Flashcards

Herpetology Practical 1

Claire Tuemler English 51 cards

Sirenidae Siren intermedia Morphology: No rear limbs External gills Reduced front limbs Laterally compressed tail Large…

Cards in this deck (51)

1Sirenidae Siren intermedia Morphology: No rear limbs External gills Reduced front limbs Laterally compressed tail Large masseters Long, eel-like body Obligate paedomorphosis
2Amphiumidae Amphiuma tridactylum Morphology: Four small limbs Long, eel-like body No external gills in adults Tail laterally compressed Obligate paedomorphosis
3Cryptobranchidae Cryptobranchus alleganiensis Morphology: Large body size Dorsoventrally compressed body Laterally compressed tail Reduced eyes, loose skin Keratinized toe tips Incomplete metamorphosis
4Proteidae Necturus maculosus Morphology: External, red bushy gills Laterally compressed tail Dorsoventrally compressed body Dark bar on snout 4 toes on hind feet Speckled ventral region
5Salamandridae Notophthalmus viridescens Morphology: Red spots on sides No costal grooves Laterally compressed tail Aposematic coloration Rough, granular skin "Partial" paedomorphosis
6Plethodontidae Hemidactylium scutatum Morphology: Rusty brown dorsum White ventral region with black speckling 4 toes on each first Caudal autotomy indicated by constriction at base of tail
7Plethodontidae Desmognathus ochrophaeus Morphology: Tail not keeled beyond midpoint Often with chevron shaped marking down the middle of back Some individuals have 2-7 paired spots down the middle of the back
8Plethodontidae Desmognathus conanti Morphology: Tail keeled at midpoint; triangular in cross section Toe tips without dark friction pads Remnants of larval dorsal spotting still evident and usually not fused into straight-edged band
9Plethodontidae Desmognathus fuscus Morphology: Tail keeled at midpoint; triangular in cross section Toe tips without dark friction pads Remnants of larval dorsal spotting still evident and usually fused into straight-edged band
10Plethodontidae Desmognathus monticola Morphology: Toe tips cornified Tail rounded on anterior third Venter white/light gray, sharp contrast with dark dorsum Bold dorsal patterns Underside of tail diffusely blotched
11Plethodontidae Desmognathus welteri Morphology: Toe tips cornified Tail laterally compressed near base Venter brownish and heavily mottled Dorsum often drab/patternless
12Plethodontidae Aneides aeneus Morphology: Square, expanded toe tips Tail not laterally compressed Dorsum with metallic greenish or gold spots Head and body distinctively flattened, limbs overlapping when adpressed
13Plethondontidae Gyrinophilus porphyriticus Morphology: Large body size Square-shaped snout Light line extending from eyes to nostrils (canthus rostralis) Body color salmon, reddish, brownish Keeled tail
14Plethodontidae Pseudotriton ruber Morphology: Vivid red or orange with many irregular black spots; color fades with age Eyes yellow; "mustache" Large body size Snout rounded, no canthus rostralis
15Plethodontidae Pseudotriton montanus Morphology: Vivid red/orange with black spots; color fades with age Fewer, rounder dorsal spots than P. ruber Eyes brown; "no mustache" Large body size Snout rounded, no canthus rostralis
16Plethodontidae Eurycea cirrigera Morphology: Elongate body, tail triangular in cross-section Yellow dorsal coloration with two distinct lines, often with mid-dorsal row of spots Tail laterally compressed Males with elongate cirri
17Plethodontidae Eurycea guttolineata Morphology: Light yellow to tan body with three bold black stripes running from eye to tail Never just spots down midline of the back
18Plethodontidae Eurycea lucifuga Morphology: Conspicuously long, prehensile tail Dorsum yellowish reddish to orangish Spots do not form distinct lines No "herringbone" pattern on sides of tail
19Plethodontidae Eurycea longicauda Morphology: Noticeably long tail Varied coloration (from yellow, yellow-brown, red-orange) Spots can form broken lines on sides, but not down middle of the back Often "herringbone" pattern on sides of tail
20Plethodontidae Plethodon dorsalis Morphology: Dorsal stripe with serrated edges; white flecking on sides Dimorphic: "light phase" light brown, reddish stripe w/zigzag border, "dark phase" darker brown, lacking stripe Belly orange-red mottling
21Plethodontidae Plethodon cinereus Morphology: Dorsal stripe with straight edges; white flecking on sides Dimorphic: "redback phase" reddish stripe w/straight border; "leadback phase" brownish, no stripe Belly white-gray mottling
22Plethodontidae Plethodon richmondi Morphology: Brassy flecking on dark dorsum Very elongate body with relatively short legs Venter dark/plain 20-21 costal grooves
23Plethodontidae Plethodon wehrlei Morphology: Dorsal color varies from brassy flecking to paired spots on immaculate Hindfeet strongly webbed Scattered white spots on sides, possibly dorsum Grey belly with throat and upper chest blotched with white or yellow 17 costal grooves
24Plethodontidae Plethodon kentucki Morphology: Larger than many other KY plethodontids Black with white flecking that is fewer/smaller than P. glutinosus Chin lighter than belly Pointed snout relative to P. glutinosus
25Plethodontidae Plethodon glutinosus Morphology: Larger than many KY plethodontids Black with white flecking that is larger/more numerous than P. kentucki Chin not lighter belly; rounder snout relative to P. glutinosus
26Ambystomatidae Ambystoma opacum Morphology: Silver/white ladder pattern on black background Tail not laterally compressed Relatively small head/body compared to other ambystomatids
27Ambystomatidae Ambystoma maculatum Morphology: Gray, brown, or black base color w/paired lined or orange/yellow spots Often whitish flecking on sides Tail not typically laterally compressed until tip
28Ambystomatidae Ambystoma tigrinum Morphology: Tail strongly laterally compressed Larger than most ambystomatids "Extra bulgy" eyes Pointed toes May have yellow spots, but not in two straight lines
29Ambystomatidae Ambystoma barbouri Morphology: Snout short and head small relative to other ambystomatids Lower jaw projects beyond upper Internaral distance > 2.5 mm Tail keeled Eggs laid singly in streams
30Ambystomatidae Ambystoma texanum Morphology: Snout short and head small Lower jaw projects beyond upper Internaral distance < 2.5 mm Tail keeled Eggs laid in masses in pond
31Ambystomatidae Ambystoma talpoideum Morphology: Less elongate body than barbouri and texanum Tail strongly laterally compressed Short body, wide head Often bluish flecking covering the body Facultative paedomorphosis
32Ambystomatidae Ambystoma jeffersonianum Morphology: Tail laterally compressed Snout more elongate than texanum or barbouri Large body size Blue flecking often on sides Long toes Lower jaw does not protrude
33Microhylidae Gastrophryne carolinensis Morphology: Transverse fold of skin at the back of the head Teardrop, "turtle-shaped" body with pointed snout Variable body coloration Ant/termite specialist Call: bleating of a newborn lamb
34Pelobatidae Scaphiopus holbrookii Morphology: Robust body w/short legs Vertical pupils Large, shovel-shaped "spades" on rear feet Flecked with orange wards: often two light stripes down back Call: Downward slurred "errrr" Duck-like
35Bufonidae Anaxyrus americanus Morphology: Dark dorsal spots containing only 1-2 warts Paratoid gland separated from postorbital ridge or connected by a short spur Anterior portion of venter darkly mottled Call: Long, low trill
36Bufonidae Anaxyrus fowleri Morphology: Dark spots containing 3 or more warts Partatoid glands directly connects postorbital ridge Anterior portion of venter usually white with single dark spot Call: "prolonged and rater shrill scream"
37Ranidae Lithobates catesbeianus Morphology: No dorsolateral ridge; fold runs around tympanum Males smaller, but with tympanum larger than eye Dorsal coloration variable Base of the froglike industry: now invasive in western U.S. Call: buzzing of swarm of insects
38Ranidae Lithobates sylvaticus Morphology: Tan with chocolate mask white line above lip Antifreeze one Earliest breeding frog Call: soft galloping, train on tracks
39Ranidae Lithobates clamitans Morphology: Dorsolateral ridge curving around tympanum and down back, but not down to groin Males w/tympanum larger than eye Variable coloring Call: loose banjo strumming
40Ranidae Lithobates areolatus Morphology: Dark brown spots encircled with white lines Prominent dorsolateral folds compared to many other ranids Call: Deep snoring "waaaa" Snoring
41Ranidae Lithobates palustris Morphology: White line on upper jaw, dorsal spots rectangular and arranged in two rows Yellow/orange/apricot-colored flash coloration in groin Nose rounded, dorsolateral ridges extend to groin Call: Descending snore "yeeowww" Slow, deep zipper
42Ranidae Lithobates sphenocephalus Morphology: Dorsal spots not rectangular, usually not in straight rows White spot in center of tympanum Nose sharply pointed, usually no spot on snout, color variable Call: chicken-like chuckles
43Ranidae Lithobates pipiens Morphology: Dorsal spots dark with light outline; not rectangular, usually not in straight rows No white spot in center of tympanum Nose more rounded, usually spot on snout, color variable Call: Low, guttural, snore-like rattle Growling like leopard or big cat
44Hylidae Acris crepitans Morphology: Smallest frog in KY Usually a dark triangle between eyes Often Y-shaped stripe colors running down back More than 1/2 their longest toe on rear foot webbed Dorsal surface w/small warts, poorly developed toe pads Call: two marbles being knocked together banging glass together
45Hylidae Pseudacris crucifer Morphology: Brown to reddish-brown Conspicuous "X" across the back, line between eyes One of the most abundant frogs in eastern U.S. Call: short single "peeps" When ya gotta change your fire alarm battery
46Hylidae Hyla avivoca Morphology: Dorsal color variable, but often with X or star-shaped mark Light spot under eye Flash coloration greenish to greenish-yellow Call: Series of high-pitched whistles, like someone calling their dog
47Hylidae Hyla chyrsoscelis/H. versicolor Morphology: Larger than H. avivoca, but similar light spot under eye, variability in color Flash coloration yellow to orange Species cannot be distinguished from appearance (call, ploidy) Call: Raspy trill, faster pulse rate in H. versicolor
48Hylidae Pseudacris brachyphona Morphology: Dark line through the eye, white line above lip Curved lines on back (sometimes) appearance as reverse parentheses ) ( Terminal disks wider than toes Call: Short, raspy, rising in pitch, like finger running over plastic balloon Wooden stick instrument
49Hylidae Pseudacris feriarum/P. triseriata Morphology: Dark line through the eye, white line above the lip Three thick dark stripes running down back (sometimes broken) Often distinguished by other morphological traits so subtle we cannot address them easily Call: similar to P. brachyphona but slower tempo High pitched slow thumb over comb
50Hylidae Hyla cinerea Morphology: Bright green, often with scattered gold spots on dorsum Light stripe running down side Smooth back skin Spends most of its time in trees/vegetation Call: Short nasal "quonk", like a bike horn beep beep
51Hylidae Hyla gratiosa Morphology: Bright green to gray Yellow stripe often on mouth/lips Heavy granulations on back skin, often with dark spots Largest treefrog in KY Call: explosive "doonk" or "toonk" repeated every two seconds Fast banjo