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Wisconsin Herps
The following are brief species descriptions and habitat preferences of regional herpetofauna based upon Vogt (1981). The Wisconsin Herp Atlas provides the geographic distribution of each species.
The Lissamphibia (living amphibians and their close relatives)
Family Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders)
This small salamander (4-5.5 in.) occurs farther north than any other eastern salamander and is common in northeastern Wisconsin. The adults are black to blue-black in color and are flecked with turquoise. Newly metamorphosed individuals have yellow spots. Breeding occurs in ponds throughout the northern mesic and boreal forests in mid-April and the larvae metamorphose by mid-August.
As its name implies, this large bluish black salamander (4.3-7.75 in.) has a meandering row of yellow spots along both sides of the back, and a gray belly. The spots closest to the head are usually orange. They inhabit boreal, pine, and northern mesic forest. Breeding occurs roughly three days later than the blue-spotted salamander.
This species is the largest terrestrial salamander found in Wisconsin (7-8.25 in.), and is more abundant in the southern part of the state. The color pattern can be highly variable, but it most often the animal has a dark black or green back and sides covered with irregular yellow blotches and an olive-yellow belly. Interestingly, some populations are neotonic, reaching sexual maturity while still in the aquatic larval form. They prefer to breed in prairie ponds and woodland marshes.
Family Salamindridae (Newts)
Newts are small (2.5 - 4 in.) and have have rough skin and are less slimy than other salamanders. Adults are olive green to yellow in coloration with two distinct rows of red spots. The Eastern newt has four stages in it's lifecycle. The larval form has external bushy gills. Juvenile newts, or "efts", often leave the water to live terrestrially. After 1 to 3 years the efts become sexually mature adults that usually return to the water to live, but can remain terrestrial if there when aquatic habitats are scarce. Newts occur in a variety of aquatic environments and the adults are active all year long. Breeding is in late fall, winter, and early spring.
Family Plethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders)
This red-brown salamander is unique it two respects: it has a white belly covered with black spots; and, as you might expect, has only four toes on the hind feet (all other terrestrial WI salamanders have five). This is a secretive species is small (2.5 - 3.75 in.) and relatively little is known about its ecology. Mating occurs in spring and fall.
The name is deceiving because the stripe along its back may vary from reddish to gray or even black. Size ranges from 2.25 to 4 in in length. Habitats include northern mesic and boreal forest. Red-backs are active throughout the summer months at night. Breeding occurs in early June. There is no aquatic larval stage, all development takes place in the eggs which are guarded by the females.
Family Proteidae (Mudpuppies)
Mudpuppies are found throughout the state in any permanent body of water. These large (8-13 in.) neotonic salamanders are gray or brown with with small dark spots on the body and a dark stripe across the eye. They use their large bushy red gills to breathe underwater. They are active throughout the year and breed in the shallows of lakes and rivers in the spring.
Family Bufonidae (Toads)
This large (2-3 in.), stout-bodied anuran usually has one or 2 large warts on each dark patch on the back and many small spots on the chest. They are a very common species found in many habitats. Fertilizers and pesticides have reduced their numbers in many agricultural areas. Mating can occur in almost any temporary or permanent water body in late April and early May.
Family Hylidae (Tree Frogs)
Unlike other treefrogs cricket frogs do not climb. Named in honor of an University of Michigan herpetologist, Blanchard's is recognizable because it is larger than other cricket frogs and has a dark triangular spot between the eyes. The dorsal surface is warty and may be flecked with red. Cricket frogs inhabit marshes, fens and prairies near permanent water. This state listed endangered species has been experiencing declines for decades in Wisconsin (Casper 1996).
The Western Chorus frog is 2-3 cm in length with a gray, buff, or light brown coloration. Three distinct stripes extend from the head to the posterior area of the body. Moist prairies and marshes are preferred habitat. They are the earliest anuran to begin calling in the spring.
The Spring peeper is a small tree frog with a distinctive "X" on its back. They are most often found in marshy areas, roadside ditches, and pools in open or wooded country. They hibernate in forests away from ponds and migrate toward the ponds on the first spring rains. Their voice can be heard in March and April.
This is the largest tree frog in Wisconsin. The skin is warty, and capable of rapid color change from green to gray. It also has large toe pads. The gray tree frog is easily confused with the Cope's Gray Tree Frog. However, they can be differentiated by voice. Hyla versicolor is also tetraploid (having twice the chromosome count), whereas H. chrysoscelis is diploid. Breeding begins in wooded ponds in May.
Although Cope's is smaller than the gray tree frog, the 2 species are almost indistinguishable in the hand. Cope's gray tree frog has a different, more rapid trilling than than it's counterpart and prefers prairie ponds for breeding.
Family Ranidae (True Frogs)
The bullfrog is the largest of Wisconsin's anurans. It is green in coloration and has well developed tympanic folds (membranes covering the ear). It may be found along any permanent body of water. Bullfrog tadpoles take two years to develop. It is the last frog to begin breeding in Wisconsin.
This is a large, ubiquitous frog species which has a highly variable coloration. It may be brownish, greenish, or slightly yellow. It is differentiated from the Bullfrog by the prominent dorsolateral folds on it's back which extend only to the groin. It is a generalist species capable of occupying any habitat type.
This is a medium-sized slender frog similar to a leopard frog in coloration. It has two rows of brown blotches between dorsolateral folds on its back. It is a species especially sensitive to pollution and changes in water quality. It requires cold water for breeding in April. It will remain close to the water all summer.
A medium-sized species with green or brown dorsal ground color which is broken by two or three irregularly spaced brown spots outlined in cream. The leopard frog is abundant is moist prairies and meadows. They spend their summer foraging away from the water. Breeding occurs in early April.
- This light tan frog has a distinctive mask around it's eyes. Habitat preferences include boreal and mixed hardwood forests where it forages on the forest floor for invertebrates. It uses vernal ponds for breeding. The wood frog is the first ranid to call in the spring.
REPTILIA (not including birds)
The Snapping turtle is the largest turtle in Wisconsin. The carapace is often brown or black and covered with algae. The head has massive jaws and the neck is quite long. It is widespread in Wisconsin inhabiting every aquatic system. It seems to be very tolerant of pollution.
The musk turtle is a small aquatic turtle with a dark coloration and a long pointed head. The carapace is domed. Pond, rivers, and lakes with mud bottoms are preferable habitat. Although they rarely bask, they are known to crawl on slanted trees to bask. They "dive bomb" the water when the pursuer comes close. They emit a foul smelling odor from scent glands when disturbed.
The wood turtle is semi-terrestrial, preferring forested habitat along fast moving streams. It has distinct growth rings on its brown carapace. It is diurnal, intelligent turtle. Breeding occurs in spring and fall.
The Blanding's turtle is semi-aquatic. It has a long neck and is bright yellow underneath. It forages on land and in water. It inhabits grassy marshes, mesic prairies, prairie potholes, and shallow lakes and rivers. Breeding occurs in April.
The Midland painted turtle is the most common aquatic turtle in Wisconsin. The carapace is olive green with red margins. Plastron color varies from light yellow to pink, orange, or bright red. It can be found in shallow water, streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes. This diurnal omnivore breeds in spring and fall.
This is an aquatic turtle with an olive, green or brown carapace which is outlined with a variable network of light green, yellow, or orange lines. They prefer large lakes and river and are abundant in back water sloughs and oxbows. The map turtle is a wary basker who copulates in spring and fall. Diet consists primarily of molluscs.
This is a large turtle with a gray or brown pancake-like carapace. They primarily inhabit rivers with sandy or muddy bottoms. The Eastern spiny softshell is known for its nasty disposition and it will not hesitate to bite its harrasser. Activity and copulation begin in May.
The five-lined skink is a small lizard with smooth, shiny skin. The juvenile lizard is distinct in coloration. It has a metallic blue tail and five distinct lines running from head to tail. Adults lose this pattern, and may appear uniform brown, gray, or reddish brown. The five-lined skink is found in moist habitat along forest edges and openings. It is a diurnal lizard, but its wariness limits sightings. Mating and courtship begins in late April.
The northern ringneck snake is a woodland inhabitant with smooth scales. Dorsally, it is gray to blue-black in coloration with a yellow ring around its neck. The belly is yellow with distinct orange spots. the northern ringneck is nocturnal and lices under logs and in rotten stumps in the decidous forest. It is docile and rarely attempts to bite.
This bulky snake has an indistinguishable upturned rostral (nose) scale. Brown blotches are set on a gray, buff or brown ground color. It prefers sandy soiled habitat. When disturbed, this species flattens it head, hisses, and strikes without opening its mouth. If the predator continues harassment, the eastern hognose snake writhes on the ground in a disgusting manner and plays dead. The preferred food item is toads.
The smooth green snake is a terrestrial species with bright green coloration. Ventrally it is white or yellow. Prairie, oak savannas, and open areas in Pine Barrens are where this species can be found. It is diurnal and mates in August.
The Western Fox snake is a large species with reddish brown blotches on a tan or buff background. The head is red, brown, or copper. It is common in many habitats. The western fox snake is primarily diurnal and feeds on rodents, frogs, and birds.
The Eastern Milk snake is medium size snake, with a gray or brown ground color with three rows of reddish brown or brown bordered black spots. Moist forest edges, oak savannas, hardwood forests, and prairies are preferable habitat. They breed in the spring.
The northern ribbon snake is a long, slender aquatic species that looks very similar to a garter snake. The tail is one third of the snake’s total length. This species is usually found in sphagnum bogs. This is a rare species and little about the natural history is known.
This common snake has the unmistakable yellow and black coloration. The eastern garter snake is a generalist species occupying a wide range of habitat type. It is active in early spring and breeds in May and October.
This small snake is usually light brown in coloration, although it may also be gray. It lives in the leaf litter of oak savannas, prairies, and moist hardwood forests. The brown snake is docile and rarely attempts to bite.
The northern red-bellied snake has a reddish brown ventral portion and is black dorsally. Three small pale yellow or white spots are on the back of the neck. Boreal forests, sphagnum bogs and hardwood forests are inhabited by the red-bellied snake. Mating occurs in spring and fall.
The northern water snake is large, harmless, water snake with gray, brown or tan coloration. Upon capture, this species is noted for its nasty disposition, however it will calm down quickly in captivity. It is banded with brown, red or black. Many aquatic habitats are inhabited by this species. It becomes active in late April and breeds in May.
Biodiversity Topics: Introduction . Plants . Animals . Mammals . Birds . Reptiles & Amphibians . Arthropods . Spiders . Insects
© 2001-2004 The Cofrin Center
for Biodiversity and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay,
All Rights Reserved
Last
updated on
July 6, 2006