)
(Rana pipiens)
______Spotted Salamander
c
____Red-spotted Newt, Red Eft
c
____Green Salamander
u
____Pickerel Frog
c
(Ambystoma maculatum)
(Notophthalmus v. viridescens)
(Aneides aeneus)
(Rana palustris)

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Reptiles
_____Broad-headed Skink
u
_____Northern Copperhead
c
(Eumeces laticeps)
(Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)
_____Northern Coal Skink
u
Amphibians
_____Timber Rattlesnake
c
(Crotalus horridus)
Turtles
(Eumeces a. anthracinus)
and Reptiles
____Eastern Snapping Turtle
c
Snakes
Suggested Literature for
(Chelydra s. serpentina)
____Spotted Turtle
r
_____Queen Snake
c
Further Information:
(Regina septemvittata)
of West Virginia
(Clemmys guttata)
Amphibians and Reptiles in West
____Wood Turtle
u
_____Common Watersnake
c
(Glyptemys insculpta)
(Nerodia s. sipedon)
Virginia by N. Bayard Green and
____Eastern Box Turtle
c
_____Northern Brownsnake
u
Thomas K. Pauley (1987, University
(Terrapene c. carolina)
(Storeria d. dekayi)
of Pittsburgh Press).
A Field
____Northern Map Turtle
u
_____Northern Red-bellied Snake
c
Toads and Frogs of West Virginia*
(Graptemys geographica)
(Storeria o. occipitomaculata)
Checklist
____Ouachita Map Turtle
r
_____Common Ribbonsnake
u
by Thomas K. Pauley
(Graptemys o. ouachitensis)
(Thamnophis s. sauritus)
Turtles and Lizards of West
____**Eastern Painted Turtle
c
_____Eastern Gartersnake
c
Virginia* by Thomas K. Pauley and
(Chrysemys p. picta)
(Thamnophis s. sirtalis)
Michael Seidel.
____**Midland Painted Turtle
c
_____**Eastern Smooth Earthsnake
u
(Chrysemys picta marginata)
(Virginia v. valeriae)
Snakes of West Virginia* by
____Red-eared Turtle
c
_____**Mountain Earthsnake
u
N. Bayard Green, Frank Jernejcic,
(Trachemys scripta elegans)
(Virginia valeriae pulchra)
Thomas K. Pauley and Duane
____Eastern River Cooter
u
_____Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
u
Pursley.
(Pseudemys c. concinna)
(Heterodon platirhinos)
____Northern Red-bellied Cooter
u
_____Eastern Wormsnake
c
Salamanders of West Virginia* by
(Pseudemys rubriventris)
(Carphophis a. amoenus)
Thomas K. Pauley.
____Stinkpot
c
_____Northern Ring-necked Snake
c
(Sternotherus odoratus)
(Diadophis punctatus edwardsii)
*brochures available from the WVDNR
____Eastern Spiny Softshell
c
_____Northern Black Racer
c
(Apalone s. spinifera)
(Coluber c. constrictor)
____Midland Smooth Softshell
r
_____Northern Rough Greensnake
u
Published by the
(Apalone m. mutica)
(Opheodrys a. aestivus)
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
_____Smooth Green Snake
c
Wildlife Resources Section
Lizards
(Opheodrys vernalis)
Wildlife Diversity Program
_____Red Corn Snake
r
____Eastern Fence Lizard
c
P.O. Box 67
(Elaphe guttata)
Elkins, WV 26241
(Sceloporus undulatus)
_____Eastern Ratsnake
c
(304) 637-0245
____Eastern Six-lined Racerunner
u
(Elaphe alleghaniensis)
(Aspidoscelis s. sexlineata)
_____Northern Pine Snake
r
(Pituophis m. melanoleucus)
Skinks
_____**Eastern Kingsnake
r
www.wvdnr.gov
Published by the
____Little Brown Skink
u
(Lampropeltis g. getula)
It is the policy of the Division of Natural Resources to
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
(Scincella lateralis)
_____**Eastern Black Kingsnake
c
provide its facilities, services, programs, and employ-
Wildlife Resources Section
(Lampropeltis getula niger)
ment opportunities to all persons without regard to
Wildlife Diversity Program
____Common Five-lined Skink
c
sex, race, age, religion, national origin or ancestry,
P.O. Box 67
(Eumeces fasciatus)
_____Eastern Milksnake
c
disability, or other protected group status.
Elkins, WV 26241
(Lampropeltis t. triangulum)
(304) 637-0245
vPrinted on recycled paper
Revised 12/03 10M

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