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Reptile and amphibian Study

How to Use This PamphletThe secret to successfully earning a merit badge is for you to use both the pamphlet and the suggestions of your counselor.

Your counselor can be as important to you as a coach is to an athlete. Use all of the resources your counselor can make available to you. This may be the best chance you will have to learn about this particular subject. Make it count.

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Who Pays for This Pamphlet?This merit badge pamphlet is one in a series of more than 100 covering all kinds of hobby and career subjects. It is made available for you to buy as a service of the national and local councils, Boy Scouts of America. The costs of the development, writing, and editing of the merit badge pamphlets are paid for by the Boy Scouts of America in order to bring you the best book at a reasonable price.

Reptile and amphibian Study

bOy SCOutS OF ameRiCameRit badGe SeRieS

35941ISBN 978-0-8395-3288-0©2005 Boy Scouts of America2010 Printing

Requirements1. Describetheidentifyingcharacteristicsofsixspeciesof

reptilesandfourspeciesofamphibiansfoundintheUnitedStates.Foranyfourofthese,makesketchesfromyourownobservationsortakephotographs.Showmarkings,colorpatterns,orothercharacteristicsthatareimportantintheidentificationofeachofthefourspecies.Discussthehabitsandhabitatsofall10species.

2. DiscusswithyourmeritbadgecounselortheapproximatenumberofspeciesandgeneralgeographicdistributionofreptilesandamphibiansintheUnitedStates.Preparealistofthemostcommonspeciesfoundinyourlocalareaorstate.

3. Describethemaindifferencesbetween:

a. Amphibiansandreptiles

b. Alligatorsandcrocodiles

c. Toadsandfrogs

d. Salamandersandlizards

e. Snakesandlizards

4. Explainhowreptilesandamphibiansareanimportantcom-ponentofthenaturalenvironment.Listfourspeciesthatareofficiallyprotectedbythefederalgovernmentorbythestateyoulivein,andtellwhyeachisprotected.Listthreespeciesofreptilesandthreespeciesofamphibiansfoundinyourlocalareathatarenotprotected.Discussthefoodhabitsofall10species.

5. Describehowreptilesandamphibiansreproduce.

BANG/Brainerd, MN1-2010/059116

reptile and amphibian study 3

6. Fromobservation,describehowsnakesmoveforward.Describethefunctionsofthemuscles,ribs,andbellyplates.

7. DescribeindetailsixvenomoussnakesandtheonevenomouslizardfoundintheUnitedStates.Describetheirhabitsandgeographicrange.Tellwhatyoushoulddoincaseofabitebyavenomousspecies.

8. DoONEofthefollowing:

a.Maintainoneormorereptilesoramphibiansforatleastamonth.Recordfoodaccepted,eatingmethods,changesincoloration,sheddingofskins,andgeneralhabits;orkeeptheeggsofareptilefromthetimeoflayinguntilhatching;orkeeptheeggsofanamphibianfromthetimeoflayinguntiltheirtransformationintotadpoles(frogs)orlarvae(salamanders).

b.Chooseareptileoramphibianthatyoucanobserveatalocalzoo,aquarium,naturecenter,orothersuchexhibit(suchasyourclassroomorschool).Studythespecimenweeklyforaperiodofthreemonths.Ateachvisit,sketchthespecimeninitscaptivehabitatandnoteanychangesinitscoloration,sheddingofskins,andgeneralhabitsandbehavior.Findout,eitherfrominformationyoulocateonyourownorbytalkingtothecaretaker,whatthisspecieseatsandwhatareitsnativehabitatandhomerange,preferredclimate,averagelifeexpectancy,andnaturalpredators.Alsoidentifyanyhuman-causedthreatstoitspopulationandanylawsthatprotectthespeciesanditshabitat.Aftertheobservationperiod,sharewhatyouhavelearnedwithyourcounselor.

9. DoTWOofthefollowing:

a. Identifyatnightthreekindsoftoadsorfrogsbytheirvoices.Imitatethesongofeachforyourcounselor.Stalkeachwithaflashlightanddiscoverhoweachsingsandfromwhere.

b. Identifybysighteightspeciesofreptilesoramphibians.

c. Usingvisualaids,giveabrieftalktoasmallgrouponthreedifferentreptilesandamphibians.

4 reptile and amphibian study

tree frogs use their adhesive disk toes to climb vertical surfaces.

Scouts must not use venomous reptiles in fulfilling requirement 8a. Species listed by federal or state law as endangered, protected, or threatened must not be used as live specimens in completing requirement 8a unless official permission has been given. In most cases, all specimens should be returned to

the wild at the location of capture after the requirement has been met. Check with

your merit badge counselor for those instances where the return

of these specimens would not be appropriate. Under the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, some plants and animals are, or may

be, protected by federal law. The same ones and/

or others may be protected by state law. Be sure that you do not

collect protected species. Your state may require that you purchase and carry a license

to collect certain species. Check with the wildlife and fish and game officials in

your state regarding species regula-tions before you begin to collect.

10. Tellfivesuperstitionsorfalsebeliefsaboutreptilesandamphibiansandgiveacorrectexplanationforeach.Givesevenexamplesofunusualbehaviororothertruefactsaboutreptilesandamphibians.


Contents

WhatAreReptilesandAmphibians? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

TakingCount. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

IdentifyingReptilesandAmphibians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

TheImportanceofReptilesandAmphibians . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Reproduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

VenomousReptiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

KeepingaPet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

FieldTripsandTalks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

FactsandSuperstitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

TheImportanceofConservation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

TheProfessionalHerpetologist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

ReptileandAmphibianStudyResources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

treat the animals you observe with care and respect.treat the animals you observe with care and respect.

texas spiny softshell turtle


.What are Reptiles and amphibians?

WhatAreReptilesandAmphibians?BoyScoutsalwayshavebeeninterestedinsnakes,turtles,lizards,andalligators,aswellasfrogsandsalamanders.FindingoneoftheseanimalscancreateexcitementonanyScoutcamp,hike,orouting.Mostreptilesandamphibiansareharmless,andmanyspeciescanbekeptincaptivitywithaminimumofcareandattention.

Developingknowledgeaboutthesecaptivatingcreaturesleadstoanappreciationforallnativewildlife.Understandingthelifecycleofareptileoramphibianandkeepingoneasapetcanbeagoodintroductiontonaturalhistory.Knowingaboutvenomousspecies,andwhattodoincaseofasnakebite,canhelpyoutobepreparedtohelpincaseofanemergency.

Reptilesincludeturtles,lizards,snakes,alligators,andcrocodiles.Mostreptilesarecoveredwithscalesthatoftenareenlargedintoshieldsorplates,andtheirtoeshaveclaws.Asisoftentrueinbiology,however,exceptionsexist.Forinstance,thegreatleatherbackseaturtlehasflippersbutnoclaws;snakesandglasslizardshavenolegsatall;andsoftshellturtlesnolongerhavescales,exceptforafewontheirlimbs.Youngreptilescloselyresembletheirparents,buttheircolorationsandpatternsmightbedifferent.

a friend of ranchers and farmers, the sonoran gopher snake is a large, powerful constrictor that feeds on crop-damaging rodents. this harmless snake often bluffs by hissing and shaking its tail to scare away would-be predators.


What are Reptiles and amphibians?.

Amphibiansincludesalamanders,frogs,andtoads.Unlikereptiles,theyhavemoist,glandularskininsteadofscalesand,exceptforafewspeciesinwhichthetoeshavehardenedtips,nonehaveclaws.Mostamphibianspassthroughalarval stage(calledtadpolesinfrogsandlarvaeinsalamanders),usuallyinthewater,beforechangingintotheadultform,aprocesscalledmetamorphosis.

Reptilesandamphibiansarevertebrates,meaningtheyhavea

backbone,justasmammals,birds,andfishesdo.Insects,worms,shellfish,andotheranimalswithoutbackbonesarecalledinvertebrates.

Classifying reptiles and amphibiansEverytypeofanimalhastraitsthatsetitapartfromallotheranimals.Zoologistsandbiologistsusethosedifferencestoorganizeanimalsintoaclassificationsystem.Aspeciesisagroupofanimalsthatcanpassalongitsdistinctivecharacteristicstoitsoffspring.Undermostconditions,theindividualsofaspeciesdonotinterbreedwiththoseofotherspecies.Agroupofcloselyrelatedspeciesthatsharecommonattributesconstitutesagenus.

Reptilesandamphibianswithinaspeciesoftenvarylittleinappearance.Forexample,asnakefromyourstatemaylookmuchlikeoneofthesamespeciesfromanotherstate.Butspecieswithwidedistributions,inafewcasesstretchingfromcoasttocoastorfromtheSouthtoNewEngland,mayhavegeographicvariations,andindividualsinonepartoftherangemaylookdifferentfromthoseinanotherpart.Subspecies,thesegeographicracesofaspecies,canbreedwithoneanother

A specimen is a

single member of

any species.

The study of reptiles and amphibians is called herpetology. The word is derived from the Greek words herpeton, meaning a reptile or creeping thing, and logos, meaning to study. A person who studies these animals is called a herpetologist.

the pickerel frog’s strong legs are well-adapted for leaping.


.What are Reptiles and amphibians?

wheretheboundariesoftheirrangesmeet.Agoodfieldguidecanhelpyoudeterminesubspeciesinyourarea.

Therangeofaspeciesreferstoitsnaturaldistribution—thatis,thegeo-graphicalextentofitsoccurrenceinnature.Thisisusuallygivenintermsofthestates,orsectionsofthecountry,whereaspeciesisfound.

Ananimal’shabitatisthetypeofenvironmentinwhichitlives.Somespeciesneedtoliveinornearwater,andtheirhabitatsaresaidtobeaquaticorsemiaquatic.Othersaresuitedtohot,dryconditions,sotheirhabitatmaybethedesert.Somekindsrarelyleavethesur-faceoftheground,whileothersprefertoliveintreesoronrockfaces.Somehavesinglespecializedhabitatssuchascaves,springs,oraroundtheedgesofponds.Othersliveonlyinsandyareasorplaceswherecertaintypesofvegetationgrow.

Habitsdescribeananimal’sbehaviorandnaturalhistory—howitfinds,cap-tures,andswallowsfood;whetheritlayseggsoritsyoungarebornalive;whetherithidesmostofthetimeorisactiveaboveground;whetheritisactivemostlyatnight(nocturnal)orduringtheday(diurnal);whetheritclimbs,swims,orburrows,andsoon.

A species’ scientific name is made up of the genus name, which is placed first and capitalized, followed by the species name; both are italicized. For example, the scientific name of the common king snake is Lampropeltis getulus.

some species of reptiles and amphibians require highly specialized habitats. the mangrove salt marsh snake lives in the brackish waters and saltwater mangrove swamps of southern Florida.

in different parts of its geographic range, the same species of snake can vary in appearance, such as the king snakes shown above.

California king snake

Grey-banded king snake


What are Reptiles and amphibians?.

How Snakes MoveIt is fairly easy to observe how turtles walk and frogs leap, but fig-uring out how snakes slither along is not quite so obvious. Serpents are very flexible, with a pair of movable ribs for each of the large ventral scales, or plates, on the abdomen. A system of muscles connects these ribs to the outer edges of the ventral scales. As the snake flexes these muscles, the free, outer edge of the scales will

catch on any small projection or surface irregularity, giving the snake locomotion. Using this method of crawling, many kinds of snakes can move in a straight line. Few of them do, though. They usually take advantage of the terrain and use various projections as pivots against which they can push as they move forward. With this method, the body moves in S-curves as it follows the head.

Like some other desert species around the world, the American sidewinder flips sideways to achieve locomotion. Some aquatic snakes swim by using the S-curve method against the resistance of the water.

To watch how a snake crawls, put an inch or two of fine sand or gravel in an aquarium or large clear container and tamp the material down. Then put a small or medium-size nonvenomous snake in the container. Set the container on a shelf so your eyes are level with the snake’s belly. You will see the movements of the scales as the reptile crawls along.

the plains black-headed snake is a secretive, harmless, rear-fanged species.

the brazilian rainbow boa is a beautiful and powerful boa of the south american tropics.


.taking Count

TakingCountItisimpossibletodetermineexactlyhowmanyspeciesofreptilesandamphibiansoccurwithinthebordersoftheUnitedStatesbecausethosenumbersareconstantlychanging.Newspeciesstillareoccasionallydiscovered,especiallyamongtheamphibians.FormerlynonnativespeciesfromMexicoandothertropicallocationsarestartingtobefoundinsouthernstates.Andsometimesresearchmightindicatethatwhatoncewasthoughttobetwospeciesactuallyaresubspeciesor,despiteoutwardappearances,twospeciesexistwherepreviouslytherewasthoughttobeonlyone.Still,suchadditionsanddeletionsdonotoccurveryoften,soanapproximatelistofspeciesisagoodestimateforgeneralstudy.

like the iguana, above, some species of reptiles and amphibians from other countries have become established in the united states, especially in southern Florida.


taking Count.

General distributionMorekindsofamphibians,andmanymorekindsofreptiles,liveinthesouthernpartoftheUnitedStatesthaninthenorthernpart.Amphibiansarecold-blooded,derivingtheirbodyheatfromoutsidesources,sotheycontroltheirbodytemperaturebymovingtowarmerorcoolerenvironments.Aturtle,forexample,warmsitselfbybaskinginthesun,retreatingtothewaterwhenitsbodybecomestoowarm.

Habitatpreferencesalsoinfluencedistribution.Frogs,salamanders,andmostturtlesneedtoliveinaquaticormoistenvironments,suchasareabundantintheEastandSoutheast.FrogsandsalamandersalsopopulatemoistareasofthePacificstates.

Somekindsofsnakes,aswellastheAmericanalligator,aresemiaquatic,spendingsometimeinthewaterandsometimeonland.Othersnakesareathomeinwoods,mountains,

approximate number of native north american species*

Snakes 119

Lizards 91

Turtles (including sea turtles) 50

Crocodilians 2

Frogs and toads 82

Salamanders 113

total 457

*Thesefiguresareestimatesthatapplyonlytospeciesnativetothe 48contiguousstates.

reptiles and amphibians are cold-blooded animals that depend on external heat sources. the western painted turtle is commonly seen basking along ponds and streams in the prairie states, across the northwest, and in parts of the southwest.


.taking Count

plains,orprairies.Stillothersnakespecieshaveadaptedtolifeinthedesert,wheretheyavoidthedaytimeheatbylivinginundergroundburrowsandemergeonlyatnight.

Ingeneral,lizardspreferdryconditionsandaremostabundantintheSouthwest,althoughmanykindsoflizards,notablyskinks,alsoaboundinthemorehumidsoutheasternstates.Severalkindsoftoadsandtortoisesdigburrowsthatcanextendmanyfeetundergroundtohelpthemtoleratedryconditions.Forexample,spadefoottoadsinaridregionscanremainhiddenundergroundformonthsatatime,emergingsuddenly,andinenormousnumbers,whenarareheavyrainformstemporarypoolssuitableforlayingeggsanddevelopingtadpoles.

ThegreatestnumberoffrogvarietiesisfoundinTexas,followedbyFlorida,SouthCarolina,Georgia,andAlabama.NorthCarolina,Georgia,Virginia,andTennesseehavethemostsalamandertypes.Texashasthemostspeciesofsnakesandlizards,followedbyArizonaandNewMexico.MoreturtlespeciesliveinAlabamathaninanyotherstate,althoughTexasandGeorgiahavealmostasmany.Alligatorsarefoundinallthesoutheasternstates,butsouthernFloridaistheonlyregionintheUnitedStateswithcrocodiles.

the harmless wandering garter snake can be found throughout much of the West, including philmont scout ranch in new mexico, where it hunts minnows, frogs, earthworms, slugs, and other small creatures in its preferred damp or wetland habitat.

the Couch’s spadefoot toad spends most of its time burrowed under-ground, emerging only briefly after heavy rains to breed. this unusual creature has vertical catlike pupils and uses a single small projection on its hind feet to burrow.


taking Count.

Off the MainlandScouts living in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands will have to take certain differences into con-sideration. If you live in one of these areas, consult with your merit badge counselor on the best way to complete requirements 6, 8, and 9.

Alaska has only three salamanders, two frogs and a toad, and a single species of snake. Most of these are confined to the extreme southern part of the state.

Hawaii has about two dozen kinds of reptiles and amphibians, almost all of them introduced from other parts of the world. Many have restricted ranges, living only in the areas where they were introduced. Three kinds of sea turtles occasionally appear along the shores of the Hawaiian islands, and the venomous yellow-bellied sea snake has been seen there on rare occasions.

Puerto Rico has fewer species and lower populations of reptiles (fewer than 50 species) and amphibians (approximately two dozen species of frogs and no salamanders) than mainland areas of compar-able size in the southern United States.

The Virgin Islands collectively have about as many species as Hawaii. However, as in all archipelagos, some kinds are found on certain islands and missing on others.

the well-camouflaged leaf-tailed geckos are native to the vanishing tropical forests of madagascar.


.identifying Reptiles and amphibians

Most crocodilians

were seriously

overhunted for the

pet and leather

trades through the

mid-1960s and are

now protected by

strict laws.

IdentifyingReptilesandAmphibiansThebestwaytobecomeskilledatrecognizing,identifying,anddistinguishingspeciesofreptilesandamphibiansistoobservetheliveanimals.Useafieldguideforyourregiontolearnaboutthedifferentspecies.Mostguideswilltellyouwhatfeaturesareusedtodistinguishonespeciesfromothersofsimilarappearance.

alligators and CrocodilesTheeasiestwaytodistinguishbetweentheAmericanalligatorandtheAmericancrocodileistolookatthehead.Thealligatorhasabroadlyroundedsnout,whereasthecrocodile’sheadisalmostpointed.Americanalligatorsliveprimarilyinfreshwater,whileAmericancrocodilesprefersaltwatercoastalareas.Adultalligatorsarealmostblack,whileAmericancrocodilesaremoreofanolivebrowncolor.ThefourthtoothoneachsideoftheAmericancrocodile’slowerjawisquitelargeandinbigspecimensfitsintoagrooveontheoutsideoftheupperjaw.

the shape of the snout can be used to distin-guish among the three species of north american crocodilians. this is an american alligator.


identifying Reptiles and amphibians.

Frogs and toadsFrogs,ingeneral,havesmooth,moistskinsandlacktheconspicuousbumpywartsandrelativelydryskinscharacteristicoftoads.Somefrogs,suchasthebullfrogandleopardfrog,havewebbingbetweenthetoesoftheirhindfeetthataidsinswimming.Toadshaveshorthindlegs,andwhentheymovetheyhop.Frogshavelonghindlegsandleap.Toadsare

mucheasiertocatchthanfrogs,sotoadshaveanotherwayofavoidingenemies.Theirwartssecreteafluidthatisdistastefulorevenpoisonoustomanysmallanimals.

toads—like the Woodhouse’s toad—have dry, warty skins. their legs are relatively short and adapted for hopping.

It is a good idea to wash your hands after handling all animals.

bullfrogs have declined in some areas, but they have been introduced into areas outside their natural range where they now thrive and compete with native wildlife.



lizards, salamanders, and newtsLizardsandsalamandersareeasytotellapart.Lizards(reptiles)arecoveredwithscales,theirtoeshaveclaws,theirskinsaredry,andtheyaremorelikelytobefoundinthesun.Salamanders(amphibians)havesmooth,moistskins,theirtoesareclawless,andtheyavoidexposuretothesun.Newtshaverougher,drierskinsthanotherkindsofsalamanders,buttheydonothaveclaws.Newtsareexclusivelyaquaticinthelarvalandadultstages,butsomehaveanintermediatelandform,knownasaneft,thatlaterreadaptstothewater.

like most salamanders, the spring salamander has a smooth skin and no claws onits toes.

like all lizards, the skink has claws on its toes and scales on its head, body, and limbs.

the chuckwalla is a large lizard of the southwest deserts

that likes to sun itself in rocky areas. When threatened, these amazing herbivorous

reptiles quickly crawl deep into rock crevices, gulping air to inflate their

bodies and wedge in tight.

like the Gila monster, most north american snakes and lizards lay eggs. however, water snakes, garter snakes, all north american pit vipers, and some horned lizards all are live-bearers.

the savannah monitor lizard is a popular pet species that often outgrows its home. it is important to think long-term about the adult size and life span of pets before you adopt them.



snakes and legless lizardsMostsnakeshavethesamegeneralbodyform—theyarelimblessandusuallyslender.Whilemostlizardshavefourlegs,theglasslizardsoftheSouthandtheleglesslizardsofCalifornialacklimbsentirelyandareeasilymistakenforsnakes.Butunlikesnakes,leglesslizardshaveeyelidsandtheirbodiesareratherstiff.Inaddition,glasslizardshaveexternalearopenings,whereassnakesdonot.ThewormlizardofFloridaalsoislegless,anditseyesarecoveredbyscalesandareofteninvisible.

Live-bearing reptiles retain the eggs in the mother’s body until hatching time; the young are, in essence, born alive.

the shy and beautiful trans-pecos rat snake is a harmless, secretive, nocturnal creature found in the rocky canyon area of West texas, where it hunts for desert rodents.



sketching live animalsMakingsketchesfromliveanimalsisonewaytobecomefamiliarwiththeirphysicalqualities.Evenifyouarenotartistic,thismethodiseasyifyoufollowtheoutlinedrawingsbelow.



Putapieceoftracingpaperoverthedrawingofthereptileoramphibiansimilartotheoneyouwanttorecord.Inmostcasesyouwillneedtocopyonlytheoutlineandtheeyes,butyoumayaddotherdetailsifyouwish.Whenyourdrawingiscomplete,useapenciltosketchtheoutstandingfeaturessuchasspots,stripes,ormottlingjustasyouseetheminyourspecimen.Thesemaybefilledinlaterwithhatching,stippling,orshadingtoindicatethevarioustonesofcoloration.Thepartiallycompleteddrawingofasalamander,shownhere,waspreparedthiswayfromthespecimenshowninthephotograph.Youcouldalsotraceapicturefromamagazineorbook,ormakeyourownfreehandsketches.

photographing live Creatures Anotherapproachforlearningtheidentifyingcharacteristicsofanimalsisphotography.Picturesofreptilesoramphibiansbeingheldbysomeoneareusuallynotaslifelikeasacandidshotofthecreatureinitsnaturalhabitat.Catchthecreaturesfirstorusetamespecimens.Placeeachsubjectinanopenarea—onarock,abackgroundofleavesorpebbles,orsomeothersurfacethatisnotclutteredwithweedsorforeignmatterthatwillpartiallyobscurethem.

albino burmese python



some species always seem to be moving and are difficult to photograph, so get another scout to help you. have him hold the creature gently in place while you adjust your camera. When you are ready, have him pull his hands away. in most cases the creature will remain still for at least a second or two while you snap your picture. try for close-ups, and be sure that the characteristics important to identifying the species are obvious in the photograph.

Note: If you are

working with a

protected species,

check local

regulations and

handle it correctly.


.the importance of Reptiles and amphibians

TheImportanceofReptilesandAmphibiansReptilesandamphibiansplayvitalrolesaspredators,prey,andaspartofthefundamentalframeworkofnature.

InearliertimesinNorthAmerica,somespecieswereconsideredusefultomanasfooditems,skins,orpets.Today,manyspeciesthathavecommercialvalueareinserioustroublebecausetheyhavebeenoverharvestedorotherwisekilledintheirnaturalhabitatsandnowmustbeprotectedbyfederalandstatelaws.Inafewinstances,reptilesandamphibianscanberaisedcommerciallyasfood,butsuchventuresoftenareunsuccessful.

Mostlizards,frogs,toads,andsalamanderseatinsects,helpingtocontrolgrasshoppers,crickets,ants,beetles,andotherinsectsthatcanbecomepestswhenoverlyabundant.Snakesthatpreyonratsandmicehelpcontrolrodentoutbreaks.Becauseoftheirstreamlinedshapes,snakescanpursuerodentsintoburrowsandothernarrowspaceswhereotherpredatorscannotenter.Ratsnakes,milksnakes,kingsnakes,racers,bullsnakes,whipsnakes,rattlesnakes,andcopperheadscanbeextremelyusefulinthisregard.Watersnakesandcottonmouthseatdeadanddiseasedfishesthatmightotherwiseinfecthealthyaquaticanimals.

numerous arboreal (tree-dwelling) snakes have bright green coloration to help them blend with foliage.


the importance of Reptiles and amphibians.

Catching PreyMethods of catching, killing, and engulfing prey vary among reptile and amphibian species. Turtles simply seize their food and attempt to tear off pieces with their strong beaks, sometimes securing it with their forefeet. Many turtles eat both plants and ani-mals. Lizards, which eat mainly insects and other invertebrates, grab their prey in their mouths and gulp it down. If the prey is large and struggling, they may press or hit it against a stone, log, or the ground to subdue it. Alligators and croc-odiles crush snakes, fish, ducks, and even turtles in their powerful jaws, or they might drown larger prey, such as raccoons or deer.

Snakes eat only other animals and have a number of ways of sub-duing prey. Some, such as king and rat snakes, are constrictors. They tighten their coils around a mouse or other prey until its breathing has ceased, and then swallow it. Racers and whip snakes seize prey in

their mouths and then throw a coil over it, pressing the prey firmly against the ground. Water and gar-ter snakes hold their prey tightly in their mouths while it struggles, then gradually swallow it. Most venomous snakes attack large prey, such as rats, by striking, letting go, and waiting for the venom to do its work. They then crawl to the dead or dying animal to consume it.

Many amphibians have long, sticky tongues they flick out to

seize a moving insect. Some aquatic species suck in their prey like a vacuum cleaner. All adult amphibians eat only other animals, primarily invertebrates, and not plants.

the diamondback terrapin is the only species of turtle that lives in the brackish waters of the salt marsh, between the ocean and freshwater. it is found along the coast from Cape Cod to texas.

the corn or red rat snake is a hand-some constrictor found throughout the southeast. large numbers of corn snakes are bred in captivity and, if kept warm with a clean water bowl, this harmless species does very well on a diet of small mice.



Wildlife protection programsAnendangeredspeciesisdefinedas“anyspeciesindangerofextinctionthroughoutallorasignificantportionofitsrange.”TheEndangeredSpeciesActof1973isapowerfullawthatmakesitillegalforaperson“toharass,harm,pursue,hunt,shoot,wound,kill,trap,capture,orcollect”anyanimalontheendangeredspecieslist.Punishmentforbreakingendangeredspecieslawsincludesfinesofupto$50,000andimprisonmentforuptooneyear.

Manyspeciesareonthefederalendangeredspecieslists,includingtheSanFranciscogartersnake,thePlymouthred-belliedturtleinMassachusetts,theWyomingtoad,theTexasblindsalamander,andseveralspeciesofseaturtles.

Moststateshaveregulationsprotectingoneormorekindsofreptilesandamphibians.Somestatesprotectallspecies.Somestatesofferprotectionforspeciesthatarerareorwhosepopulationsaredeclining.Forexample,ArizonaprotectstheChiricahualeopardfrog,IllinoisprotectstheIllinoismudturtle,Californiaprotectstheblunt-noseleopardlizard,andNewYorkprotectsthenortherncricketfrog.

Aspecies’protectedstatuscanchange,though.TheAmericanalligatorbecameafederalendangeredspeciesin1975,butasitspopulationincreaseditsstatuswasupgradedtothreatened,andcontrolofthespecieswasturnedovertothestatestoallowrestrictedhunting.

all species of sea turtles found in the offshore waters of north america are pro-tected federally as endangered species. marine turtles spend their lives at sea, but females go ashore to lay their eggs.


the importance of Reptiles and amphibians.

Somestaterestrictionsprotectspeciesduringtheirbreedingseasons.Othersprotectrareandvanishingspeciesatalltimesfromthreatslikecommercialization,indiscriminatecollecting,orneedlessslaughter.

To be accurate and up-to-date about the laws in your area, consult your counselor or check with your state’s fish and wildlife agency. You can write for a list of protected species and a summary of the regulations applying to reptiles and amphibians, or check the agency’s Web site. To obtain a list of federally designated endangered species, write to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

the federally protected eastern indigo snake of the southern united states can grow to be more than 8 feet long.



White’s tree frog is a widespread species from australia and new Guinea, where they prey upon insects and other garden pests.


Water dragons are light-loving, semiaquatic lizards of australia and asia.


.Reproduction

ReproductionStrictlyspeaking,allreptilesandamphibianshatchfromeggs,butthemethodsofcourtship,fertilization,layingofeggs,andincubationdifferwidely.Here,inbrief,arewhatmightbecalledtypicalreproductivepatterns.

Frogs and toadsMostspeciesofamphibiansspendtimeonlandasadultsbutlaytheireggsinwater.Atmatingtimeforfrogsandtoads,themalegraspsthefemalefrombehind,placinghisarmsaroundherwaistorunderherarmpitsinapositioncalledamplexus.Asshelayshereggshereleasessperm,someofwhichentertheeggs.Fertilizationisthusexternal,asitisamongmostspeciesoffish.Theeggsdeveloprapidlyunlessthewaterisverycold.

Tadpoleshatchfromtheeggs,andafteragrowingperiodrangingfromafewweekstotwoyears,dependingonthespecies,thetadpolesdeveloplegsandlungsandbecomefrogletsortoadlets.Somekindsoffrogs,notablythoseinthetropics,laytheireggsindampplacesonland,anddevelopmenttakesplaceentirelyintheegg.Otherspeciesbeattheeggjellyintofroth,andthetadpolesliveintheliquefiedcenterofthemassuntilrainswashthemintonearbypools.

most frogs and toads mate in the water, where the female deposits eggs to be fertilized.

the draining of natural wetlands can result in death for larval amphibians like these tadpoles.


Reproduction.

salamandersDuringspringorwinterrains,maleandfemalesalamandersgotoshallowwetlandponds.Afterpreliminarycourtshipmaneuvers,themalesdepositspermatophores,tinywhitepacketsofspermthatareroughlycone-shaped.Thefemalepickstheseupwithhervent,andhereggsarefertilizedinternally.Oncehatchedfromtheeggs,thefishlikesalamanderlar-vaehaveexternalgillsandlivein

thewaterforvaryinglengthsoftime,dependingonthespeciesandlocalweatherconditions,beforetheytransformintoadults.

Insomespecies,notablythemolesalamandersthatliveinmostoftheUnitedStates,somelarvaemaymatureandreproducewithouttransformingintoland-dwellingadults.Sometypesofwoodlandsalamanderslaytheireggsinmoistunder-groundcavitiesorunderrocksorlogs,anddevelopmenttakesplaceentirelyintheegg.Thelarge(morethan3feetlong)aquaticsalamandersoftheSoutheast,knownassirensandamphiumas,laytheireggsinthewaterwheretheylive.

snakesFertilizationisinternalamongreptiles.Thematingprocessissimilartothatofmammals,exceptforthecuriousfactthatmalesnakesandlizardshavetwoorgansforcopulation,calledhemipenes,thatliesidebyside,hiddeninsidethebaseofthetail.Oneofthehemipenesturnsoutwardduringmating.Inmanyspecies,eachhemipenisiscoveredwithsmallspinesthathelptoholdtheorganinpositioninthefemale’sbodyopeninguntilmatingiscomplete.

Ingeneral,copulationamongsnakesandotherreptilestakesplaceaconsiderabletimebeforetheeggsareactuallylaid.Thespermmayremainactiveinthefemale’sbodyforvaryinglengthsoftime,atleastinthecasesofsomekindsofsnakesandturtles.Insomespecies,morethanoneclutchofeggsmaybefertilizedfromasinglemating,evenafterayearormore.MatinginmostpartsofthecontinentalUnitedStatesusuallytakesplaceinspringbutalsohasbeenrecordedatothersea-sons,notablyinautumn.

many salamanders are terrestrial most of the year but depend on temporary ponds to lay their eggs. some, such as the marbled salamander, remain with their eggs prior to hatching.


.Reproduction

RoughlyhalfofNorthAmericansnakespecieslayeggs,whichtheydepositinsidedecayinglogsorstumps,inrottingleaves,inpilesofrocks,orinotherplaceswheretheyarecompletelyoutofsight.Inafewspecies,suchasthesmoothgreensnake,hatchingmaytakeplacewithinafewdays.Forotherspecies,itmightbemanyweeksbeforetheyoungescapefromtheirshells.Usuallythemothersnakeabandonshereggssoonafterlayingthem,althoughpythonsandsomecobrasinthetropicsremainwiththeireggs.Examplesofnativesnakesthatlayeggsaretheracersandtheworm,ringneck,rat,milk,king,andcoralsnakes.

TheotherhalfofNorthAmericansnakespeciesretaintheeggswithinthemother’sbodyuntildevelopmentiscompleteandtheyoungarebornalive.Insteadofbeingencasedinrelativelytough,parchmentlikeshellsliketheegg-layingsnakes,theyoungarecoveredbyathinmembranethattheybreakthroughshortlyafterleavingthemother’sbody.Snakeswiththistypeofreproductionincludethegarter,water,andbrownsnakes;rattlesnakes;copperheads;andcottonmouths.

turtlesAllturtleeggsarelaidandhatchedonland.Eventhegreatseaturtlesgoashoretolaytheireggs,findingasuit-ablespot,ofteninslightlymoistsandyorloamysoil,andexcavatingacavitywiththehindlegs.Whentheeggsarelaid,thefemaleturtlescoopsandpacksthesandorsoilbackintothehole.Shemaycrawlbackandforth,dragginghershell,toconcealthenest.Weeksormonthslater,dependingonthespeciesandtheweathercondi-tions,theeggshatch.

Mostfreshwaterandlandturtleslayeggsinlatespringandearlysummer.Somekindsofturtlesnesttwiceormoreinaseason.Hatchingformostturtlestakesplacebyearlyfall,buthatchlingsofmanyspeciesdonotleavethenestatthattime.Theyremainintheprotectedcav-itythroughautumnandwinterandemergethenextspring.Hatchlingsofaquaticspeciesmovetowardthenearestwater;hatchlinglandturtlesseekthenearestmoistcover.

all turtles, including snapping turtles, lay eggs that hatch after several months in an underground nest.

Reproduction.

alligators and CrocodilesAlligatorsbuildnestmoundsofvegetationdebris—measuring4to7feetindiameterand2to3feetinheight—nearthewater.Themotheralligatorlayshereggsinthemound,whereheatfromthedecomposingvegetationhelpsincubatetheeggs.Themothermayremainnearbytoguardthemandalsotouncoverthemwhenhatchingtimearrives.Crocodileshavesimilarnestingpatterns,althoughsomedeposittheireggsinthesandliketurtles.

young alligators and crocodiles are vulnerable to other predators and stay in the vicinity of their protective mother for several months after birth.


.Reproduction

lizardsMostNorthAmericanlizardslayeggsinhidden,slightlymoistplaces.Afewkinds,suchassomeofthehornedlizardsandalligatorlizardsofthewesternUnitedStates,bearlivingyounginthesamewaymanysnakesdo.Manyspeciesoflizardsguardtheireggs.Someassistinincubationbybaskinginthesunandthenreturningtotheirnestswheresomeoftheheattheyhaveabsorbedistransferredtothedevelopingembryos.

In many reptiles, including all crocodiles and alligators, most turtles, and some lizards, the gender of the offspring is determined by egg incubation temperature rather than genetics. In crocodiles, warmer incubation temperatures produce males and cooler temperatures produce females. In turtles this tends to be just the opposite. Studies of some lizards, such as leopard geckos, have shown temperature-determined gender as well.

lizards can be distinguished from salamanders by their dry, scaly skin, external ear openings, and clawed toes.

the eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake found in the united states.


.Venomous Reptiles

VenomousReptilesWhilemostreptilesareharmlessandallarebeneficialtothenaturalbalanceoflife,knowingthegeneraldistinctivetraitsofvenomousNorthAmericanreptiles,especiallysnakes,canhelpavoidunpleasantencountersintheoutdoors.

snakesAtleastonekindofvenomoussnakeisfoundineveryoneofthe48contigu-ousstatesexceptMaineandDelaware.NativevenomoussnakesarenotfoundinAlaska,PuertoRico,theVirginIslands,orHawaii,excepttheyellow-belliedseasnakementionedpreviously.

Learntorecognizevenomoussnakesonsightbystudyingcolorpicturesofthemorvisitingazooornaturalhistorymuseum.Toincorrectlyguessasnake’sidentitycouldmeandisaster,soyoumustknowthevenom-ousspeciesinyourarea.Befamiliarwiththeappearanceofatleastonespeciesofeachofthethreetypesofpitvipersandoneofthecoralsnakes.Thesafeandsimpleruleisnevertopickupasnakeunlessyouarecertainwhatkinditisandknowthatitisnonvenomous.

In selecting six kinds of venomous snakes to complete requirement 7, be sure to include any that live in your area. Field guide maps will quickly show you which snakes live in your state. For example, there are three species of rattlesnakes in North Carolina, eight in Texas, and 11 in Arizona.

the large, venomous western diamond-back rattlesnake of the southwest has a distinctive raccoon-like banded tail. it is an impressive and important predator of many rodents. even venomous species have a valuable role in nature and are best left alone if encountered in the wild.


Venomous Reptiles.

pit VipersAllspeciesofpitvipers—rattlers,copperheads,andcotton-mouths—haveacommoncharacteristic:facial pits.Thesedeepopeningsoneachsideofthehead,justbelowthemiddleofanimaginarylinedrawnbetweentheeyeandthenostril,areheat-sensitiveandhelpinthedetectionofwarm-bloodedpreysuchasbirdsandsmallmammals.Theyalsohelpthesnaketakeaimwhenitstrikes.Thelocationandappearanceofthepitsmakethesnakelookalmostasthoughithasfournostrils.Allsnakeswithsuchpitsarevenomous.

Pitvipershavetwoothercharacteristictraits.First,thescalesunderthetailarearrangedinasinglerow,exceptnearthetip,whereasinthecoralsnakesandmostnonvenomousNorthAmericansnakes,thescalesbeneaththetailareinadoublerow.Second,pitvipershaveeyeswithverticallyelliptical(catlike)pupils,althoughseveralotherkinds,notablyrear-fangedsnakes,havesimilareyes.

For a while after its death, a venomous snake retains much of its reflex action, and its venom remains potent. Poke a “dead” snake vigorously with a long stick to be absolutely sure the snake is dead before you touch it, and do not risk catching your finger on a fang.

None of North America’s native snake species is normally aggressive. Snakes almost always will get out of the way if they know you are there. However, an occasional cottonmouth or rattler will stand its ground.

the heat-sensitive pit between the eye and nostril on the pit viper’s head is used to detect warm-blooded prey in the dark. pit vipers have elliptical pupils, whereas most nonvenomous north american species have round pupils.


.Venomous Reptiles

Thesecharacteristics—pits,scalepatternsunderthetail,andellipticalpupils—arenotusuallyhelpfulinidentificationasfieldmarksbecauseonemustgetdangerouslyclosetothesnake,oractuallyhandleit,toseethemarksclearly.Buttheyarehelpfulincheckingoutadeadspecimen.

Duringautumn,pitvipersinsomenorthernandwesternareasbegintocongregateneardensordenningareaswheretheywillspendthewinter.Onwarmautumndaysandagaininearlyspring,theysunthemselvesnearthedenopenings,sometimesinlargenumbers.Duringwarmerweathertheywanderafield,buttheyreturntothehibernaculum,orwinterden,whenthedaysgrowcold.

rattlesnakesTherattle,characteristicofallrattlesnakes,iscomposedofnumerousdry,hornysegmentsthatfittogetherloosely.Atbirththebabyrat-tlerisequippedwithabutton,butafterthefirstsheddingofskin,anewrattlesegmentappearsatthebaseofthetail—andsoonwitheachsubsequentshedding.Atfirst,eachsegmentislargerthanthepreviousone,butbythetimearattlesnakeisfullygrown,allthenewersegmentsareaboutthesamesize.Itisunusualtofindarattlesnakewithmorethan12to15segmentsinitsstring;theonesattheendgenerallyarelostthroughwearandtear.

Snakes have no

ear openings.

Venomous North American snakes rarely advance more than half their own lengths to strike.

Many people think the shape of a snake’s head can distinguish whether it is dangerous or harmless. Do not depend on that myth. Pit vipers have heads that are noticeably wider than their necks, but so do a number of nonvenomous species, such as some of the larger water snakes. The only way to be certain is to know your snakes so well that you can distinguish species at a glance. If you are not sure, do not take a chance.

rattle and cross-section. the individual segments of the rattle fit loosely into one another and produce a loud buzzing noise when the snake vibrates its tail.


Venomous Reptiles.

Whenarattlerisdisturbeditvibratesitstail,producingacontinuoussoundmuchlikealoudhissingorbuzzing.Ingeneral,largerattlesnakesmakeloudnoisesandsmallrattlesnakesmakesofterones.Therattleofthepygmyrattlesnakeissofaintitcanbeheardonlyafewfeetaway.Thebigdiamondbackshaverattlesloudenoughtogiveyouagoodscarefromseveralfeetback.

A venomous

snake does

not have to be

coiled to bite.

the timber rattlesnake is the widest-ranging large rattlesnake of the eastern united states. adults can be from 36 to 60 inches long or longer. in the southern states, the species is called the canebrake rattlesnake.

the rattler’s tongue is soft, moist, and flexible. it is a sense organ—not a stinger.

the dusky pygmy rattlesnake is a small, pinkish venomous species found in a variety of south-eastern woodland habitats. these snakes have nine large scales on the top of their heads com-pared with the smaller scales found on most larger rattlesnake species.


.Venomous Reptiles

CopperheadsThecopperheadgetsitsnamefromthecoppery-redcoloroftheuppersurfaceofthehead.Ineasternlocalities,thesnakeismarkedwithreddish-brownorchestnuthourglassesthatcrosstheback.Inthefarwesternpartoftherange,themarkingsaremuchwiderandtaketheformofrich,reddish,crisscross-ingbands.Overalargepartofitsrange,thecopperheadinhabitsrocky,woodedareas.ItalsoisfoundonthecoastalplainandeveninswampyareasintheSouth,whereitoccasionallycoexistswiththecottonmouth.

A buzzing noise in the field is not necessarily the warning of a venomous snake. It could be one of many harmless snakes, including racers, king, milk, and pine snakes, that vibrate their tails rapidly when alarmed and can sound much like rattlers if they happen to be among dry leaves. Treat all such noises with caution.

the copperhead snake lives in the rocky, forested uplands of the north but also is found throughout the lowlands in the southern states. in the arid, southwestern part of the range, it lives in riverbottom thickets and near springs. the average length of a copperhead is 24 to 36 inches.

the geographic range of north american rattlesnakes


Venomous Reptiles.

CottonmouthsThissemiaquaticsnakegetsitsnamefromthewhiteliningofthemouth,whichitdisplayswhenalarmed.Thejawscansnapshutasquicklyasasteeltrap.Unlikemostsnakes,whenaper-sonapproaches,cottonmouthsmightstandtheirgroundinsteadofspeedilyretreating.Identificationcanbedifficultbecausemanywatersnakes,particularlythelarger,heavy-bodiedones,stronglyresemblecottonmouths,especiallyiftheyarecoatedwithmud.Ifyoulivewithintherangeofthecottonmouth,becautiousnearallsemiaquaticsnakesuntilyouhavelearnedtorecognizethem.

Youngcottonmouthshaveboldanddistinctivebandsandthetipofthetailisbrightyellow,likethoseofbabycop-perheads.Whentheygrowolder,thecottonmouth’spatternsbecomemuchlessprominentandthetipofthetaildarkens.Largeonesoftenareuniformlyblackordarkoliveincolor.

In some regions, water snakes—including the cottonmouth—are dubbed water moccasins, which can imply that all water snakes are venomous. Because of this confusion, harmless water snakes are sometimes killed on sight. Reserve the name cottonmouth for the single venomous species, and call all the others water snakes.

the geographic range of north american copperheads


.Venomous Reptiles

the cottonmouth lives primarily in lowland swamps, ponds, and rivers but also invades nearby woodland or rocky habitats. the average length of a cottonmouth is 30 to 48 inches.

the geographic range of north american cottonmouths


Venomous Reptiles.

Coral snakesCoralsnakesbelongtothecobrafamilyand,liketheirhoodedrelatives,arepotentiallyverydangerous.Fortunately,theyareelusive,small,andseldomseen.

Coralsnakesarebrightlycoloredwithringsofred,black,andyellow(oftencream-coloredorwhitishinthewesternspecies).Theycouldberecognizedonsightwereitnotforthefactthatseveralkindsofharmlesssnakeslookverymuchlikethem.Amongthemimicsarethescarletsnake,thescarletkingsnake,andsomeoftheotherkingandmilksnakes.

the geographic range of north american coral snakes

Coral snakes of the united states belong to two different genera that are separated geographically. the eastern species ranges from north Carolina to texas, while the western species is found in southwest new mexico, arizona, and northwest mexico.

.Venomous Reptiles

the California mountain king snake has a patch range from southern Washington to baja California. on this harmless coral snake mimic, the red bands touch the black bands.

a cousin of the king and milk snakes, the texas longnose snake is a harmless mimic of the venomous coral snakes.

To distinguish venomous North American coral snakes from harmless species, look at the arrangement of the colors. In the coral snakes (see the previous page), the two warning colors meet as in a traffic light: red rings touch yellow ones. In the harmless milk snake shown here, “red touch black, venom lack.” This simple rule applies only to North American species. Coral snakes in Central and South America vary widely in the pattern of the rings.


Venomous Reptiles.

Venomous LizardsThe Gila monster (pronounced HEEla) and the Mexican beaded lizard are the world’s only two venomous lizards. They are closely related and look much alike. Only the fat-tailed, orange to pink-and-black Gila monster occurs in the United States.

When it bites, the Gila monster hangs on like a bulldog, and venom flows into the wound from glands in the floor of the mouth. The Gila monster can be a dangerous animal when handled and should be treated with the same caution as a venomous snake.

the only venomous north american lizard, the Gila monster is found primarily in arizona. it also can be found in portions of the adjacent states and ranges far southward into sonora in mexico. its average length is 15 to 20 inches.

the geographic range of the Gila monster


.Venomous Reptiles

rear-Fanged snakesAfewNorthAmericansnakeshavefangsintherearofthemouthandsalivathatactsasamildvenom.Manysuchsnakeswillseizeafrogorlizard,swallowitfarenoughforthefangstocomeintoplay,andthenwaitforthevenomtotakeeffectbeforeswallowingcompletely.Amongtherear-fangedsnakesarethecat-eyedsnakeofsouthernTexasandseveralkindsoflyresnakesoftheSouthwest.Allarechieflynocturnal,andtheireyeshaveverticallyelliptical(catlike)pupils.Suchsnakesnormallyarenotdangeroustohumans,althoughafewthatliveinthetropics,suchastheboomslangofAfrica,havebeendeadly.

FangsAllsnakeshaveteeth,butpitvipersandcoralsnakeshavehollowfangsinthefrontpartofthemouth.Coralsnakeshaveshort,permanentlyerectfangs,whilepitvipershaveproportionatelylongerfangsthatswingbackagainsttheroofofthemouthwhenthemouthisclosed.Usuallythereisonlyonefangperside.Sometimestwomaybeapparentononeorbothsideswhennewfangsaregrowingin.

Fangsnormallyareshedatregularintervals,anewfangdroppingdownalongsidethefunctionalonejustbeforethelatterislost.Dissectionoftheskullofavenomoussnakewillshowaseriesoffangsreadytogrowintoplace,eachfanginturnsmallerthantheonethatliesaheadofit.

Thetipofeachfangisneedle-sharpandcanpenetrateleatherandfleshwithlittledifficulty.Nearthefangtipisanopeningthroughwhichthevenomisinjectedintothevictim.Thebaseofeachfangconnectswithatubelikeductthatleadsdirectlyfromthevenom-secretingglands(rightandleft)locatedatthebackofthehead.

A snake can strike several times in succession, injecting venom each time.

a rattlesnake skull shows numerous reserve fangs. When something happens to the function of a fang, another one is ready to drop into its place. a rattlesnake’s fangs lie in the forward part of the mouth, where they can be brought into play instantly.


Venomous Reptiles.

Whenasnakebites,itopensitsmouth,raisesitsfangs,anddartsitsheadforward.Afterbitingapersonorotherlargeanimalitwithdrawsimmediately.Theentiremovementissorapidittakesahigh-speedcameratorecordit.Atthemomentthefangspenetrate,thesnake’sheadmusclesarepressingontheglands,forcingvenomthroughtheductsandfangsintothevictim’sbody.Ifthesnakemissesinstriking,venomcanbeejectedfromthefangsforashortdistance.

VenomSnakevenomsareliquidproteins.Notwospeciesofsnakehaveexactlythesametype,butallindividualsofagivenspecieshavesimilarvenom.Somesnakes’venomisamberincolor;inothersitisclear.Somevenomsattackthenervoustissuesofthevictim;othersaffectthebloodsystem.

Onceabsorbedbythevictim,thevenomworksrapidly.Smallanimalsmaydieinlessthanaminute.Inlargeanimals,suchashumanbeings,thevenommaytakeeffectmoreslowly,andanamountthatwouldkillasmallpersonmightnotbefataltoalargeone.Theseverityofabiteinvolvesotherfactors,too,includingitslocationonthebody,thephysicalconditionofthevictim,andwhetherthesnakeactuallydeliveredafulldoseofvenom.Venomoussnakeshavebeenknowntobitewithoutinjectingvenom.

a young cottonmouth has a pattern similar to the closely related copperhead. even newborn pit vipers are able to bite and inject venom and should be treated with caution.


.Venomous Reptiles

First aid for a snakebiteBothharmlessandvenomoussnakesmightstrikewhencornered.Thebiteofanonvenomoussnakecausesonlyminorpuncturewoundsandrequiresordinaryfirstaidforsmallwounds—scrubbingwithsoapandwater,thentreatingwithanantiseptic.

Avenomoussnakebitemightcausethevictimtofeelsharp,burningpain.Theareaaroundthebitemightswellandbecomediscolored.Getthevictimundermedicalcareassoonaspossiblesothatphysicianscanneutralizethevenom.Apersonwhohasbeenbittenbyavenomoussnakemightnotbeaffectedbythevenomforanhourormore.Withinthattime,theclosertomedicalattentionyoucangetthevictim,thebetteroffheorshewillbe.Beforesettingout,dothefollowing:

• Encourageafrightenedvictimtoremaincalm,andgivereassurancethatheorsheisbeingcaredfor.

• Removeringsandotherjewelrythatmightcauseproblemsiftheareaaroundabiteswells.

• Immobilizeabittenarmwithasplintandasling,keepingthewoundlowerthanthelevelofthevictim’sheart.

Ifthevictimmustwaitformedicalattentiontoarrive,addthesetreatmentsteps:

step 1—Havethevictimliedownandremainstill.Positionthebittenpartlowerthantherestofthebody.Ifyouhavenotdonesoalready,immobilizethebittenlimbwithasplint.

step 2—Putabroadconstrictingband(abandannaorastripofclothatleast1inchwide)aroundthebittenlimb2to4inchesabovethebite(betweentheheartandthebite)toslowthespreadofvenom.Thebandshouldbesnug,butlooseenoughtoslipafingerundereasily.Periodicallycheckforapulseonbothsidesoftheband.Donotcutoffbloodcircula-tion.Donotuseaconstrictionaroundafinger,atoe,thehead,orthetrunk.

step 3—Treatforshock,butkeepabittenextremitylowerthantheheart.


.Keeping a pet

Use only

nonvenomous

reptiles to fulfill

requirement 8a.

KeepingaPetKeepingareptileoramphibianasapetisusuallyeasierthantakingcareofamammalorbird—adogorparrot,forexample.Asnakeorafrogneedsfeedingonlyonceortwiceaweekanddoesnothavetobetakenforwalks.Butcertainrulesandprecautionsmustbefollowedtoensurethehealthandsafetyofbothpetandowner.

Whileitisbesttomakeadvancepreparationsforkeepingananimalbeforestartingonrequirement8a,thesparkofinterestthatstartsyouontheReptileandAmphibianStudymeritbadgemightresultfromfindingasnake,turtle,orotherspecimenwhileyouareincamporonahike.Thatmeansyouwillneedtemporaryquartersquickly.Theeasiestandsimplesttemporaryhomeformanykindsofreptilesandamphibiansisawide-mouthed,clear-plasticorglassgallonbottle.Cutalargeroundholeinthelidandplaceapieceofscreenwireunderthelidbeforeyouscrewitdownintoplace.Fittedwithtwigs,pebblesorgravel,andahidingplace,thissortofcontainerwillsuityournewpetfineforadayorsountilyoucanassemblesomethingbetter.Avoidplacingthecontainerindirectsunlight,asthiscanquicklykilltheanimal.

any gallon-size glass or clear plastic container topped with a tight-fitting wire screen lid will make good temporary living quarters for a reptile or amphibian.


Keeping a pet.

Asatisfactorycontainerformostsmallreptilesandamphibianscanbemadefroma10-to15-gallonaquarium.Thelidmustbetight,otherwiseyourspecimenswillpush

Policy Statement on Keeping Caged AnimalsUnder prescribed conditions, the Boy Scouts of America approves the confinement of small animals in local or national camps or in special events or shows, as part of a learning experience (such as meeting merit badge requirements) in natural history and conservation. In all cases where animals are kept in captivity, six requirements must be met and enforced:

1. Local, state, and federal laws are observed; necessary legal permits are obtained and made readily available.

2. A competent, qualified individual supervises the housing, feeding, and maintenance of the animals.

3. The animals are kept and properly cared for in adequate, sanitary cages as recommended by knowledgeable authorities.

4. Guidance on care and feeding has been obtained from an experienced and knowledgeable individual at a university, zoo, museum, nature center, or veterinary clinic, or from a local wildlife expert.

5. The animals involved are used to tell a nature- conservation story—for example, their habitat requirements, what they eat, their predators, and their place in nature.

6. All animals are returned to the wild at the location of original capture or to an appropriate facility after meeting merit badge requirements or the close of camp. However, check with your merit badge coun-selor for those instances where the return of these specimens would not be appropriate.


.Keeping a pet

old World chameleons, like the one shown here, can move their eyes independently from one another to watch for both prey and predators.

itoffandescape.Iftheygetlooseinthehouse,youmaynotfindthemuntilweeksormonthslater,longaftertheyhavediedfromlackoffoodandwater.

Tocreateyourownlid,makeawoodenframejustlargeenoughtofitsnuglyaroundtheaquarium’soutsideupperedgeandthentackwireorplasticscreenontothisframe.Moreelaboratecagescanbebuiltifyouarehandywithtools,butbecarefultoputtheventilatingareasnearthetop.Otherwise,snakesandlizardswillrubtheirsnoutsrawagainstthescreenwireintheireffortstoescape.

Flooringforsomespeciesshouldconsistofsmall,carefullywashedpebbles.Avoidsandanddirt.Botharemessyandcanworktheirwayunderreptilescales,invitinginfections.Forsnakesandlizards,aflooringofneatlyfoldednewspapers,sixtoeightsheetsthick,canbeused.Newspaperabsorbsexcessmoistureandiseasilyreplacedwhensoiled.

Shelterofsomekindisanabsolutenecessity.Mostreptilesandamphibiansmusthaveaplacewheretheycanhideandfeelsafe;otherwisetheymayprowlconstantly,refuseallfood,andsoondie.Asimpletypeofshelterisapieceofbarkwiththeconcavesidedown.Or,smallflatstonescanbepiledupcarefullytoprovidehidingplaceslargeenoughforthespecimentocoilorliecomfortablybeneaththem.Snakesandsomelizardswilluseasheltermadefromasmallcardboardboxorplasticcontainerthathasaholelargeenoughtoenterwithease.


Keeping a pet.

Water dishes in terrariums should be easily removable.

snakes need a piece of bark or a small box for hiding.

an aquarium can be used for newts, tadpoles, and turtles.

end view of a snake cage with the lid raised

top view of a snake cage

Be careful of using treated tap water in your aquarium—it contains chlorine and other chemicals that can kill amphibians. If this is your only option, let the tap water sit out for at least 24 hours to give the chlorine enough time to evaporate. Other options are to use commercially bottled water or to use a dechlorination tablet sold for tropical fish aquariums.


.Keeping a pet

Ingeneral,amphibiansandaquaticturtlesrequiremoistconditions.Lizardsandsnakes(evenwatersnakes)dobestindrycageswithawaterbowl.Agoodtrickforamphibiansistoproptheaquariumsothatitistiltedslightly,pourinenoughwatertomakeasmallpoolatthelowend,andplacethebarkorstoneshelteratthewaterline.Theseanimalsneedtodryoffcompletelyfromtimetotimetoavoidfungalinfections.Undersuchcondi-tionstheamphibiancanbewetordryasitchooses.

Snakesandlizardsneedshallowwaterdishesfordrinkingandsoaking.Sometimessnakessoaktoomuchanddevelopblistersontheirbodies.Insuchcasestheyshouldbegivenawaterdishonlyforanhourortwoeachday.Somesmalllizardswillnotdrinkwaterfromadishbutwilllapupdropsofwater.Putagrowingplant(inaflowerpot)inthecagewiththemandsprinkleitgentlyeveryday,orsprayamistonthesidesoftheaquarium.

Turtlescanliveinbareaquariumsorplasticwadingpools.Fordecorativepurposesyoucanaddcleanpebblesatthebottom.Mostaquaticturtlesshouldhaveaplaceabovethewaterwheretheycancrawloutandgetcompletelydrywhentheywant.Apieceofroughwoodorlargerockthatprojectsabovethewatersurfacemakesagoodbaskingspot.Boxandwoodturtlesandtheterrestrialtortoisesneeddryquarters,butshallowwaterdishesmustbeprovidedsothattheycansoakwhenevertheywant.Turtleskeptindoorsneedoccasionalexposuretoultravioletlight.Thiscanbeaccomplishedbyplacingthemindirectsunlight(sunlightthatdoesnotpassthroughaglasswindow)forafewhourseachweek,butbesuretheydonotgetoverheated.Youalsocanusefull-spectrum(withbothUV-AandUV-B)ultravioletbulbsinadditiontoaheatsource.

Becarefulnottokeepyourpetstoohotortoocold.Thebesttemperaturerangesare60to70degreesFahrenheitforamphibians,75to85degreesforreptiles,andupto90degreesforsomelizardsandtortoises.Experimentwithanelectriclightforsupplementaryheat,buttestitwithathermometerfirstsothatyoudonotaccidentallyexposetheanimalstohightemperaturesthatmightbefatal.

A large cage

is better than a

small one. With

it, you can mount

your heat source

at one end, and

the reptiles or

amphibians can

either bask or

retreat to a cooler

part of the cage

as they wish.


Keeping a pet.

FeedingFeedingreptilesandamphibiansisthemostdifficultpartofkeepingthemaspets.Avoidchoosingananimalwithspecializedfeedinghabitsliketherainbowsnake,whicheatseels,orthequeensnake,whicheatsmainlysoft-shelledcrayfish.

Ifyouareatcamporinthecountrywhereyoucangetliveinsects,earthworms,frogs,andtoads,thetaskoffeedingyourpetswillbefairlysimple.Youcankeepgarterandwatersnakesbyfeedingthemminnowsorsmallfrogsandtoads.Gartersnakesoftenwilleatearthwormsalso.Manyothersnakesrequiremice,andyoumaybehard-pressedtoobtainenoughofthesetokeepyourobservationsgoing.Mostsnakes,however,canbetrainedtoeatdeadmicethatwerefresh-frozenandthenthawedatroomtemperature.

Frogs,salamanders,andlizardseatliveinsects,payingnoattentiontodeadones.Gettingliveinsectsfromaroundanoutsidehouselightorstreetlampwheretheycongregateatnightiseasyduringwarmweather.Gentlyputasmalljaroveraninsectandslideacardbetweenthewallandthemouthoftheglass,andtheinsectisimprisoned.Cricketsandgrasshopperscanbecapturedonwarmdaystomakegoodfoodforsomespecies.Cricketsalsocanbepurchasedatsomebaitstores.

Have a light

shining near the

cage so the

animals will see

their live food.


.Keeping a pet

Ifyouliveinacityandmustdependoninanimatefood,aquaticturtlesaregoodchoicesforreptilepets.Mostaquaticturtleslivewelloncommercialturtlefoodpelletsor,forshortperiods,raworcookedmeatscrapsfromyourkitchen.Mostbabyturtleswilleatwormsorinsects,evendeadones.Donotgivethemanythathavebeenkilledbyflyspraysorpesticides.Youmaypoisontheturtlesifyoudo.

Animportantpartofkeepingareptileoramphibianforapetisreleasingitbackintothewildwhenyounolongerwanttokeepit.Ifyouhavecapturedtheanimalyourself,youshouldreturnittothespotwhereyoucaughtit.Donotreleaseanimalsthatappearsick,though,asadiseasemightbetransmittedtoindividualslivinginthenaturalpopulation.Also,youshouldneverreleaseaspeciesintoahabitatwhereitisnotnative.Instead,consultwithyourmeritbadgecounselor,alocalzoo,oryourstate’swildlifedepartmentabouthowtodisposeofspecimensthatareinappropriateforreleaseintothewild.

Finding eggs and raising youngThesecondoptionofrequirement8amightbedifficultbecause,asidefrompurchasingamphibianeggsfromacommercialsource,thereisnoeasywaytogeteggswithoutgoingintothefieldandcollectingthemyourself.Findingreptileeggsismostlyamatterofchance,buttheeggsoffrogsandtoadscanbeobtainedifyouknowwhenandwheretolookforthem.Thecallingofthemalesattractsmates,andifyouarrivesoonafterthefrogchorusesbegin,youmightbeluckyenoughtofindfreshlylaideggs.Somekindsarelaidinlargefloatingmassesorattachedsinglyoringroupstoaquaticplants.Others,asinthecaseofmanykindsoftoads,arelaidinlongstrings.

While observing reptiles’ and amphibians’ feeding habits, do not handle the animals more than absolutely necessary for cleaning purposes. Disturbing them too often may disrupt their feeding schedule and ruin your observations. Also, wash your hands thoroughly after handling the animals. Turtles can transmit a bacterial infection that causes digestive problems in humans, and many amphibians have skin secretions that can severely irritate the eyes and nasal passages.


Keeping a pet.

amphibian eggsIfyoufindamphibianeggs,takeonlyafew.Theycanbetransportedinajarorplasticbagfilledwithwaterfromthepond,butbesuretoleaveplentyofroomforair.Puttheminanaquariumcontainingjustenoughofthepondwatertocovertheeggsnomorethananinchorso.

Oncehatchedfromtheireggs,smalltadpoleswilleatboiledlettuce,commercialreptileandamphibianfoodsticksorpellets,fishfood,oramixtureofthese.Putonlyatinyamountoffoodinthetankatatimeoritwillfoulthewaterandkillthetadpoles.Whenthetadpolesgrowlarger,theymayeattinyamountsofleangroundbeef.Afterthelegsbegintoappear,provideafloatingpieceofwoodorcorkbarkonwhichthefrogletsortoadletscancrawloutaftermetamorphosis.

Theeggsofpond-orstream-breedingsalamandersalsocanbekeptinshallowwaterinanaquarium.Oncethelarvaehatch,theycanliveinthewaterbutrequiredifferentfoodfromtadpoles.Youcanpurchasesmallbrineshrimpfromapetstoreortrycollectingyourownzooplankton(smallinvertebrates)fromapond.Ifyouusebrineshrimp,besuretorinsethesaltoffbeforefeedingthemtoyoursalamanders.Whentheygetlarger,larvalsalamanderswilleatsmallinsectsorworms.

When you find amphibian eggs in a pond, you may not know whether they are frogs or salamanders, but you will as soon as they hatch. Salamander larvae have gills that are visible on the outside of the head, whereas frogs and toads have gills that are concealed inside the head region. Carefully examine the newly hatched specimens and you will know whether to start off feeding them plant material or small animals. After you have completed the requirement for keeping amphibian eggs, be sure to release the larval salamanders or small frogs or toads at the site where you collected them.


.Keeping a pet

reptile eggsReptileeggsmustneverbeputinwater.Theyshouldbeplacedinagallonjarwithaloose-fittinglidthatcanbeadjustedtocontrolmoisture.Slightlymoistpapertowelssometimesmakeagoodhatchingmedium,asdoesdampwoodpulpfromarottinglogorstump.Vermiculite,acommercialproductavailableatgardenstores,isalsoexcellent.Theeggsshouldbeburiedintheuppersurfacelayerorlaidontopofwhat-eversubstanceisused.Iftheinsideofthejarbeginstosweat,removethelidentirelytoletthejardryoutalittle.Iftheeggsstarttoshrinkorshowindentations,asmallamountofwatershouldbesprinkledonboththeeggsandthehatchingmaterial.Donotgetthemtoowetoryouwillhavetroublewithmold.

Keep a journal during your observation period. Include the date with each entry or observation and jot down what you did to get things started. Record all pertinent observa-tions, such as the temperature of the air and water. When did the tadpoles hatch from the eggs? What did the eggs look like partway through develop-ment? When, and at what temperatures, did they trans-form into froglets or toadlets? When did snakes, lizards, or turtles hatch? What did the animals eat? How often and how? Did any of them shed their skins? Your counselor may wish to see your written record or ask you to summarize your observations.


Keeping a pet.

Observing at a Zoo or Nature CenterIf you elect to study a reptile or amphibian at a local zoo or nature center to fulfill requirement 8b, the local public library should be able to help you locate these places. For zoos and aquariums, you also can check with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.

For your three-month study period, make sure you keep the same specimen under observation, and try to select an individual that can be expected to undergo some kind of change—for example, an immature amphibian approaching metamorphosis, a snake preparing to shed its skin, or a female preparing to give birth. A keeper or curator can help you choose an appropriate subject for the study.


.Field trips and talks

FieldTripsandTalksTakingfieldtripsandgivingatalkonreptilesandamphibiansmakesearningtheReptileandAmphibianStudymeritbadgeevenmorefunandrewarding.Herearesomepointersonhowtogetstarted.

hearing Frogs and toads in the outdoorsHearingfrogsandtoadscallingmeansgettingintothecountryatnight.Theseamphibianscallfromponds,puddles,roadsideditches,swamps,andstreamedges,usuallywherethewaterisshallowandnearwheretheireggswillbelaid.Inthenorthernstates,thechorusesbeginwhenthefirstwarmrainarrivesinearlyspring.IntheSouth,somespeciessingduringthewinter.Inmostareas,somespe-ciescallduringspringandsummer.InthearidWest,suddenrainstormsstartthemcalling.

Notallspeciesoffrogsandtoadssingatonce.IntheNortheast,forexample,springpeepers,chorusfrogs,andwoodfrogsarethefirsttobeheard.Theysoonarefollowedbytheleopardandpickerelfrogs,andAmericantoads.Cricketfrogsandtreefrogsusuallysinglater,andFowler’stoadsandbullfrogsmaybethelasttojointhechoruses.Weatherplaysabigpart.Awarm,wetearlyspringmaystimulatemanyspeciestocallatthesametime.Later,arainmaysetthemoffoutofseasonwhenafewmalescallbriefly,longafterthebreedingtimeisover.

the red-eyed tree frog is an arboreal species from Central america.


Field trips and talks.

Onlymalefrogscall.Duringtheirfirstenthusiasmtheymaysingdayandnight.Afteradayortwothechorusesusuallyareheardonlyafterdark.Itiswelltoventureoutatduskandlistenasyouhikeordrivealongaroadthatrunsthroughaswamp,orinanareawheretherearepondsandpuddles.Onceyoulocateachorus,approachslowlyandquietly,otherwisethefrogswillbealarmedanddiveintothewaterandyoumaynotseeorhearthemagainallevening.Itisnormalforthemtostopcallingwhenyougetnear.Whenthathappensputoutyourlightandstandperfectlystilluntiltheystartagain.Ifyouaregoodatimitatingtheircalls,theymayrespondtoyoupromptly.Thenstalkslowlyforwardagain,andrepeatthepro-cedureuntilyouarecloseenoughtomakeyourobservations.

Inaridcountry,suddenrainstormsmaybringtoadsoutinenormousnumbers.Theycallvigorouslyforanightortwoandthendisappear.Undertheseconditionsyouhadbettergofroggingatonceandnotwaitforanothernight.

Some frogs sing

near shore, but

others do not.

Waders or hip

boots may be the

most comfortable

cold-weather

wear if you plan

to wade into

the water. If the

waters are not

too cold, you

may prefer

leather boots or

canvas sneakers.

Always take a bright flashlight and fresh batteries, and put a small backup flashlight in your pocket in case the main one goes out while you are in the middle of a swamp. Also, you must always get the landowner’s or land manager’s permission before you start exploring.

bullfrogs can grow as big as 6 inches long and, not surprisingly, have big appetites.


observing Frog and toad CallsTherearemanythingstoobserve.Isthefroginabushoronatree?Isitatthewater’sedge?Isitfloatingatthesurface?Howdoesitmakeitscall?Frogsandtoadshavethroatsacsthatinflatewhentheysing,servingasresonancechambers.Isthereasingle,bubblelikesac,asinthecaseofmanytoads?Orisitelongatedlikeasausage?Manyfrogshaveapairofvocalsacs,oneateachsideofthethroat.Youshouldnoteallthesedetails.

Imitatingthecallswilltakepractice.Gettingthemrightcandependonhowcleveryouarewithyourvoice.Whistlinglikeaspringpeeperiseasy.Achorusfrogcallcanbesimulatedbyrunningafingerslowlyalongacomb,touchingthesmallestteethlast.Onceyouhaveheardthesongs,youcaninventwaystoimitatethem.

male frogs like this pine barren’s tree frog use their vocal sacs to amplify their calls and attract females to the breeding pond.

the african bullfrog, or pixie frog, spends dry seasons buried in protective mud.


Field trips and talks.

Giving a talk on reptiles and amphibiansThesecretofsuccessistoprepareyourtalkinadvance.Makeanoutlineofwhatyouwanttosay.Rememberthatthepeopleinyouraudienceprobablywillknowlittleabouttheseanimals.Explainthedifferencesbetweenareptileandanamphibiananduselivespecimensorpicturestoillustrateimportantpoints.

Youwillneedtospendsometimestudyingbooksonreptilesandamphibianssothatyouknowmoreaboutthesubjectthanyouraudiencedoes.Theresourcessectioninthebackofthispamphletlistsagreatvarietyofresources.Learntheanswerstosuchquestionsashowasnakecrawls,whyitsticksoutitstonguewhileyouholdit,andwhyithasnoeyelids.Explainthedifferencebetweenalandorboxturtleandtheaquatickinds,pointingoutthewebbedfeetofthelatter.Tellyouraudiencewhymanykindsoflizardshavetailsthatbreakoffreadily,orwhyturtleshellsofdifferentspeciesvaryinshapeandcolor.Explainthedevelopmentoffrogsandtoadsfromeggtotadpoletoadult.Tellthemwhatyoufindmostexcitingaboutreptilesandamphibiansoraboutyour

observationsofspeciesincaptivityorinthewild.Theseareonlyexamplesofwhatyoumighttalk

about.Selecttopicsandfactsthatyoufeelcomfort-ablewithandthatarecompatiblewithyourlive

specimens.Bepreparedtoanswerquestionsafteryouhavefinished.

bearded dragons are native to australia and are commonly bred in the pet trade. young dragons feed on insects, while adults also consume plants.

the ornate horned frog is a well-camouflaged terrestrial (land) species from the amazon basin region.


.Facts and Superstitions

FactsandSuperstitionsPutthattoaddownoryou’llgetwarts!Don’tgettooclosetoasnakeoritwillchaseyou!Andkeepyourmouthclosedaroundsalamandersbecausetheywilljumpinifyou’renotcareful!

Theseandotherlegendslikethemaresomeofthewildtalesthathavebeentoldaboutreptilesandamphibiansovertheyears.Althoughafewofthesefolktaleshavesomefactualbasis,mostofthemarejustplainyarnsspunforeffect.

Whenitcomestosnakes,somefolksarewillingtoswallowthemostfantasticyarns.Whilesnakesdosomeamazingthings,thereprobablyaremoretalltalestoldaboutsnakesthananyotheranimals.Herearesome:

• Ahoopsnakerollsdownhillswithitstailinitsmouthandhasavenomousstingerinitstail.

• Snakesthatlivearoundbarnsmilkcows.

• Snakesswallowtheiryoungtoprotectthem.

• Thewhipsnakewillchaseapersondown,wraparoundhim,andthrashhimtodeath.

• Snakeschasepeople.

• Snakesareslimy.

• SnakesgoblindduringthedogdaysofAugust.

• Whenasnakeiskilled,itstailwrigglesuntilsundown.

• Ifasnakeiscutintopieces,eachpiecewillformanewsnake.

• Snakesarecharmedbymusic.

• Snakestravelinpairsandseekrevengeifoneiskilled.

• Snakeshypnotizetheirprey.

• Arattlesnakeaddsanewrattleeachyearofitslife.


Facts and Superstitions.

Andwhilenotasplentifulasthetalestoldaboutsnakes,superstitionsaboutamphibiansarejustasinteresting:

• Toadsgivepeoplewarts.

• Salamanderslikefires.

• Treefrogspredictrain.

• Frogsandtoadsraindownfromthesky.

• Salamanderspoisonspringsandjumpintopeople’smouths.

Noneoftheabovestatementsistrue,andsomeobviouslyareabsurd.Butunlessoneisfamiliarwiththefactsaboutreptilesandamphibians,somearebelievable.Seeifyoucanaddtothelistofsuperstitionsandfalsebeliefsbytalkingtopeopleinyourarea,andseeifyoucandeterminewhatthefactsarethatmayhaveledtothemisconception.

stranger than FictionHerearethefactsbehindsomeofthemisconceptionsmentionedabove:

Ratsnakeseatmanyratsandmice,andbarnsandotherfarmbuildingsoftenareexcellentplacestofindfood.Sofindingsnakesarounddairyfarmsistobeexpected.Buttheratsnake’smouthisfullofneedle-sharpteethforholdingsmallanimalsandisnotequippedforsuckingmilkfromacow.

Manyserpents,suchaskingsnakesandracers,eatothersnakes—sometimeseventheirownkind.Soifapersonhappenedtocomealongattherightmoment,itwouldbeeasytojumptotheconclusionthatamothersnakewastryingtoprotectheroffspring.Theillusionwouldbestrengthenedifthelargersnakewasdisturbedanddisgorgedthesmallerone,enablingittoescape.

TheeasterncoachwhipisoneofthelongestsnakesinNorthAmerica,reachinglengthsofmorethan7feet.Thetailsomewhatresemblesabraidedbullwhip.Thismaybethesourceofthestoryaboutasnakethatwhipspeople.


.Facts and Superstitions

NosnakesinNorthAmericaarehabituallyaggressivetowardhumanbeingsandnoneisknowntochasepeople.Afew,likethebigdiamondbackrattlersandthecottonmouth,willsometimesstandtheirground,andoccasionallyasnakewillstrikeoutifharassed.Buttheaveragesnake,givenafairchancetoescape,willspeedilygetoutofaperson’sway.Sometimesduringthematingseasonracersandothersnakesmayfeignanattack.Or,inordertoreachtheirshelters,snakesmaycrawldirectlytowardpersonswhohappentobeintheway.

Nosnakesarenaturallyslimy.Iftheyhavejustcrawledfromthewater,theymaylookthatway.Somekindsaresoshinyandiridescenttheyappearoily.Tothetouch,however,snakesfeelmuchlikesoft,pliableleather.

Whenasnakehasmetaviolentdeath,reflexactionoftenlastsquiteawhileafterward,andthetailcanwriggleforsometime,butsundownplaysnopartinit.

Snakesdonothaveearsorevenearopeningsandthereforecannothearthenormalairbornesounds,suchasmusic,thathumanshear.Theyfeelvibrationsthroughtheirlowerjaw,primarilythosetransmittedthroughtheground’ssurface.

Frogs like this gray tree frog often call on warm, rainy nights but also will call at other times. Far from being good prognosticators, they may call as loudly before good weather as before rain.

Giants of the tortoise world, the Galapagos tortoise can live more than 150 years and grow to hundreds of pounds.


.the importance of Conservation

Remember,

extinction is

forever, but

endangered

means there is

still time if we

care enough to

act quickly.

TheImportanceofConservationReptilesandamphibianshavetakenafrightfulbeatingovertheyears.Snakeshavebeenstonedorclubbedtodeath.Baskingturtleshavebeenusedfortargetpracticebypeoplewithrifles,ashavelizardsandfrogsbychildrenwithslingshots.Allkindsofreptilesandamphibianshavebeenkilledfornogoodreason.Fortunately,attitudesaboutprotectingreptilesandamphibiansarechanging.

Mostpeoplenowrecognizethatreptilesandamphibiansserveanimportantenvironmentalrole.Theypreyuponotheranimals,includinggreatquantitiesofmice,rats,andinsects,andareinturneatenbypredatorssuchashawks,carnivorousmammals,andotherreptiles.Theyareimportantlinksinthefoodchainofothernativewildlife.

Our state and national park systems and the efforts of many private groups are evidence of our attempt to preserve wildlife communities. But the pressure of a growing population makes it increasingly difficult to keep these areas natural.

You can find out what plants and animals are protected in your state by contacting your state’s parks and wildlife department, or by visiting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Web site: www.fws.gov.


the importance of Conservation.

Adeadlyenemyofreptilesandamphibianstodayishabitatdestruction.Whenwedrainorfillbogs,swamps,andotherwetlandsforindustrialsites,shoppingcenters,andhousingdevelopments,wedestroythehabitatsoffuturegenerationsoffrogs,salamanders,snakes,andturtles.Destructivelumberingandatmosphericpollutioncancontributetothereductionofmanyspecies’foresthomes.Pollutioninourstreamscanmakethewaterunsuitableforamphibiansoraquaticreptiles.Whenwesprayourfields,forests,androadsideswithchemicalsthataredeadlytoreptilesandamphibians,wemaybeaffectinganimportantpartoftheecosystem.

many species of reptiles and amphibians, such as the closely related gopher frog and crawfish frog, occur in isolated populations over a wide geographic area. the destruction of small wetland habitats threatens the survival of such species.

the handsome, sturdy-looking wood turtle is a vanishing semiaquatic species native to riparian areas of the northeast.


.the importance of Conservation

Anotherformofdestructioncomesfromthepettrade.Noharmisdonebykeepingaturtle,frog,orharmlesssnakeasapet,providedtheanimalreceivesgoodcareandattention.Butenormousnumbersofthesecreaturesdieneedlesslyeveryyearthroughignoranceandcarelessness.Mostpeoplehavelittleornoknowl-edgeofhowtocareforsuchpets,manyofwhicharepurchasedasnoveltiesoronimpulse.

HundredsofthousandsoflivereptilesandamphibiansareimportedlegallyintotheUnitedStateseachyear,largelyforthepettrade.Manymorethanthatarebelievedtobeimportedillegally.Theyarehandledinsuchlargequantitiesbysomedealersthatindividualcareisimpos-sible.Manydieinshipment,orinthehandsofownerswhodonotknowhowtocareforthemorwhosimplydon’tcare.Thedrainonnativespeciesbyunscrupulouscollectorsisalsosevere,causingmanyspeciesofnativereptilesandamphibianstoreceiveprotectionfromcertainstates,aswellasfromthefederalgovernment.

loss of much of its specialized wetland habitat to development, combined with illegal collection for pets, has made the small, rare, and secretive bog turtle a federally endangered species.


the importance of Conservation.the importance of Conservation.

Youcanhelptoprotectreptilesandamphibiansbybearingthefollowingrulesinmind:

1.Nevercollectorkeepmorespecimensthanyoucancarefor.Kindsthatareknowntoberareorthatarelegallyprotectedshouldnotbecollectedatall.

2.Whenyouoverturnlogsorrocksorboardswhilelookingforsnakesorotherspecimens,putthiscoverbackinplacetoserveasshelterforthenextanimalsthatcomealong.

3.Provideproperfood,shelter,andwaterforanyspecimenyoukeepincaptivity,andmakesurethetemperatureinthecageisappropriateforthespecies.

4. Whenyouarethroughexaminingorkeepingthem,liberateyourspecimensatthesamespotwhereyoucaughtthem.Youaren’thelpingbyturningitlooseinastrangeenviron-mentwhereithaslittleornochancetosurvive.

5.TeachyourfellowScouts,family,friends,andacquaintancesbytellingthemrepeatedlythatreptilesandamphibiansareanimportantcomponentofournaturalheritageandshouldbeprotected.Ofcourse,exceptionmaybemadeforthefewvenomouskindsfoundclosetohousesorcampsites,buteventhesedeserveourprotectionintheirnaturalhabitats.

aquatic turtles are well-streamlined for swimming.


Conservation successInrecentyears,analarmingnumberofreptilesandamphibianshavebecomethreatened,endangered,orevenextinctduetohabitatloss,invasivespecies,pollution,andoverconsumption.However,conservation,throughstrongeducationwithprotectedhabitatandenforcedharvestregulations—ifdoneintime—canleadtosuccessstoriesofanendangeredspecies’recovery,suchaswiththeAmericanalligator.

Insummary,givereptilesandamphibianseverybreakyoucan.Donotdisturbthemanymorethannec-essary,andteachotherstoletthemalone.Beagoodconservationist.

the rattlesnake uses the heat-sensing pits on its snout to find warm-blooded prey at night.


.the professional herpetologist

TheProfessionalHerpetologistHerpetologymakesafascinatinghobby.Itcanprovidehealthyoutdoorexerciseandasenseofadventureifyouhaveaccesstoawildorsuburbanareaandhavepermissiontoobserveorcollect.Indoors,itisfuntomaintainacageorterrarium.Feedingandcaringforthem,watchingtheirbehavior,andhavingachancetomakeobservationsofpossiblescientificvalueeitherathomeorinthefieldarefun.

Becomingaprofessionalherpetologistisamoreseriousendeavor,forthecareeropportunitiesarelimited.Mostprofessionalshavecollegetraininginthefieldofbiology.Manybiologyteachersincollegesanduniversitiesdevotetheirresearchtimetothestudyofreptilesandamphibians.Somezoosandmuseumsemploycuratorsofamphibiansandreptiles.However,nomatterhowgreatyourtrainingandenthusiasm,youmighthavetowaitforanopeningtodevelopinanyoftheseprofessions.

Mostadultswhoareinterestedinherpetologyearntheirlivinginotherways.Theyhavecareersnotnecessarilyrelatedtosciencebutusetheirsparetimeinpursuitofasidecareerinherpetology.Manyregionsofthecountryhaveherpetologicalsocietiesthatserveasexcellentopportunitiesforamateurandprofessionalherpetologiststomeet.


the professional herpetologist.

If you want to explore the possibility of becoming a herpetologist, write to the Secretary, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC 20560. Ask for a copy of Career Opportunities for the Herpetologist. The same office can supply you with a list of herpetological societies in the United States if you are interested in joining one.

monitor lizards are thought to be closely related to snakes, and this family includes the world’s largest lizards. the giant komodo dragon is also a member of this family.


.Reptile and amphibian Study Resources

ReptileandAmphibianStudyResourcesscouting literatureReptiles and Amphibians pocketguide; Bird Study, Fish and Wildlife Management, Fishing, Fly-Fishing, Hiking, Insect Study, Mammal Study,and Naturemeritbadgepamphlets

Visit the Boy Scouts of America’s official retail Web site at http://www.scoutstuff.org for a complete listing of all merit badge pamphlets and other helpful Scouting materials and supplies.

Field Guides to north american reptiles and amphibians

Behler,JohnL.,andF.WayneKing.The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians.Knopf,1988.

Conant,Roger,andJosephT.Collins.A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America.HoughtonMifflin,1991.

Smith,HobartM.,andEdmundD.BrodieJr.A Guide to Field Identification: Reptiles of North America.Golden,1982.

Stebbins,RobertC.A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians.HoughtonMifflin,1985.

Tyning,ThomasF.Stokes Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles.Little,Brown,1990.

natural history Guides

Bishop,ShermanC.Handbook of Salamanders.Comstock,1967.

Ernst,CarlH.Venomous Reptiles of North America.SmithsonianInstitution,1992.

Ernst,CarlH.,GeorgeR.Zug,andMollyDwyerGriffin.Snakes in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book.Smithsonian,1996.

Ernst,CarlH.,andRogerW.Barbour.Snakes of Eastern North America.GeorgeMasonUniversity,1989.

Ernst,CarlH.,RogerW.Barbour,andJefferyE.Lovich.Turtles of the United States and Canada.Smithsonian,1994.

Greene,HarryW.Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature.UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1997.


Reptile and amphibian Study Resources.

Hofrichter,Robert.Amphibians: The World of Frogs, Toads, Salamanders and Newts.FireflyBooks,2000.

Ross,CharlesA.Crocodiles and Alligators.FactsonFile,1989.

Caring for reptiles and amphibians in Captivity

Frye,FredricL.A Practical Guide for Feeding Captive Reptiles.KriegerPublishing,1991.

Mattison,Christopher.The Care of Reptiles and Amphibians in Captivity.BlandfordPress,1987.

Rossi,JohnV.Snakes of the United States and Canada: Keeping Them Healthy in Captivity.Krieger,1992.

sounds of Frogs and toadsThesearerecordsortapesofthecallsofagreatmanyofournativefrogsandtoads.TheycanbeorderedthroughthefollowingaddressesorWebsites.

Bogert,CharlesM.Sounds of North American Frogs: The Biological Significance of Voice in Frogs.FolkwaysCassetteSeries:06166,1958.OfficeofFolklifePrograms,955L’EnfantPlaza2600,SmithsonianInstitution,Washington,DC20560.

Elliott,Lang.The Calls of Frogs and Toads.NatureSoundStudio.Website:http://www.naturesound.com

Kellogg,PeterP.,andArthurA.Allen.Voices of the Night.LibraryofNaturalSounds,1982.CornwellLaboratoryofOrnithology,159SapsuckerWoodsRoad,Ithaca,NY14850.

____.Sounds of North American Frogs.SmithsonianFolkways.Website:http://www.folkways.si.edu

organizations and Web sites american museum of natural historyCentralParkWestat79thStreetNewYork,NY10024-5192Website:http://www.amnh.org

association of Zoos and aquariums8403ColesvilleRoad,Suite710SilverSpring,MD20910-3314Website:http://www.aza.org

national Geographic societyP.O.Box98199Washington,DC20090-8199Website:http://www.nationalgeographic.com

national Fish and Wildlife Foundation1120ConnecticutAve.NW,Suite900Washington,DC20036Website:http://www.nfwf.org

national Wildlife Federation11100WildlifeCenterDriveReston,VA20190Website:http://www.nwf.org

smithsonian national Zoological parkNationalZooInformationDEVSP.O.Box37012MRC5516Washington,DC20013-7012

u.s. Fish and Wildlife service1849C.St.NWWashington,DC20240Website:http://www.fws.gov


.Reptile and amphibian Study Resources

This Reptile and Amphibian Study merit badge pamphlet is dedicated in memory of Dr. Roger Conant, former director of the Philadelphia Zoo and author of numerous herpetology publications, including the first edi-tion of this book. (He is pictured here with his son, Skip, right, also an avid naturalist.)

dr. roger Conant 1909–2003

acknowledgmentsTheBoyScoutsofAmericaextendsthankstoEagleScoutGaryM.Stolz,Ph.D.,U.S.FishandWildlifeService.AdedicatedandenthusiasticScouter,Dr.Stolzupdatedthiseditionofthepamphletandalsoprovidedmanyofthephotographsusedherein.

TheBSAgratefullyacknowledgestheguidanceofzoologyprofessorJ.WhitfieldGibbonsoftheUniversityofGeorgia’sSavannahRiverEcologyLaboratoryinthe1993revisionofthispamphlet.ThanksalsotoBarbara

Dietsch,TonyM.Mills,KeithMills,JosephH.K.Pechmann,andDavidE.Scottfortheirassistance.MarieFulmerandSarahCollie,alsooftheUniversityofGeorgia’sSavannahRiverEcologyLaboratory,providedadministrativeandresearchsupportforthe1993edition.

WeappreciatetheQuicklistConsultingCommitteeoftheAssociationforLibraryServicetoChildren,adivisionoftheAmericanLibraryAssociation,foritsassistancewithupdatingtheresourcessectionofthismeritbadgepamphlet.


Reptile and amphibian Study Resources.

photo and illustration Credits

©ArtvilleLLC,1998—cover(albino boa constrictor);pages10(bottom),18(left),21(bottom),27(bottom),43(bottom),62(top),62,and76

AllenBridgman,SCDNR,Bugwood.org,courtesy—page42(bottom)

BillBuchanan,courtesy—pages74(inset)and79

DavidCappaert,MichiganStateUniversity,Bugwood.org,courtesy—pages29(top)and67

©ComstockInc.2001—pages28and72–73(both)

IsabelleHuntConant,courtesy—pages21(center)and45

©DigitalVisionLtd.®—pages14,23,51,59,64,and68

ChrisEvans,RivertoRiverCWMA,Bugwood.org,courtesy—page18(top right)

HAAPMediaLtd.,courtesy—cover(crocodilians; turtle at bottom left)

JamesHenderson,GulfSouthResearchCorporation,Bugwood.org,courtesy—page15

JeffreyJ.Jackson,UniversityofGeorgia,Bugwood.org,courtesy—page42

©JohnFoxxImages,1999—page74(background)

©Jupiterimages.com—pages8,9(bottom),18(bottom right),29(bottom),30,and61(bottom)

JerryA.Payne,USDAAgriculturalResourceService,Bugwood.org,courtesy—pages25–26(both)

©PhotoDiscInc.,1996—cover(tree frog);pages4and39(bottom)

©Photos.com—cover(lizards at top right, center left; turtle at top left; frog at bottom right)andpage44(top)

DavidE.Scott,courtesy—pages34and46

WalterStahel,EnvironmentalBayofPlenty,Bugwood.org,courtesy—page11

GaryM.Stolz,Ph.D.,courtesy—pages6(background),7,10(top),12–13(all),16(right),18(center right),19,24(bottom),35,38(top left),43(both top),60,70(bottom),and71(top)

GaryM.Stolz,U.S.FishandWildlifeService,Bugwood.org,courtesy—page16(left)

Wikipedia.org,courtesy—pages9(top center),17,24(top),31,32(top),36,38(top right),and70(top)

Wikipedia.org/PublicHealthImageLibrary,courtesy—pages38(bottom)and41(top)

AllotherphotosandillustrationsnotmentionedabovearethepropertyoforareprotectedbytheBoyScoutsofAmerica.

DanBryant—page58

BrianPayne—pages27(top),53,and63

RandyPiland—pages6(inset)and48

JohnMcDearmon—allillustrationsonpages20–21,37,49,and52

Merit badge libraryThough intended as an aid to Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and qualified Venturers in meeting merit badge requirements, these pamphlets are of general interest and are made available by many schools and public libraries. The latest revision date of each pamphlet might not correspond with the copyright date shown below, because this list is corrected only once a year, in January. Any number of merit badge pamphlets may be revised throughout the year; others are simply reprinted until a revision becomes necessary.

If a Scout has already started working on a merit badge when a new edition for that pamphlet is introduced, he may continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet to earn the badge and fulfill the requirements therein. In other words, the Scout need not start all over again with the new pamphlet and possibly revised requirements.

American Business 2002American Cultures 2005American Heritage 2005American Labor 2006Animal Science 2006Archaeology 2006Archery 2004Architecture 2008Art 2006Astronomy 2004Athletics 2006Automotive Maintenance 2008Aviation 2006Backpacking 2007Basketry 2003Bird Study 2005Bugling (see Music)Camping 2005Canoeing 2004Chemistry 2004Cinematography 2008Citizenship in the

Community 2005Citizenship in the Nation 2005Citizenship in the World 2005Climbing 2006Coin Collecting 2008Collections 2008Communication 2009Composite Materials 2006Computers 2009Cooking 2007Crime Prevention 2005Cycling 2003Dentistry 2006Disabilities Awareness 2005Dog Care 2003Drafting 2008Electricity 2004Electronics 2004Emergency Preparedness 2008Energy 2005

Photography 2005Pioneering 2006Plant Science 2005Plumbing 2004Pottery 2008Public Health 2005Public Speaking 2002Pulp and Paper 2006Radio 2008Railroading 2003Reading 2003Reptile and

Amphibian Study 2005Rifle Shooting 2001Rowing 2006Safety 2006Salesmanship 2003Scholarship 2004Scuba Diving 2009Sculpture 2007Shotgun Shooting 2005Skating 2005Small-Boat Sailing 2004Snow Sports 2007Soil and Water

Conservation 2004Space Exploration 2004Sports 2006Stamp Collecting 2007Surveying 2004Swimming 2008Textile 2003Theater 2005Traffic Safety 2006Truck Transportation 2005Veterinary Medicine 2005Water Sports 2007Weather 2006Whitewater 2005Wilderness Survival 2007Wood Carving 2006Woodwork 2003

Engineering 2008Entrepreneurship 2006Environmental Science 2006Family Life 2005Farm Mechanics 2008Fingerprinting 2003Fire Safety 2004First Aid 2007Fish and Wildlife

Management 2004Fishing 2009Fly-Fishing 2009Forestry 2005Gardening 2002Genealogy 2005Geology 2005Golf 2002Graphic Arts 2006Hiking 2007Home Repairs 2009Horsemanship 2003Indian Lore 2008Insect Study 2008Journalism 2006Landscape Architecture 2008Law 2003Leatherwork 2002Lifesaving 2008Mammal Study 2003Medicine 2009Metalwork 2007Model Design and Building 2003Motorboating 2008Music and Bugling 2003Nature 2003Nuclear Science 2004Oceanography 2009Orienteering 2003Painting 2008Personal Fitness 2006Personal Management 2003Pets 2003

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Reptile and amphibian Study - Troop 577 Wichita, Kansastroop577wichita.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/2/2/...reptile and amphibian study 9.What are Reptiles and amphibians? where the boundaries