Upland Vertebrates. Reptiles and Amphibians

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1 Upland Vertebrates Reptiles and Amphibians Although in different classes, reptiles and amphibians are both cold-blooded, and, as adults, breathe through lungs. Reptiles possess scales while amphibians are scaleless. Amphibians generally do not tolerate salt water, preferring freshwater habitats due to their water-permeable skin. Amphibians often make use of temporary ponds and sometimes use the low salinity waters of marshes. The following organisms are those either frequently seen, or of special significance known to occur in the Rookery Bay Reserve. American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis Length: " A familiar south Florida reptile, the adult alligator is black and has a broad, rounded snout. Juveniles have bold yellow crossbands on their dark bodies. Protection of this species has increased its population after decades of over hunting. A limited hunting season has been reintroduced in Florida. The alligator can occasionally be seen in the brackish water of Henderson Creek and in fresh water among the northern sections of the Reserve, but is a more common sight in the summer when water salinity is lower. 107

2 American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus Length: " A long tapering snout with a large tooth prominently showing on both sides of the lower jaw help identify the crocodile. It is grayish green or brown in color. A young crocodile is 8 to 9 inches when hatched from its egg. The crocodile feeds on crabs, fish, small mammals, and water birds. It is shy and retiring. Unlike the alligator, it prefers salty or brackish water, and can sometimes be seen in the Ten Thousand Islands. It is a federally listed endangered species and is a victim of coastal development and habitat destruction. Black Racer Coluber constrictor priapus Length: 36-60" Slender and fast moving, the black racer is plain black with white on its chin and throat. Its scales are smooth. The iris of its eye is usually red or orange. The black racer is an active snake and a good climber, but spends much of its time on the ground. It is commonly seen in scrub or pine flatwoods. 108 Eastern Diamondback Crotalus adamanteus Length: 30-70" The Eastern diamondback rattlesnake is heavy-bodied with a large, triangular-shaped head. The back of this snake has rough scales and is patterned with broad, dark brown, diamond-shaped markings. This snake is venomous and should be avoided. Its tail ends in a well-defined rattle with dark rings. It dines on rabbits, rodents and birds. The Eastern diamondback is found in pine flatwoods and scrub communities.

3 Eastern Indigo Snake Drymarchon corais couperi Length: 60-84" The largest nonvenomous snake within the Reserve, the Eastern indigo has a shiny blueblack body with a rust-colored chin and throat. It feeds on reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, and birds. Despite its size, it is not a constrictor, and often swallows its prey live. This species prefers a dry environment, and most often inhabits scrub and pine flatwood habitats. Florida Box Turtle Terrapene Carolina Length: 5-6" A land turtle, the Florida box turtle has a domelike shell with ornate coloration and pattern. Upper and lower shells may be pattered yellow, orange, or greenish on black or brown. The two shells are hinged and form a close fit when the turtle retreats, hence the name box turtle. On a hot day, this turtle will burrow under logs or decaying vegetation to escape the heat. It may also be seen soaking in water or mud, and rain showers often bring it out of hiding. Its diet includes slugs, earthworms, berries, and mushrooms. In the Reserve, it inhabits a variety of upland and marsh habitats. 109

4 Florida Softshell Turtle Apalone ferox Length: 6-18" The largest of the North American softshells, the Florida softshell turtle is brown or grayishgreen with vague dark spots. Its shell is soft and leathery and bends freely at the sides and rear. This turtle is an aquatic species and a powerful swimmer. It is also comfortable on land where it shows unusual speed and agility. Living primarily in lakes, ponds, and roadside canals, the Florida softshell turtle often lies buried in sand or mud in shallow water, with its eyes and snout exposed. Its diet consists of snails, frogs, and fish. Gopher Tortoise Gopherous polyphemus Length: 6-10" A species of special concern, the gopher tortoise is an expert burrower. It builds long, sloping tunnels that level out underground. The burrows can be 3 to 35 feet long and are sometimes used for refuge by owls, raccoons, opossums, and snakes. The gopher tortoise has stumpy feet used for digging, and its carapace (shell) is brown or tan with noticeable growth rings. This tortoise eats grass, leaves, and fruit, and prefers dry flatwoods or scrub habitats. 110

5 Green Anole Anolis carolinensis Length: 6" The green anole is a slender, lizard-like animal with large toe pads, long wedge-shaped snout, whiplike tail and expandable throat fan or dewlap. This dewlap flares red and is displayed by the male during courtship or while defending its territory. The green anole is usually green, but can quickly change color to light brown. It feeds on flies, beetles, moths, and spiders, which it will stalk. The nonnative, invasive Cuban brown anole feeds on and displaces the native green anole in its habitat. The green anole can be seen around the Shell Island Road field station. Green Tree Frog Hyla cinerea Length: 2-3" Bright green in color, the green tree frog has white stripes on either side of its body and small yellow spots on its back. The green tree frog usually calls during damp or humid weather with a continuous, nasal, gronk, gronk, gronk. During the day, it rests with its head flattened and legs gathered against broad-leafed vegetation. The green tree frog is found throughout the Reserve and is more readily seen during summer months due to increased rains. 111

6 Loggerhead Turtle Caretta Caretta Length: 31-45" The loggerhead sea turtle is reddish-brown in color, has large flippers, and reaches weights between 300 and 500 pounds. They live in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and females come ashore to lay eggs on the beach in summer. Loggerhead populations are decreasing due to loss of nesting habitat, predation of eggs by raccoons and other animals, and ingestion of floating trash. Loggerheads feed on mollusks, crabs and jellyfish., and are the most common species of sea turtle seen along Reserve beaches. Kemp s Ridley and green sea turtles are also known to use portions of the Reserve as habitat. Mangrove Water Snake Nerodia fasciata compressicauda Length: 15-30" A small, nonvenomous water snake, the mangrove water snake is variable in color. It may be brown, gray, dull yellow or greenish with faint dark markings or crossbands. Stripes may appear on its cheek. The mangrove water snake occurs in salt and brackish water, in mangrove swamps, marshes and canals. It feeds on frogs, tadpoles, and fish. 112

7 Red-Bellied Turtle Pseudemys nelsoni Length: 8-12" A large basking turtle, the red-bellied turtle is abundant. Some turtles of this species have bold reddish streaks on their carapace, while others are dark and drab. Its plastron is usually distinctly tinted with orange, red, or coral around the margins, with dark markings forming semi-circles seen on young. It has several light stripes on its head, with an arrowshaped line between its eyes and snout. The red-bellied turtle feeds on snails, tadpoles, and aquatic vegetation. A similar species common in the Reserve is the Florida cooter, Pseudemys floridana. The red-bellied turtle s range is confined to the Florida peninsula, and can be seen in ditches and ponds within the Reserve. Southeastern Five-Lined Skink Eumeces inexpectatus Length: 5-8" A fast, alert lizard, the five-lined skink is smooth and shiny. The young skink has 5 yellowish stripes on a black body and bright blue tail. The adult has brighter orange striping toward its head. In larger individuals the tail may have a purple hue. It feeds during the day on insects. Like many lizards, the five-lined skink will try to bite and may lose its tail when handled. It can be found in scrub habitat. 113

8 Southern Toad Bufo terrestris Length: 2-4.5" High cranial crests and pronounced knobs help identify the southern toad. It is a large, rounded toad that is usually brownish in color with darker spotting around its warts. The southern toad is nocturnal, spending its day hiding inside a burrow it has dug. Its call is a high-pitched musical trill that can be heard on summer evenings. It is found in the pine flatwoods and scrub communities. Striped Mud Turtle Kinosternon bauri Length: 3-4" The three light stripes on this turtle s shell may be difficult to see in older individuals. The striped mud turtle has a large plastron, which is equipped with two evident hinges. Two light stripes can be seen on each side of its head. The diet of this turtle includes insects, snails, dead fish, algae, and cabbage palm seeds. It is also known as the cow-dung cooter because it forages in manure. Found in freshwater areas, the striped mud turtle is less aquatic than other mud turtles, and can be seen crawling on land during the day. 114

9 Yellow Rat Snake Elaphe obsolete quadrivittata Length: 40-80" The adult yellow rat snake is golden-yellow in color with 4 brown, lateral stripes. Its belly is pale yellow. It is an arboreal snake, and the edges of its belly plates are square to help it climb trees. This snake feeds on birds and their eggs and small rodents. It is a constrictor, meaning it squeezes its prey before consumption. The yellow rat snake and a related species, the red rat snake (Elaphe guttata guttata), can be found in upland habitats throughout the Reserve. 115

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