Checklist - Amphibians and Reptiles of Lake Erie Island Region - Projects

Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of the Lake Erie Island Region

(Erie and Ottawa Co., Ohio and Essex Co., Ontario). Species in bold are known from 1 or more islands although recent records may be lacking. Superscripts denote species listed as Endangered, Threatened, or of Special Concern.

Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of
the Island Region of Lake Erie

This checklist includes all species of amphibians and reptiles known from Erie and Ottawa Co., Ohio and Essex Co., Ontario.
Click on common names for images.
Conservation Status abbreviations: S = Special Concern, T = threatened, E = Endangered, X = extinct.

	ConservationStatus
Common & Scientific Name		O n t a r i o	C a n a d a	O h i o	U. S.	Current Status on Islands	Comments on Distribution in the Island Region
Salamanders
Jefferson Salamander Ambystoma jeffersonianum		t	t			Present	These species occur individually or as hybrids within the island region. Once found on all large islands, now rare or absent from some of these islands.
Blue-spotted Salamander Ambystoma laterale				e
Smallmouth Salamander Ambystoma texanum		e	e
Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum		x
Spotted Salamander Ambystoma maculatum						Rare or absent	Known from just one island, current status uncertain.
Marbled Salamander Ambystoma opacum						Present	Once found on several islands, now known from just one.
Northern Dusky Salamander Desmognathus fuscus		e				Absent	Found near wooded streams and springs SE of the island region.
Northern Two-lined Salamander Eurycea bislineata						Absent	Found near wooded streams and springs SE of the island region.
Mudpuppy Necturus maculosus						Present	A fully aquatic species, present in near-shore waters of the island region.
Red-spotted Newt Notophthalmus viridescens						Rare or absent	Once locally common in wetlands on several larger islands, current status uncertain.
Northern Redback Salamander Plethodon cinereus						Present	A fully terrestrial salamander, locally common on several larger islands.
Northern Ravine Salamander Plethodon electromorphus						Absent	A fully terrestrial salamander, found on moist wooded slopes SE of the island region.
Slimy Salamander Plethodon glutinosus						Absent	A fully terrestrial salamander, found on moist wooded slopes SE of the island region.
Frogs and Toads
Cricket Frog Acris crepitans		e	e			Rare or absent	Once locally common in wetlands on larger islands, current status uncertain.
American Toad Bufo americanus						Present	Widespread on larger islands.
Fowler's Toad Bufo fowleri		t	t			Rare	Known only from several larger islands.
Gray Treefrog Hyla versicolor						Rare	May occur on one or a few islands.
Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer						Absent	Questionable records from two islands.
Western Chorus Frog Pseudacris triseriata						Rare or absent	Known from just one island, current status uncertain.
Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana						Present	Occurs in wetlands on larger islands.
Green Frog Rana clamitans						Present	Occurs in wetlands on larger islands.
Pickerel Frog Rana palustris						Absent	May occur in SW Ontario.
Northern Leopard Frog Rana pipiens						Rare or absent	Once found in wetlands on larger islands, current status uncertain.
Wood Frog Rana sylvatica						Absent	Found in woodland habitats SE of the island region.
Turtles
Spiny Softshell Apalone spinifera		t	t			Rare	Present in near-shore waters, sometimes seen on land.
Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina						Present	Found in wetlands on larger islands.
Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta						Present	Common in wetlands on larger islands.
Spotted Turtle Clemmys guttata		e	e	t		Present	Known from just one island.
Blanding's Turtle Emydoidea blandingii		t	t	s		Present	Seen occasionally on larger islands.
Common Map Turtle Graptemys geographica		s	s			Rare	Once common in wetlands on larger islands, now seen only occassionally.
Common Musk Turtle Sternotherus odoratus		t	t			Absent	Known from sites on both the Ohio and Ontario mainland.
Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina				s		Absent	Two records from Pelee Island may be escaped or released pets.
Slider Trachemys scripta						Absent	Known from a single locality on the Ontario mainland.
Lizards
Five-lined Skink Eumeces fasciatus		s	s			Absent	Known from sites on both the Ohio and Ontario mainland.
Snakes – nonvenomous
Worm Snake Carphophis amoneus						Absent	Known from a single site on the Ohio mainland.
Kirtland's Snake Clonophis kirtlandii				t		Absent	Known from a single site on the Ohio mainland.
Racer Coluber constrictor		e	e			Present	Found on several larger islands.
Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus						Present	Known from just two islands.
Eastern Fox Snake Elaphe gloydi		t	t	s		Widespread	Found on virtually all islands.
Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta		t	t			Absent	Known historically from two islands.
Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platirhinos		t	t			Present	Occurs on several islands.
Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum		s	s			Absent	One questionable record exists for one island.
Smooth Green Snake Liochlorophis vernalis						Absent	Found on the Ontario mainland.
Northern Watersnake Nerodia s. sipedon						Absent	Found in mainland habitats adjacent to the island region.
Lake Erie Watersnake Nerodia s. insularum		e	e	e	t	Widespread	Found on virtually all islands – an island endemic found nowhere else.
Queen Snake Regina septemvittata		t	t			Present	Known from just one island.
Brown Snake Storeria dekayi						Widespread	Found on virtually all islands.
Redbelly Snake Storeria occipitomaculata						Absent	Found on the Ontario mainland.
Butler's GarterSnake Thamnophis butleri		t	t			Absent	Found on the Ohio and Ontario mainland.
Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus		s	s			Absent	Found on the Ohio mainland but no recent records.
Eastern Gartersnake Thamnophis sirtalis				s		Widespread	Found on virtually all islands
Snakes – venomous
Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus				e	e	Absent	Once present on one or a few islands and the Ohio mainland; no verified records since 1961.
Massasauga Rattlesnake Sistrurus catenatus		t	t	e		Absent	Once present on the Ohio mainland; no verified records for more than a decade.

Distributional information for amphibians and reptiles in Ontario is available online at: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/nhic/herps/ohs.html.

Distributional information for amphibians and reptiles in Ohio, Michigan, and the Great Lakes region can be found in:
Davis, J. G., and S. A. Menze. 2000. Ohio Frog and Toad Atlas. Ohio Biological Survey Miscellaneous Contribution No. 6 (available from http://www.ohiobiologicalsurvey.org/).
Harding, J. H., 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press.
Harding, J. H., and J. A. Holman. 1990. Michigan Turtles and Lizards. Michigan State University Extension.
Harding, J. H., and J. A. Holman. 1992. Michigan Frogs, Toads, and Salamanders. Michigan State University Extension.
Holman, J. A., J. H. Harding, M. M. Hensley, and G. R. Dudderar. 1989. Michigan Snakes. Michigan State University Extension.
Pfingston, R. A., and T. O. Matson. 2003. Ohio Salamander Atlas. Ohio Biological Survey Miscellaneous Contribution No. 9 (available from http://www.ohiobiologicalsurvey.org/).
Wynn, D. E., and S. M. Moody. 2006. Ohio Turtle, Lizard, and Snake Atlas. Ohio Biological Survey Miscellaneous Contribution No. 10 (available from http://www.ohiobiologicalsurvey.org/).

Additional photos and natural history information can be found at: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/resources/wildnotes/wildnotes.htm (Ohio amphibians and reptiles)
http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/index.php (Ontario amphibians)
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12201---,00.html (Michigan amphibians and reptiles)
http://critterguy.museum.msu.edu/ (Michigan amphibians and reptiles)