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Herpetology
BIO 439/539

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BIO 439 Syllabus

BIO 539 Syllabus

Amphibian Species Identification List

Reptile Species Identification List

Venomous Snakes

Photo Gallery

Required Calculations for the Course

Protected Herpetofauna

General information about herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles).

Here in Mississippi there are six major groups of amphibians and reptiles: salamanders, frogs and toads, turtles, lizards, snakes, and crocodylians. Amphibians generally have smooth, moist skin but some like the toads and newts have dry and bumpy or warty skin. Reptiles have dry, scaley skin.

Salamanders

(Order: Caudata)

Salamanders are amphibians. They were the first vertebrate animals to colonize land: although very different from modern salamanders. Most have four legs and a tail. But there are some salamanders with only two legs and some without legs. marbled salamander Ambystoma opacum

Marbled Salamander - Ambystoma opacum (DNWR)

In Mississippi, there is only one aquatic species (Siren intermedia) that has only two legs, all others (terrestrial or aquatic) have four. All salamanders are carnivorous predators that eat a wide range of animals from invertebrates (earthworms, insects, etc.) to vertebrates (frogs, fish, other salamanders, etc.). There are about 32 species of salamanders representing eight families in the state of Mississippi.

Mostly terrestrial, salamanders live in the leaf litter of the forest, near seeps, springs, or streamsides. They are beneficial to the soil because of their burrowing activities and provide prey for other predators.

In Mississippi there are four families: Amphiumidae, Cryptobranchidae, Proteidae, and Sirenidae that are

Mole Salamander - Ambystoma talpoideum (DNWR)

obligately aquatic and are rarely seen by most people. Some of the members of the family Ambystomatidae may retain larval features such as gills into adulthood, but the ones that do are usually facultative; which means that they can lose the larval features and metamorphose into a terrestrial adult if the environmental conditions warrant it.

Frogs and Toads

(Order: Anura)

Frogs are also amphibians that have four legs – but no tail (except for a few – none of which are found in Mississippi). In general, toads have warty skin and short legs while frogs have smooth skin and long legs. They are best known for their calling which is most obvious during the spring; but some species breed in the winter and some breed year round. Most anurans are generalists – the tadpoles eat algae, insects, protozoa, etc., then change to carnivores as adults – all adult frogs and toads are carnivores.

Bullfrog - Lithobates catesbieanus

Adult anurans consume a wide range of prey from invertebrates to vertebrates and are in turn preyed on by larger vertebrates (snakes, other anurans, etc.). Some, such as the bullfrog, are major predators of almost all vertebrate groups.

Tadpoles are preyed on by invertebrates (dragonfly larvae, predacious beetles, etc.) and vertebrates (other tadpoles, caudatans, fish, etc.). Adult anurans are preyed upon by mostly vertebrate predators (other anurans, snakes, fish, birds, etc.). There are about 32 species of frogs and toads in Mississippi.

Southern Cricket Frog - Acris gryllus

Smooth Earth Snake - Virginia valeriae (DNWR)

Snakes
(Order: Squamata; Sub-order: Serpentes)

Mississippi has approximately 40 species of native snakes; only six of which are venomous. Actually most snakes in the state are beneficial to humans. For example a rat snake that is around 5 ft. long can save a farmer more than $500.00 peryear by eating rats, mice, and small birds that would otherwise eat his crops. An entire group of snakes, the Kingsnakes, are specialist predators that prey on other snakes, including the venomous species found in the state. All snakes are carnivores and they eat a wide variety of insects, small mammals, reptiles (including other snakes), fish, and amphibians. Most of these fascinating creatures are harmless to humans and should not be feared. Some snakes in Mississippi are in danger of becoming extinct and it is against the law to harm them. Protected species in Mississippi include the Hognose Snake and Indigo Snake.

Lizards look like most salamanders but are reptiles like snakes, crocodilians, and turtles. Most have four legs and a tail but there are some known as glass lizards that do not have any legs. Because of this, most people mistakenly believe that they are snakes, however lizards have eyelids but snakes do not; that's why you never see a snake blink. Lizards are found throughout Mississippi and range from being very small such as the sand skink, to very large like the broadhead skink. Recently, the Mediterranean Gecko has become established in some parts of the state. This is an alien species that may outcompete native lizards which could lead to local extinction of some native species.

Lizards

(Order: Squamata; Sub-order: Lacertilia)

Turtles

(Order: Testudines)

Turtles are a very distinctive group best known for their protective shells. Although most people associate turtles with water, there are some species that are entirely terrestrial such as the well known box turtles. Most turtles in the state of Mississippi are associated with fresh water but there are some that live in the ocean, only coming onto land to lay eggs. Turtles may be carnivores (Alligator Snapping Turtle - Macrochelys temminckii), herbivores (Eastern Box Turtle - Terrapene carolina carolina), or omnivores (Mississippi Map Turtle - Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii).

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