221 Amphibians and Reptiles Encyclopedia

Common name : Hissing sand snake, Blow viper Scientific name : Heterodon simus Family : Colubridae Native to : South-Eastern United States Interesting fact : When defensive, it will play dead or puff up, form a hood, hiss continuously and pretend to strike. Conservation status : Vulnerable The Southern hog-nosed snake has an upturned snout […]

Scientific name : Pseudophryne corroboree Family : Myobatrachidae Native to : Australia Interesting fact : Their decline is attributed to a fungal infection by the chytrid fungus. Conservation status : Critically Endangered Found exclusively high up in Mouth Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales, is the Southern Corroboree frog. Its rough skin is covered in

Scientific name : Plethodon meridianus Family : Plethodontidae Native to : North Carolina, United States Interesting fact : They belong to the family of lungless salamanders that breathe through their moist skins. Conservation status : Vulnerable Named after its geographical location, the South mountain grey-cheeked salamander is dark grey with light grey cheek patches. They

Common name : Common snapping turtle Scientific name : Chelydra serpentina Family : Chelydridae Native to : Distributed from South-Eastern Canada to Florida Interesting fact : The turtle’s meat is popular in some areas and used in the turtle’s soup. Conservation status : Least Concern The common snapping turtle has strong legs, claws and a

Scientific name : Plethodon stormi Family : Plethodontidae Native to : California and Oregon, United States Conservation status : Endangered Named after its geographical location, the siskiyou mountains salamander is brown to purplish and speckled in white. They respire through their moist and slimy skins, being lungless. Rocky forests and a cool, moist rainy climate

Scientific name : Plethodon shenandoah Family : Plethodontidae Native to : United States Interesting fact : Shenandoah salamanders can live as long as 25 years. Conservation status : Vulnerable The Shenandoah salamander is exclusively found in Shenandoah National park, Virginia. They may either be striped or unstriped. When striped, they have red stripes on their

Scientific name : Plethodon asupak Family : Plethodontidae Native to : United States Interesting fact : Its common name is derived from its geographical location, the Scott river. Conservation status : Vulnerable Scott Bar salamanders are brown with bronze stripes running down their entire length. These lungless salamanders respire through their moist skins. They inhabit

Common name : Cane toad, Marine toad Scientific name : Rhinella marina Family : Bufonidae Native to : Central and South America Interesting fact : Cane toads were used to eradicate pests from sugarcane. Conservation status : Least Concern The Sapo marino is a large, grey-to-brown toad that has a dry and warty skin. They

Scientific name : Xantusia gracilis Family : Xantusiidae Native to : California, United States Conservation status : Vulnerable Sandstone night lizards get their name from their habit of hiding inside sandstone crevices and burrows. Their white bodies are covered in large dark spots. They are active in the night and feed on ants, beetles and

Scientific name : Furcifer pardalis Family : Chamaeleonidae Native to : Madagascar Conservation status : Least Concern Named after its geographical location, the Sambava panther chameleon is a colourful chameleon with males being more colourful. They come in colours like red, orange and green depending on their location. Females come in all tan or brown.

Scientific name : Taricha granulosa Family : Salamandridae Native to : North America Interesting fact : The newt is known for secreting a strong toxin that kills the predator when ingested. Conservation status : Least Concern The rough-skinned newt is brown with a rough, warty skin but its belly is contrasting yellow. Males become smooth-skinned

Common name : Santiago poison frog Scientific name : Excidobates captivus Family : Dendrobatidae Native to : Peru and Ecuador Interesting fact : Males call out to females during the breeding season by emitting short shrieks. Conservation status : Least Concern The Santiago poison frog is a treat to the eyes with its black skin

Common name : Ringed sawback Scientific name : Graptemys oculifera Family : Emydidae Native to : Southern United States Interesting fact : Captive life span is 20.3 years. Conservation status : Vulnerable Beautiful yellow rings adorn the olive shell of the ringed map turtle. It is exclusively found in the Pearl River in Louisiana and

Common name : Rim rock crowned snake Scientific name : Tantilla oolitica Family : Colubridae Native to : Florida, United States Interesting fact : Their scientific name ‘oolitica’ refers to the oolitic limestones in which they were found. Conservation status : Endangered The head and the neck of the non-venomous rim rock crown snake look

Scientific name : Ambystoma bishopi Family : Ambystomatidae Native to : Florida and Georgia, United States Interesting fact : They roll their tails when in danger. Conservation status : Vulnerable Beautiful thin grey lines form net-patterns on a dark skin of the reticulated flatwoods salamander. They have teeth in the roof of their mouths. They